Page 131 of The Love Letter

‘The fact that I wasn’t there either.’

‘Yes. There you go.’ He put the tea in front of her.

‘So he knows about Art from the other boys?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘Damn it! I should have told him.’

‘We all make mistakes, I did too remember? I advised you not to tell him. But thankfully this situation is something that can easily be rectified.’

‘I knew he was too calm after James died.’ Zoe took a sip of her tea. ‘I should have seen this coming.’

‘I think when he was in trouble, it hit Jamie for the first time that the man he adored – his father figure – really had gone for good. Especially when others were maliciously suggesting a substitute. But he’s a good kid, he’ll cope. Look, now you’re here, I’m afraid I have to leave.’

Zoe was startled. ‘To go where?’

‘Duty calls.’ Simon tiptoed back into the sitting room to collect his jacket from the chair and then met Zoe in the hall. ‘Jamie’s still sleeping soundly. I think a dollop of TLC from his mum is the only medicine he needs.’

‘Yes. And boy, have we got some talking to do.’ She followed him to the front door. ‘Simon, how can I ever thank you?’

‘Really, don’t think about it. Take care of both of you, and send my love to Jamie. Tell him I’m sorry I had to leave before I said goodbye.’

‘Of course.’ Zoe nodded wistfully. ‘Simon?’

He turned and looked at her. ‘Yes?’

She paused, then shook her head. ‘Nothing.’

‘Bye, Zoe.’ Simon gave her a small, tight smile, opened the door and left.

31

Joanna pulled her rented Fiesta alongside the kerb in front of the Ross Hotel and switched off the engine gratefully. She was exhausted from another sleepless night in a cheap B&B in Dublin, jumping every time she heard a creak. Kurt turning up at the pub had really unsettled her. The question was, had he been tailing her or was she just totally paranoid?

She sat there for a few moments, gazing out at the rain still pelting down on the picturesque square.

‘That bloody old lady,’ Joanna muttered to herself. If only she had never met her . . . where would she be now? At home in London, still working the news desk, not sitting in the rain in a godforsaken Irish town.

Enough was enough. She had decided she was going home to England as soon as she could, and would consign the last few weeks to the past and do her best to forget all about it. She would post all the information she had gathered to Simon and he could do what he liked with it. She reckoned he’d been planted in Zoe Harrison’s house to discover what she knew and what secrets the house held. Well, he could have everything she had. And that was an end to it.

Joanna opened the door to the car, retrieved her holdall from the boot and walked into the front entrance of the hotel.

‘Hello there. Did you have a good trip?’ enquired Margaret, appearing behind the bar.

‘Yes. It was . . . fine, thanks.’

‘Grand.’

‘I’m going to check out now, Margaret, and fly home. If I can get a seat on a flight this evening from Cork.’

‘Right then.’ One of Margaret’s eyebrows raised slightly. ‘Someone left an envelope for you while you were away.’ She turned and grabbed it from Joanna’s pigeonhole. ‘There.’

‘Thanks.’

‘’Twill be a birthday card, no doubt?’

‘No, my birthday’s not until August. Thanks anyway.’