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Rory helped Bella out of the car while Tash opened the front door of Harbour House. Bastard dashed in as Bella stopped and stared at the facade.

‘It hasn’t changed, except the wisteria is bigger.’ She walked towards the door. ‘It will be glorious in a few weeks. I remember the smell.’

Inside the house, she stopped in front of the portrait. Her hand reached out to her mother’s. ‘I’ve missed her.’ She turned to me. ‘How did you get her down?’

‘With difficulty.’ I glanced up at the screws still in the wall where the painting had hung.

She laughed. ‘I tried to climb up to kiss her once and nearly killed myself, but the painting survived unscathed.’ She lifted her fringe and showed me a scar. ‘Some things fade but never leave you.’

I shivered, thinking of Paul. But then reminded myself that that applied to love as well. Dad was gone, but his love was always with me.

Bella looked around, then went into the sitting room, where an old gramophone sat in the far corner.

She found a record and cranked the machine, and the sound of Noel Coward’s voice warbled out.

‘It still works.’ She closed her eyes. ‘One of my last memories of my mother was of her and Sheba dancing to this in here.’ She scanned the room. ‘Not much has changed.’

Bastard sauntered in and stared at her.

‘What a magnificent cat.’ She bent, leaning heavily on her cane, and held her hand out. Bastard sniffed it, then allowed Bella to give her a scratch.

‘Bastard owns the place,’ I said.

‘I can see that, and I would guess that Sheba named the animal.’ She straightened.

I frowned. ‘Why would you say that?’

‘“Poor bastard” was a favourite expression of hers.’

Rory came into the room. ‘Tash has gone to make tea.’

‘Wonderful. I would like to go to my room, if you would give me a hand, Rory. I’m not brilliant with stairs, which is why I’m leaving my beloved Bryher.’

‘Of course,’ he said, taking her arm.

I looked out of the window. It was good that we could bring Bella here, but it still didn’t resolve everything.

Bastard snaked through my legs, then pawed them before taking a few steps towards the door.

When I didn’t follow, she complained. I knew the routine, so I let her lead me her upstairs.

I heard Rory and Bella chatting in the little room as I entered the master bedroom.

Bastard sat in the same spot and stared at the wall.

‘Look, Bastard, we’ve been through this before. There is nothing there but a dead electrical socket. Tash checked and I believe her.’

She didn’t move when Bella and Rory came into the room.

‘Cat marks the spot,’ Bella said.

‘What?’ I asked.

‘Bastard is sitting on the floorboard under which Sheba kept all the important documents, such as birth certificates and the deeds to the house.’

I looked at Rory, and then at Tash, who had just joined us.

Bastard stepped off the edge of the carpet where she had been sitting and I lifted the corner.

It was hard to see which board it was, but Bella came over and tapped with her cane.

It wouldn’t lift, though, and Rory got down beside me to assist.

‘As it hasn’t been opened in a while, I’ll go and grab a screwdriver.’ Tash dashed out.

Bella sat on the bed. ‘I always loved this room. Sheba would read to me here.’ She pointed to the low nursing-style chair in the corner. ‘I would sit on her lap and peer out the window.’ She blew her nose. ‘I hadn’t expected this old place would stir so much inside me.’

I went to her side. ‘It’s hard.’

‘It is, harder than I thought, and I’m as tough as old boots. But it appears I’ve gone leaky.’ She wiped her face.

‘This should do the trick.’ Tash wielded a long chisel and in moments had prised the floorboard up. Rory extracted a black metal box. He opened it, revealing documents and a sketchbook. Turning to Bella, he asked, ‘May I?’

She nodded, and in moments we were looking at the wills of both women. Everything went to Bella.

‘I’ll give Dad a call and he can deal with it,’ Tash said.

‘But—’

She interrupted me. ‘You have enough on your plate. No argument.’

I knew she was right. This was something I could leave in other people’s hands.

I glanced up and saw my favourite painting of Sheba’s, the one she had won the award for.

Even if I couldn’t bring these women the respect they deserved for their work, I’d at least been a part of making sure their wishes were fulfilled.

‘I see you’re looking at the painting of my mother,’ Bella said, rising to her feet. ‘Sheba told me it was Mum.’ She paused. ‘It’s beautiful, but I always preferred the other one.’

I suddenly saw the painting in a new light. No wonder it always filled me with joy when I looked at it. It was all the colours of love.

Bella tapped the sketchpad in my hand. ‘I remember that. Each month Sheba had me sit for her. May I?’

I handed it to her, and as she opened it, a sheet of paper fell out. I scooped it up recognising Katherine’s writing. ‘It’s from your mother.’ I held it out to her.

‘Can you read it to me? These are not the best reading glasses.’

‘Of course,’ I said, opening the folded sheet to the first page.

My love,

These past ten days in London have been dreadful, and it’s not the bombs.

They are terrible, but I bless them too.

Every night we end up in the shelter at Simon’s insistence, which saves me from enduring his presence in my bed.

Being far from you and Isabella is hell, but at least I know you are both safe.

Today I booked the train, and I am counting the hours until I can be with the two most important people in my life.

In preparation this week, I have sold some jewellery and wired the money to you.

He has no idea, and this lifts me more than it should.

I’ve written some half-hearted poems to appease him.

He hasn’t been impressed, but I told him that I am like a rusty machine that needs oiling!

He believes it. The thought of you has words singing in me, but he will not have them.

I have sent things ahead. They may arrive before me.

I wish I were with them and on my way already.

This morning I visited my parents’ solicitor and checked the details of their wills and the trust. With me and Isabella gone, he only has use of the funds while he is alive.

If there is anything left, it will go to the charities my parents supported.

The solicitor thought my questions odd, but I explained them away in light of the heavy bombing of late.

I can’t explain this feeling of freedom and joy.

It is better than any drug and it’s hard work to keep my happiness hidden.

To keep sane these past few days, I have relived our week together.

Isabella’s joy as we took her to the beach.

Her face as her toes dug in the sand and she paddled for the first time.

We swam, we sunbathed, and as the sun kissed my skin, I felt your lips and knew that come the evening I would be lying beside you, wrapped in your love.

I turned the page over and saw Rory watching me.

Even as I write these words, I feel your caress.

Each stroke confirms your love, your need, and mine matches it.

Every atom, every particle of my being calls to you.

I am only whole with you. You make me better, a better human, a better mother and a better poet.

Your love has grown inside of me and altered my very make-up.

I paused. ‘Maybe I should stop.’

‘No,’ they all said in unison.

Oh, these silly words mean little when I am not with you. I remind myself it is only hours until I board an overcrowded train that will lead me to you and Isabella. Then and only then can my life truly be complete. You, me and Isabella, our perfect family.

I love you with all my heart. Thank you for seeing beyond the image to the real woman, the one who was locked inside full of fear and self-loathing.

I paused again, and my glance met Rory’s.

Kiss my darling girl. In two nights I will be in your arms, dancing with you, knowing I’m only guilty of love, but this time it’s entirely right.

Yours forever,

K xxx

Silence filled the room. Tash blew her nose, and I gulped. Bella had tears in her eyes while Rory stood with his eyes closed. Outside, the sound of the sea became louder as the words sank in.

‘I am devastated for Katherine and Sheba,’ said Tash. ‘And even more devastated for you, Bella. So much love, so much talent lost.’

Bella smiled sadly. ‘Thanks to all of you, not lost, but found.’ She blew her nose too, then looked at her watch. ‘I have an appointment. I don’t suppose one of you could drop me off? Sadly it’s too late to cancel it.’

‘Rory,’ I said. ‘Would you mind?’

He took Bella’s arm. ‘Not at all.’ They left the room, and I heard her cane tapping on the stairs.

Bastard sat smugly on the bed. I looked at her. ‘OK, you were right all along, Bastard, and I wasn’t clever enough.’

She licked a paw and proceeded to clean her face. That told me.

Tash cleared her throat as she looked up from her phone. ‘Marcia just messaged me. Hot off the press, there’s a bidding war going on right this very minute for Stephen’s house. They are asking for sealed bids.’

‘What?’ I sank onto the nursing chair.

‘With that money, he can pay your mother back and repay the company.’

I nodded, letting the news sink in. We weren’t out of the woods yet, though. There was all the furniture he’d accumulated illegally sitting the warehouse, and what to do next. Tash perched beside me on the arm of the chair.

‘It will be OK.’

‘Really?’ I shook my head, not seeing how it could be.

‘Yes, you’re actually good at this stuff and always have been, plus you were shit-hot in front of the camera.’

‘I was not.’ I cringed just thinking about it. There was nothing worse than seeing and hearing yourself on film.

‘Rory said he was impressed.’ She raised an expressive eyebrow.

‘No.’

‘Yes he did. He likes you, and not in he wants to be your best friend.’ She fixed her intense stare on me, pinning me to the spot.

‘Don’t even go there. It’s wrong, I’m wrong.’ I put my hands up.

‘I’ll let you have “it’s not the right time”, but that man likes you, and he’s in no rush.’ She paused, looking about the room. ‘He’s looking for a place down here.’

‘What?’ That couldn’t be right.

‘He wants to live down here and needs good transport links.’

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. ‘One main road in and out, one train line, a small airport . . .’

She hit my arm. ‘And you’ll be here.’

‘Will I?’ But as I asked that question, I knew she was right. I wasn’t returning to London. My mother and Barton’s needed me. And if Rory was in town, that could prove to be a good distraction in the future. Not now, but maybe soon.