Page 169 of The Altar Girls

‘Something like that.’

He thought for a moment. ‘She used to.’

‘I know two women who would be only too happy to visit her.’

‘Is Betty Coyne one of them?’

‘Yes, and my mother.’

‘You do know that my mammy will eat them for supper.’

She grinned, and some of her anger about Alfie dissipated. ‘It will give two older ladies something to do.’

‘While taking your mother off your hands for a few hours a day?’

‘Oh why didn’t I think of that?’ She smiled and went to the door.

He laughed, then winced. ‘I shouldn’t be laughing, it’s painful.’

‘You have to remember you were hit with a hammer.’ Her words sobered her and she returned to his bedside. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get over what was done to those children. I can’t understand how a person could be pushed that far, that everything was so hopeless…’

‘I can. You might not believe this, but I saw the devil himself flashing in Zara’s eyes right before she lashed out at me. I’m a grown man, fit and healthy, and I was powerless to stop the assault. She was possessed with something neither of us will ever comprehend.’

‘Fear, or hate?’

‘She’s a complex woman, and when she was backed into a corner by the fear of losing her home, her children, that fear turned to hopelessness, then desperation.’

‘She snapped with Willow being her boisterous self. And when faced with what she’d done to her own daughter and another frightened girl bearing witness to her action, she became a deadly weapon.’

‘Hopelessness turns fatal when one is pushed as low as Zara was. I had a chance to help her, but I only thought of myself and my reputation.’

‘This is not your fault.’

‘You don’t really believe that, do you, Inspector?’

As Lottie walked down the corridor, she knew he had read her mind. With all the directions Zara had given, the hymn sheets, the shrouds and the rosaries, she had targeted him. The priest had to shoulder some of the blame.

EPILOGUE

CHRISTMAS DAY

It wasn’t a white Christmas and Lottie was relieved. She’d had quite enough of snow.

After a delicious dinner, cooked by Chloe and Katie, with Rose giving orders and Alexa piping out carols, Lottie pulled on her rain jacket and boots and went outside.

Silence fell like a cloak over her shoulders, and she wished life could always be as sedate, as tranquil. Gazing out over the lake, she heard footsteps behind her, and without turning around, she knew it was Boyd.

He stood behind her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. His soft breath whispered in her hair and the comfort of his embrace brought tears to her eyes.

‘Thank you for bringing Sergio here for Christmas,’ she said. ‘This should be his home. Forever.’

‘He loves it here, but you don’t have enough space, Lottie. Even though this house looks monstrous, it can’t accommodate two families.’

‘But we are one family.’ She twisted round. ‘Aren’t we?’

He released her and moved to stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder. They faced the shimmering lake as the sun began its descent on the horizon.

‘Yes, but I need time to mend bridges with my son. I believe he blames me for his mother running away with him, and as a consequence, her death.’