Page 98 of Hidden Daughters (Detective Lottie Parker #15)

CONNEMARA

SUNDAY

The day dawned, and Lottie felt the pain of loss deep within her body.

Every inch of her flesh blared with aches, and she wanted to turn over and bury her head under the pillow.

But no, that wasn’t her true self. She had never shied away before and was not about to do so today.

Grace and Bryan’s wedding day. She would stand strong and resolute.

She showered and found the lemon-coloured chiffon dress that Katie had told her to buy online.

She hadn’t even tried it on, and it would be her luck if it didn’t fit.

But it did. Neat and snug to her body on top and floating away from her hips reaching her ankles.

She tied up her hair and plastered on eyeshadow, mascara and a swipe of lipstick.

She couldn’t see that it made any difference, but her girls would be incensed if she turned up with a naked face.

After slipping on a pair of silver gladiator type sandals with heels, belonging to Chloe, she did a twirl in front of the hotel bedroom mirror.

‘You’ll have to do.’

She practised a smile to use throughout the day.

Hopefully she could keep it in place and her feet in the sandals.

Which would she abandon first? With weariness and an ever-increasing void in her heart, she set off for the little stone chapel that was no longer consecrated but was used for civil ceremonies.

It was going to be a long day.

Chloe jumped from the car outside the chapel and ran to her mother. Lottie smiled. She’d missed her family.

‘You won’t believe it, Mam.’ She hugged Lottie tightly, squeezing the breath from her. ‘The best thing ever has happened. I bet you won’t believe it.’

‘Try me, Chloe.’ Lottie extricated herself and held her daughter at arm’s length. ‘I can believe just about anything at this moment in time.’

‘It’s great news, honestly it is.’

A skein of apprehension wended its way through Lottie’s veins. She hated being kept in the dark and she knew Chloe was a dab hand at subterfuge. ‘What’s your news?

‘I got accepted. Can you believe it? I’m over the moon. Totally. It’s just amazeballs.’

‘Accepted? For what? Where?’

For the first time she noticed a flutter of doubt pass over her daughter’s face.

‘I didn’t want to tell you before now, not until it was official, because I knew you’d stop me, and don’t say you wouldn’t have because I know you, but anyway, I start in August.’

‘Start where? Chloe, I know I got a bang on the head yesterday, but I don’t think it impaired me that much. I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.’

‘I got accepted into Templemore Garda College. Mam, I’m going to be a guard. Just like you.’

Words deserted her, and she let her hands drop away from her daughter. Chloe was right, she would have stopped her. One guard in the family was enough for anyone.

‘Aren’t you going to congratulate me?’ The girl looked crestfallen.

‘Well done, pet,’ Lottie said flatly, her head filled with a myriad of scenarios. None of them good. Chloe had blindsided her. A guard? God, no. To turn out like her? Please, no. Especially as she was still reeling from Boyd’s damning words about her priorities. ‘How did you…? When did you apply?’

‘Oh, a while ago. Boyd was great. He helped me with the application and even wrote a reference for me.’

Lottie swung round to glare over at where Boyd stood with Sergio.

He’d interfered with her family, and committed the ultimate betrayal by keeping her in the dark about it.

Still, she couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked in his white shirt, blue suit and tie.

She mentally kicked herself for that thought.

Turning back to Chloe, she forced a smile to her lips. ‘Can we talk later? We have to go into this wedding, today preferably.’

Her grandson, Louis, ran to her and she lifted him up. He wrapped his arms around her neck and his legs around her waist, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back, and felt like crying at his innocent demonstration of his love for her.

She watched as Katie helped Rose out of the car. She turned to look at Chloe.

‘Why did you bring your grandmother? I thought we agreed that Betty would stay with her.’ Her tone was rising and she was unable to calm it. ‘You know this is not a place for her. She will?—’

‘Don’t worry, Mam, she’ll come home with us tonight,’ Chloe said. ‘It’s good for her to get out and enjoy a bit of scenery.’

‘It will only confuse her.’ Lottie tried to comprehend how she was going to cope with her mother for the rest of the day, along with the swirling emotions already threatening to swamp her.

Her head was splitting and she craved a drink, but she knew from experience that would not solve her problems. Still, the thought was enticing.

Chloe laughed. ‘Gran will be grand. Sure she can’t be any more confused than she is already. The sea air will be good for her.’

‘She’ll get a cold… or something.’ Lottie felt like crying. God, she was turning into a whinger, a wreck.

‘Lottie, for God’s sake,’ Boyd said, appearing at her side. ‘Leave them alone.’

‘It’s none of your bloody business,’ she snapped.

Chloe stood open-mouthed as Boyd walked away. ‘Mam? What’s going on?’

‘You really don’t want to know.’ Lottie gritted her teeth in an effort to keep her anger locked in place.

‘Actually, I really do.’

‘Later, then.’

‘Okay. Whatever.’

‘Yeah, whatever.’ Lottie moved towards the car, still carrying Louis, and took Rose’s arm from Katie. ‘Great to see you, Mother. Did you have a nice trip?’

Rose squinted up at her, struggling to place her own daughter. ‘Katie said there’s a wedding. Are you getting married?’

‘No, not me. Not ever.’

Katie looked at her, and then over at Boyd’s retreating back as he made his way to the gate to await his sister’s arrival. She gave Lottie a sad, knowing look. ‘Let’s get you inside, Gran. You might like to meet the priest.’

‘I hate them bastards. They killed my boy. My only son.’

A moment of lucidity in Rose’s dementia gave Lottie cause for a genuine smile. ‘You’re right there, Mother. But this is no longer a consecrated church, and the ceremony is being conducted by a woman.’

‘A woman?’ Rose said. ‘What is the world coming to?’

Lottie laughed then.

Louis lifted his head from her shoulder and asked, ‘What’s so funny, Nana?’

‘Everything,’ she said. ‘You know what, Louis? Sometimes if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry.’

The almost four-year-old let himself down from her arms. ‘That doesn’t make any sense, Nana.’

She watched him join her family. He grabbed hold of his great-grandmother’s hand and they entered the ancient stone building together, without her.

She looked over at Boyd. He’d been watching them.

He turned away quickly and held tightly to his son’s hand as Bryan drove up in his Range Rover.

It had been washed and polished to a bright sheen.

Grace climbed out, a wreath of wild flowers in her hair and Ann Wilson’s hand-made dress snug to her body.

She looked beautiful and serene until she latched eyes with Lottie, who flinched under the frosty glare.

It seemed Grace had not bothered with the tradition of arriving separately from the groom.

Bryan jumped out and flashed Lottie a sad smile.

With Boyd and Sergio on one side and Bryan on the other, Grace sailed past Lottie, her head held high in the air.

She could not bring herself to go into the chapel. Instead, she sat on the little wall that surrounded the old building, wishing she’d stayed in bed and kept her head under the duvet.

Another car crawled up the narrow road. She saw Kirby’s bushy hair before she saw him. He always made her smile.

He helped Amy out of the car. She gave Lottie a hug. Kirby beamed beside her.

‘Nice to see you, boss,’ he said. ‘Are we late?’

‘They’ve just arrived.’ She pointed to the old wooden door in the thick stone wall.

‘And you’re not going in?’

‘Not yet,’ she said. ‘In a while. Maybe.’

‘You look sad,’ Amy said.

‘Don’t mind me.’ Lottie attempted a laugh, but failed. ‘Things are a bit shite at the moment.’

‘Hey, we’ve got news that will cheer you up,’ Kirby said.

‘McKeown is leaving?’ she said hopefully.

‘No, but we’re engaged, and we are pregnant! Me and Amy. Well, Amy is, I’m not…’

Lottie hugged him, then Amy. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages. Congratulations to you both. I’m thrilled.’

‘Thanks, boss. Come on, Amy. We’d better hurry.’

As the glowing pair went inside, leaving her alone again, Lottie felt her heart swell with happiness for them.

It was good to see love and joy come to two people who absolutely deserved it.

Things didn’t always work out that way, so when they did, it was extra special.

Then a crest of loneliness settled on her shoulders.

Did she not deserve some happiness in her life?

‘Penny for them.’ The voice came from behind her. She’d been deep in thought and hadn’t heard the car approach.

‘Matt.’ She stood. ‘What brings you here?’

‘I have another guest for the wedding party, but she’s a bit shy. Could you talk to her?’

‘I’m not sure I’m the best person to talk to anyone today.’ A cool breeze swept around the side of the church, fluttering the leaves in the trees, swirling Lottie’s dress around her legs, and she clutched her arms tighter to her body.

The young woman approached, head low, arms also hugging herself. She was dressed in a flowered cross-over cotton dress with flat leather sandals. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders and it shone in the morning sun.

‘Imelda,’ Lottie said, unwinding her own arms.

‘I’m so sorry for all the sorrow I’ve caused. If I’d never started my documentary, those people would still be alive.’

‘You can’t blame yourself.’

‘But it was a catalyst for all that happened.’

‘Maybe so, but the only one to blame is Denis Wilson – his past, his ego and the evil in his heart.’

‘Maybe.’

‘That’s what I told you,’ Mooney said. ‘You are still a vital witness for us.’

‘Any confession forthcoming from Wilson?’ Lottie enquired.

‘One interview in and I’m delighted to say he is beginning to panic.

The jewellery belonging to Edie Butler in the boot of his car and forensic evidence at his house and the other crime scenes will all help to convict him.

Plus, Robert Hayes is singing like the proverbial canary.

His testimony corroborates Assumpta’s words written in her notebooks. ’

‘That’s a result so.’ Lottie then addressed Imelda. ‘Have you talked to Bryan?’

‘I wanted to wait until the wedding was over.’

‘He will be delighted to get to know you.’

Imelda inclined her head to one side. ‘I’m not so sure about that.’

‘Can I ask if you knew he was your older brother?’

‘I didn’t know, not really. I was taken away by an aunt on my mother’s side.

I wasn’t even a year old. I heard bits and pieces over the years.

Enough to know that something awful had happened in the past. But I was led to believe I had no surviving family.

It was only in recent years, when I went through my aunt’s belongings after she died, that I learned I once had a family in Galway. ’

‘Why didn’t you approach Bryan directly about your relationship?’

‘I wasn’t sure of the whole truth. I had discovered that one of the family had been sent to the laundry, and it seemed right for me to try make a documentary about it. That’s my job. I hoped my research would open up my own past. Instead, I brought a murderer into the mix.’

‘Don’t fret. What’s done is done,’ Lottie said. ‘Come into the chapel with me. We’ll sit at the back. Take it one step at a time. How does that sound?’

‘Sounds good.’ Imelda smiled, and Lottie saw something of Bryan O’Shaughnessy in the girl’s eyes and the curve of her mouth. Sometimes you didn’t need DNA evidence for proof. It was right in front of you.