Page 142 of The Stranger in Room Six

I can’t say I like her back because I don’t. But at least I no longer feel like I want to kill her. When I think of her as a woman who has been struck too early by this cruel disease, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Then I remember Mabel saying that there’s always a reason for someone to do something. Karen’s reason for stealing my husband was that she really had loved him. And I hadn’t.

‘I can assure you, Mr Greaves,’ I say stiffly, ‘that I would never harm your mother.’

‘If you did, you’d end your life in jail.’

‘I don’t need reminding of that.’

‘Then let’s move on to other family matters, may we?’ His voice softens. ‘My mother always told me that my father wanted me to meet my sisters one day.’

‘Half-sisters,’ I remind him sharply.

‘I’m sorry. That’s what I meant. Do you think you could ask them?’

Why on earth should I do that?

‘I can’t ask Gillian because she hasn’t spoken to me since her father died,’ I say. ‘I’m in contact with Elspeth but I don’t know whether she would want to see you.’

‘They’re the only family I have left now, apart from Mum.’ His voice has turned from tough to desperate. ‘Your girls and I don’t just share your husband’s blood. We share memories of the same man. I have no one else to talk to about that. Please, will you just ask them?’

There’s a longing and vulnerability on his face that moves me, despite everything. And beneath it all, I worry that if I don’t make it happen, he will tell the manager about my past. Then they’ll check my DBS, discover it’s fake and sack me. I would find it hard to get a similar job without references. But most of all, I would lose people whom I’ve grown to love and care for: especially Mabel. I just hope I’m not going to lose her anyway with my betrayal.

‘I’ll ask my daughters,’ I say reluctantly. ‘But I can’t make any promises.’

‘Thank you.’ He hands me his card.

‘You’re a dentist?’ I ask, impressed.

‘Yes. That’s my private number. You can get in touch with me any time.’

That’s when I notice something.

‘You’re wearing Gerald’s watch.’

‘Dad left it to me in his will.’

I want to say that’s not fair. I want to ask if he’d left my girls a special gift too. I want to ask Gerald what the hell he was playing at, having two families.

But dead men give no answers.

102

Elspeth is furious, especially as I have to explain how this all happened.

‘Karen is a resident there?’ she asks appalled. ‘You went to Sunnyside to find her? I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t try and track her down.’

‘Actually, that was your opinion,’ I point out. ‘Not mine. I needed to know the full story if I was ever going to move on.’

‘Well, I’m definitely not meeting some man who claims to be Dad’s son. I know Gillian would feel the same without even asking her. She’s still furious that you were involved with all that political stuff.’

I’d given the girls a brief version without going into too much detail; explaining I’d been asked to keep a special eye on Mabel Marchmont as her carer and that the assassin had tried to get at her through scaring me. It’s not far from the truth.

With trembling fingers, I call Stephen. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘They don’t want to meet you.’

‘I see.’ There’s a pause.

‘I suppose you’re going to shop me now?’

‘No,’ he says. ‘I said I wouldn’t, and I meant it. Besides, my mother seems comfortable in your presence, and she likes talking to you.’ He gives a short laugh. ‘Ironic, isn’t it? Well, thank you for trying.’