The Heart of the Home by N/A

Author:N/A
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2016-02-04T05:00:00+00:00

Seven

The man they knew as Harry Power, who worked for Mr Lewin at Bracken Court, often passed the office. He rarely called in but always waved and occasionally came close to the door and gave them a wide-eyed cheeky wink. When he did call he usually begged a cup of tea and produced a few cakes bought from the local bakery. He came one morning, chatted amiably, asked how they were getting on. He flirted a little, seemed interested in the business, about which he seemed well informed, but after he’d gone both girls admitted that he gave nothing in return.

‘He has the amazing skill of turning all of our questions into comments that don’t need a reply. I wonder what he really wants?’ Lucy mused. ‘D’you think someone has sent him to spy on us?’

‘Mr George Dexter?’ Meriel added ominously.

‘Or Gerald trying to work out how much we’re earning!’

‘Or,’ Meriel added lightly, ‘perhaps he’s my long lost brother searching for clues about my mysterious beginnings.’ She laughed, but the humour was dark.

She couldn’t forget there were people out there who were her family; a mother and father, aunts, uncles, cousins maybe, and even stepbrothers or sisters. She often sat and wondered about them, thinking they might be searching for her, wishing there was a way she could reach out and help. At times she imagined them so strongly she expected the next day to be the one on which she met them all.

‘When are you going to forgive your mam and dad?’ Lucy asked a few days later as they opened the office door after lunch. ‘You can’t continue like this for ever. They love you, and you love and need them.’

‘I can’t stop thinking about my adoption, blaming them for their deceit. I don’t know who I am and that’s the worse part, not knowing where I came from or what sort of family. I could belong to criminals, or violent, quarrelsome work-shy hooligans.’

Lucy began to laugh. ‘Look in the mirror and tell me, what do you see?’ She opened her handbag and thrust a small mirror towards her friend. ‘Whoever they were you can’t honestly believe they were anything but decent people.’

‘If I’d been brought up by my real family I’d be someone different though, whatever their circumstances. You must agree with that.’

‘Maybe, but you’d still be beautiful, capable, businesslike, kind and loving.’

‘Thanks, I know you’re trying to help but the truth is, I won’t accept what happened until I know why. I need to know where I belong, why I was given away like an unwanted puppy. And all that’s on a different level to my hurt at not being told. I have to see the people who gave me away, understand why they didn’t want me.’

‘My guess is that your mother was a young girl, unmarried and being offered no support from her parents. Mine wouldn’t have helped me, I know that for certain, although I think yours would have supported you whatever you did.’

‘I don’t intend to try them on that!’

‘I almost did last night.

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