Derek’s phone rang three times and then cut out. Strange, it was like he had cut Rob off. As he put the phone down, he heard a car pull up outside. Preparing to greet Sally, he opened the door and found himself facing his flustered-looking brother-in-law. Derek was definitely on a mission.
“I was just phoning you,” Rob said, not liking the troubled face facing him. “What’s up, Derek? You look agitated. Is something wrong?”
“Your sister, she’s not well. I mean, mentally.”
“What has she done now?”
“Where do I begin?”
Both men sighed; Derek in total frustration, Robert in wary trepidation.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The “Blushing Brides” fashion show had certainly been the event of the year, but the coverage did not provide much information for Lacey to go on. She dissected each article and picked through photos, but there was no mention of a woman with a name like Karen; the owner was named Stella. Sally was sorely disappointed.
“I’m sorry, Lacey,” she apologised, looking at her sister. “I really thought I was on to something.”
“Its fine, it was worth a shot.” Lacey shrugged her shoulders, disillusioned.
“You have checked your birth certificate, haven’t you?” Sally’s expression signalled that she knew she was asking the obvious, but they both knew people often ignored what was right under their nose.
“Yes,” Lacey replied, “and my mother is named as Lillian.” When Lacey had first discovered this written lie, she had known then that both women must have agreed on the deceit together. How else could they name Lillian as her mum? She dare not think of how they had managed the whole thing. Her birth mum must have used Lillian’s name throughout the pregnancy and the birth.
“How did they manage that? Is it too outrageous to think they both were named Lillian?” Sally asked.
“Unless there are two Lillian Taylors, I have no idea.” The younger girl stretched her arms in the air, keeping her views on the deceit to herself. She closed and folded the newspapers, and put them in a tidy pile on the floor beside her.
“So what’s next?” Sally asked, not sure of the next step.
“Philip Sherman is next. He must know more than he’s telling me. I’ve contacted the adoption authority, too,” Lacey told her.
“Really? What can they do?”
Sally stood up to stretch. Being hunched over the papers had her neck and back aching.
“Not a lot, as I’ve not got my mum’s name. If I had that, it would solve so much. But I’m in touch with another group called National Adoption Contact Preference Register and they were very helpful. They have my name and details, so if my mum is looking for me then there is a good chance of us finding each other.” Lacey flicked the corners of some pages of the newspaper in front of her, her frustration evident.
“I’m meeting Robert shortly, if you want to come along.” Sally knelt beside her sister. “Maybe going over to talk to Rob will take your mind off things for a while?”
“Nope, don’t think so, Sal.” Lacey shook her head vigorously.
“He’s worried about Willow, he rang me earlier. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you coming along, too.”
“No thanks, I have absolutely no desire or intention of wasting time on Willow at the moment. She has her husband and the two of you willing to pick up after her, so I reckon there is nothing to worry about.” The younger woman was bitter, but she was not going to fall out with her sister over this.
“We’re here for you, too, Lacey,” Sally assured her. “Don’t be so angry. Willow’s taken Mum’s death really badly and right now she’s lashing out, that’s all. She’ll come round when she settles.”
Lacey took Sally’s hands in hers, and spoke with gentle understanding. “Sally darling, you are amazing. I am so grateful for your support and I know life will calm down again. But right now I’m not, nor have I any intention, of wasting energy on Willow. Like I said, she has plenty of people running after her.”
Sally nodded in understanding. Her eyes looked tired as she directed her gaze to the pile of newspapers.
Lacey lifted her bag and got ready to leave. She turned and swept up the papers she had folded, as if she had suddenly realised something.
“I’ll take these, if that’s alright. I might go over them again. Enjoy your evening with Rob. I’ll catch up with you over the weekend or next week.”
The two women hugged each other and Sally walked her sister to the car. Lacey felt a bit guilty about not going to Rob’s; she didn’t want Sal to think she was ungrateful.
“Thanks, Sal. I really mean it.”
“No thanks needed. Mind yourself, okay?”
Lacey headed for home, stopping only to pick up an Indian takeaway meal. It was disappointing about the bridal shop and that they still had no definite leads, but all was not lost yet. Lacey decided to contact Philip Sherman and try teasing more information out of the man.
After she had wolfed down the spicy meal, she pulled out her journal, looking again at the sparse information. There were so many gaps to be filled in.
Once she had changed for bed, she got down to tackling the bundle of newspapers. She was convinced that the bridal shops held a clue. In every edition, there were photos and articles about “Blushing Brides”. In the older papers, there were photos of the shop celebrating its first anniversary along with fashion shows that were held.
Lacey scrutinised each photo in detail. The owner, Stella, was always centre-stage, yet Lacey couldn’t see any family resemblance to anyone in the photos. Determined to dig deeper, she turned on her laptop and Googled the business.
“Blushing Brides” was a popular name in the wedding business. The shop that appeared in print was no longer operating, so Lacey searched the owner’s name. Although the name was fairly common, she couldn’t locate a match for the woman in any of the papers. Nevertheless, she wrote down “bridal shop” and “Stella” into her notebook, and placed a question mark beside them.
So, what next? Lacey phoned Philip Sherman. It was a chance she had to take and hoped he wouldn’t mind her contacting him at home.
“Mr. Sherman, it’s Lacey Taylor. Sorry for disturbing you, but I really need to talk to you.”
“Lacey, how are you? I was wondering when you’d phone.” She could sense his smile in his voice. He really was a kind man. Not stopping to answer his question on how she was feeling, she ploughed into her reason for phoning.
“Sally found a bundle of newspapers in the attic, and we came across a lot of articles about a bridal business. Does that ring any bells with you?” Lacey held her breath, awaiting his reply. She knew she was being slightly rude again, but she really couldn’t help it.
There was a prolonged silence. Playing with her hair, wrapping it around her fingers, Lacey kept her mouth shut for a few moments. She didn’t want to push the solicitor, but she felt she would burst with anticipation.
“Well, does it?” Her impatience gained the upper-hand. He didn’t deserve this impolite intrusion on his private time yet she needed answers.
“Lacey, I’m not sure. Your mother, I mean, Lillian, was a very fashion conscious woman; would she have kept the papers? Some of her friends did own boutiques, I remember.” Slight annoyance rang in his voice, Lacey needed to remember he did not have all the answers.
“Oh right.” She felt so discouraged that she regretted the phone call, regretted disturbing him.
She had never allowed for the fact that Lillian may have stored the papers for reasons known only to her. Not everything from the past in the attic would relate to Lacey. She was acting selfishly, and admitted that to herself.
“Thanks, Philip. Sorry again, I’ll talk to you some other time.” Sad and disheartened, she realised the call had been a waste of both their time.
“Lacey, if anything comes to light I’ll contact you, I promise. Okay?” The elderly man sounded upset, too. “Before you go, how’s Willow?”
“
Willow?” The question surprised Lacey. “I’m sure she’s fine. Why?”
“Good, good. Tell Robert I said hello and to contact me again if he needs to.”
Now Lacey was thoroughly confused. Why the fuss about Willow? Had something happened to her sister? Robert and Sally were meeting tonight to discuss Willow, and now Philip Sherman was asking for her.
Lacey tried to push it out of her mind. Her older sister could look after herself, couldn’t she? Lacey had more important work to do, and so once more delved into the old newspapers with vigour. She wasn’t letting this go.
Two hours later, she was shattered. Her head could take no more. Closing up her journal and tidying up the sitting room, she decided it was bedtime. In the morning she would ring Sally and solve the mystery of Willow’s well-being. Maybe it was time to take her head out of the clouds and remember there were others who may need help, too. All of the Taylors had been surprised about Lacey’s parentage, so she needed to stop being self-absorbed and think of them as well.
But the photos of brides and dresses from the old yellowing papers pushed all her good intentions aside, and she fell asleep to dreams of weddings, and churches, and confetti that fell from the skies.
Stella appeared in her dreams. She was standing at an altar as Lacey, dressed in cream lace and heavy brocade, walked up the aisle by her father. But as they approached the altar, Stella wasn’t standing there alone; another woman was near her. When this woman turned towards Lacey, her face was missing. A complete blank.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“This must be serious, Derek, for you to call over to me.” Rob followed his brother-in-law into the kitchen.
“I came home yesterday afternoon and she was thrown across the bed asleep. She was well out of it, Rob. I covered her with a duvet and headed back out for a bite to eat. I left a note,” Derek added quickly, when he saw Robert was going to interrupt.
“When I came back home later last night, I watched some telly and when I went upstairs to bed she was missing.”
“Missing? Is she still missing?” Robert’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
“She arrived home this morning. I tried to phone her last night when I realised she was gone, and only then saw a text that she had sent earlier, asking me to join her.” Derek was upset, his arms flew about the air as he explained, his voice steeped with emotion.
“Is she okay? I mean, she isn’t hurt or anything?” Rob asked.
“She has the mother of all hangovers and refuses to tell me where she was, or what happened.” Derek didn’t try to hide his despair. “I couldn’t face going home straight after work today, so here I am.” He slumped down into a nearby chair at the table, and held his head in his hands.
“Look, she definitely needs counselling. She lost it in the solicitor’s office, totally flipped–”
Derek’s head jerked up, startled by Rob’s words. “Hang on, the solicitor’s office? Why was she at a solicitor’s office? Why didn’t she tell me she was going there?”
He was angry now. He didn’t know whether his wife was losing it or just deliberately pushing him out of her life.
“Derek, Sally is on the way over here. I asked her to call because I felt Willow might listen to her about seeking help. The solicitor’s office was my idea. I needed to chat with him and thought Willow could, too. I thought by talking to Mr. Sherman, she might find closure over Mum’s death and Lacey’s revelation–”
“Hold it right there, Rob. You decided what was best for my wife without talking to me? Now you’re arranging for Sally to talk to her, again without consulting me in events. What is this? Derek obviously can’t handle Willow so I’ll take over the job? Robert, the big man of the family, will sort it all out and the rest of us will fall into line, is that it?” He stood face-to-face with Willow’s brother, his rage barely controlled, his closed fists clenched by his side.
“It’s not like that, mate, not at all.” Robert’s voice was calm. He had the height advantage, but Derek wasn’t going to let that intimidate him.
“Oh, but I think it is, MATE! Stay out of our lives from now on. I came here hoping you could maybe help me, but it’s you and the others that are pushing her over the edge. Do not include Willow in any more bright ideas you have, do you hear me?”
His voice dripping with sarcasm, he pushed past Robert, shouldering him as he went by.
“You Taylors have always interfered with our marriage,” he shot back, and then stormed out of the front door, not bothering to close it. Derek’s fury at the Taylor family annoyed Rob. Grabbing his car keys, Rob followed his brother-in-law out and drove to Aoife’s.
* * *
Sally was surprised her brother was not at home. She tried the doorbell again, then walked round to the back garden and peeped in the windows; there was no sign of him. She took out her mobile and received only his voicemail. After leaving a message, she thought maybe he was over at Willow’s, so she drove towards her sister’s house.
It was now almost seven in the evening. For the first time ever, Sally felt tired and fed up of the family’s dramas. It seemed an age since she had actually indulged herself. At a standstill in the evening traffic, cars and taxis all around her, the constant drone of engines, some revving eager to be moving, Sally decided to hell with it all. She changed direction and drove to the beach.
Sitting on some rocks, Sally composed herself and, after some long deep breaths, felt more settled. The crashing of the waves further out brought to mind memories of good times; nights she had spent sleeping near a beach in campsites. Heaven, she remembered sadly.
Taking in the serene scene before her, she realised how she missed travelling; the freedom of each day being her own to do what she wanted; the peace of knowing any decision she made affected no-one else, that there would be no fall-out from something she said or did. Claustrophobic was what she felt.
Maybe Lacey was correct. Willow had Derek to lean on; Robert was a strong businessman who should be capable of sorting himself out, and he had Aoife; and Lacey...Well, life’s a bitch and unfortunately her little sister had found that out at a younger age than most, that’s all!
Yet, deep in her heart she worried for Lacey. Where would this hunt for her birth mother lead her? Would it be a disaster, or the start of something special?
‘No, no, no,’ Sally murmured aloud. ‘I’m here for me, not others. This is my time, right here, right now.’ She shook herself and gazed out to the dark sea. She needed to focus on her own desires in life; her needs were important, too. Being torn apart by all her siblings was not healthy.
The tide was out and there were only a handful of people about. While dogs chased sticks which their owners flung into the water, children collected shells and inspected rock pools. It was all so idyllic and tranquil, so different from her ruffled home life.
Sally strolled along the beach. The strong high cliffs were peppered with seagulls resting for the night. Only the odd screech of a gull broke up the soothing sound of the waves breaking. She remembered the evening she had come here with friends for an impromptu sing-song around their disposable barbeques. They had gone exploring in the caves and been mesmerised by the many colours mirrored in the cave roof from the water-pools beneath their feet. It was the rippling of these wondrous colours and the dark shadowy corners, teasing you to venture a little bit further, that had encouraged her to travel. There was a whole world out there waiting to be explored, just like the caves of her teenage years.
Darkness was starting to close in.
Reaching the car park, Sal felt refreshed. The salty sea air had cleansed her troubled mind. After Christmas, she would leave, regardless of how the Taylors were. There were areas of deep forests and open oceans waiting for her footprints, and she could not refuse their calling to be explored.
She drove home. Robert, Willow and Lacey could wait until the morning. The world would not collapse in one night just because she, Sally Taylor, had taken time off.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
Lacey and Philip Sherman took their seats in the café, Tea for Two. A popular place, the busy shop was perky with the sound of music and chit-chat. There was a vibrancy about it that would lift even the darkest of thoughts or feelings. The red gingham-patterned tablecloths were cheery and the bold modern prints on the walls kept the tearoom fresh and welcoming.
While Philip was taking what he apologised was an important call, Lacey ordered tea and cream scones. She hoped he would be able to give her something definite to work on, but she also needed to apologise for the way she had handled their last phone call.
“Sorry about that, Lacey.” He returned to the table and sat down.
“I ordered some tea and scones. I hope that’s okay.”
“Perfect. Okay, let’s get to the business at hand,” he muttered.
“Look, before we start, Philip, I need to say sorry. I was rude and selfish the last time we spoke, and you have been nothing but kind to me.”
The solicitor smiled gently. “I know what it’s like to be young and impatient. I accept your apology and thank you. Now, have no more worries about it.”
He cleared his throat and fetched a small moleskin notebook from his inside coat pocket.
“So you’ve news?” Lacey was excited to see him produce the jotter.
“I asked my wife about the bridal boutique story. I hope you don’t mind, but fashion is not my forte.” He stopped as the waitress arrived to their table. A pot of tea and scones were placed in front of them, along with a pot of jam and some fresh cream.
They both thanked the young girl who served them.
“I didn’t reveal any names, Lacey. I only asked her if she remembered anything about that shop.”
“It’s alright, I don’t mind,” Lacey assured him. “Anyone who can shed light is welcome. Did she recall something?”
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