The Girl in the Scrapbook, Carolyn Ruffles [iphone ebook reader .TXT] 📗

relayed the news to Emily. Apparently, when David had phoned his mother that morning, she'd said that she would be only too happy to help if she could. Then, suddenly, she had become agitated and breathless, rambling something about a letter and how could she have forgotten. David had been concerned and insisted his sister come to the phone. Between them, they had decided the doctor should be called and he would wait to hear what he had to say. She was calm and lucid by late afternoon when the doctor finally arrived but her blood pressure was high and he had prescribed rest; she was not allowed to have any excitement.

Emily and Jennifer sat quietly in the living room discussing the day’s events.

‘Arthur was only forty-one when he died,’ Emily mused, ‘and that was in 1947. I wonder if he was perhaps injured in the war. He might have sustained a shrapnel wound which ultimately caused his death. I’m sure I read somewhere that many men, who survived the war, died much later from infections brought on by their injuries.’

‘It’s possible,’ Jennifer agreed, ‘but we have to remember that anything could have killed him. People generally died much younger then than they do today. Hopefully, we’ll find out in the fullness of time.’

‘I do hope David’s mother is feeling better tomorrow. This talk of a letter sounds promising.’

‘Yes.’ Jennifer paused for a moment before adding, ‘But it could also be completely unrelated. She is an old woman after all. Try not to get your hopes up too much.’

‘You sound like Adam!’ Emily smiled. She glanced at her watch. ‘He’ll be expecting me to call about now. Then I might call it a night.’ She stood up and crossed to where Jennifer was sitting to give her a hug. ‘Thanks for all your help and support. You’re a star.’

Jennifer hugged her back. ‘You’re welcome. Fingers crossed for a good day tomorrow.’

Emily nodded. ‘Night.’ She walked to the door and turned to give a small wave. ‘Night Molly.’

Molly was standing in her usual spot by the window, an ethereal, waiflike figure dressed in black, still waiting. She always appeared to be waiting for something, all alone in her own silent world. The sight of her was an ache in Emily’s chest.

Before, it had always seemed to Emily that Molly was there for her, a guardian angel. Now, for the first time, she wondered if she had got things the wrong way around. Maybe Molly was waiting for Emily to help her, to enable her, somehow, to find peace at last.

◆◆◆

The next morning dawned dull and grey but Emily awoke filled with optimism. Already, in just a few days, she'd learned such a lot about the family in her scrapbook; today she could discover more; life was good.

Things continued to look up when, as they were just finishing breakfast, Jennifer’s mobile rang. It was David so she put it onto speakerphone.

‘Apparently, my mother is absolutely insisting upon seeing you,’ he said, his tone one of exasperation. ‘Caroline, that’s my sister, said that the thought of you not visiting her is making her more distressed. Are you free this morning?’

‘Yes, that would be great,’ Emily exclaimed.

‘In that case, I’ll pick you up at ten. I just need to sort a few things first.’

‘Oh,’ Jennifer chimed in, ‘we didn’t expect … that is, we don’t want to put you to any trouble. If you give us the address, we can drive ourselves there.’

‘No problem,’ David said smoothly. ‘I’d like to be there.’

He rang off abruptly and the two women stared at each other, glowing with excitement.

‘Now I’d say that is definitely promising.’ Emily clapped her hands together gleefully.

Jennifer nodded thoughtfully. ‘I agree but, as I said before, just don’t set your sights too high. Remember it could be another dead end. Listen, I was thinking, do you want to go on your own this morning? I could stay here and amuse Alex if you like.’

‘That’s really sweet.’ Emily’s face gleamed with gratitude. ‘But, selfishly, I’d really like you there with me, if you’re up for it. I don’t know what it is, perhaps it’s superstition, but I just feel, deep down, that it’s important you are there too. Besides,’ she added with a cheeky grin, ‘think how disappointed David would be if you weren’t there!’

◆◆◆

Copden was another pretty village, Emily mused, as they drove slowly though the main street in David’s silver Audi, Jennifer in the front and she and Alex in the back. It was not unlike Great Chalkham, characterised by beams, pink walls and thatched houses.

‘What a lovely place!’ Jennifer’s voice echoed her thoughts.

David shrugged. ‘Most of the villages around here are of a similar character.’

‘In that case, aren’t we lucky to live here?’ Jennifer retorted sharply.

Emily smiled to herself. There was definitely a vibe going on between those two. She wondered when they were going to acknowledge the sexual tension between them, rather than using their frustration to snipe at each other. They would certainly make a striking couple, she decided, if they ever resolved their differences and got together. She was just wondering what she could do to smooth that relationship when David pulled into a driveway and stopped the car outside a large, detached, brick house, set back from the road, in a rambling, slightly untidy garden.

‘We’re here,’ he said shortly and switched off the engine.

A stocky woman with short, iron grey hair and sporting a voluminous, long white shirt covered in smears of clay appeared from the side of the house.

‘I’m just in the studio,’ she called. ‘Sorry I’m in such a state.’ As they approached, she smiled in welcome. ‘You must be Jen and Emily. Sorry but I won’t offer to shake your hand.’ Ruefully, she held up her own hands, caked in wet clay. ‘And who is this handsome, little chap?’

David stepped forward with a grin. ‘I’m David,’ he joked and they all laughed.

‘This is Alex,’ Emily said proudly. ‘He’s only three and I’m afraid he’s