by Melissa Hill
‘Well actually, we wanted to talk to you about something that happened here – in the café, I mean.’
‘Oh?’ Ella looked puzzled as Trish reached into her bag and took out the photocopy they’d made of the article in question. ‘That’s odd, I can’t remember anything of interest every happening –’
But immediately upon catching sight of the headline, and the accompanying photograph of the café, Ella’s memory was well and truly jogged. Her face went white and she stood frozen to the spot.
‘Ella, are you OK?’ Ruth asked.
She shook her head, ‘Yes … I’m fine.’
Trish turned to her and immediately went into journalist mode, ‘Ella what can you tell us about this? What happened that day? Who was responsible?’
‘Well really, it was all such a long time ago I’ve almost forgotten about it by now,’ she said with a tight smile, and Nina noticed her hands were clasped tightly together. ‘So coffee for everyone, yes?’
‘Really? Seems like something like that would be difficult to forget. I mean, it’s not everyday that –’
‘I’m sorry love, but I really don’t have time to stay and chat. Maybe come back later when things aren’t so busy?’
‘But –’
Ella scuttled off, and although the café was pretty full there was nothing pressing that Nina could see, which could only mean that the woman was reluctant – no that was the wrong word – she was afraid to talk about the article.
But why? Had she done something wrong herself? Despite their best efforts back at the library they hadn’t been able to find any follow-up articles in the microfiche. It was as Trish had pointed out ‘almost as if the entire thing had never happened.’
Nina wondered now if they’d been too hasty in probing Ella about it. After all as she was directly involved, then chances were she was also involved in the eventual resolution, whatever that was.
‘Well that was weird,’ Trish said, staring at Ella’s retreating back. ‘Did you see her reaction when I showed her the photocopy? There’s a lot more here than meets the eye, I’m sure of it. Why else would she be so reluctant to tell us anything?’
‘I don’t know Trish, maybe it’s something personal – something she doesn’t want made public knowledge,’ Ruth suggested, echoing Nina’s own thoughts.
‘Well I thought it was a good story back in the library, but now I know it is. And I’m not going to rest until I find out more.’
‘Man, do you ever learn?’ Ruth said pointedly, and Trish flushed. ‘You have no idea what you’re dealing with here. You’re talking about poking into other people’s lives, maybe opening up old wounds.’
‘Ruth’s right, Trish. Clearly, it’s none of our business, and there’s nothing to be gained from pursuing this.’
‘What makes you so sure?’ Trish replied, looking from one to the other. She smoothed the paper out on the table. ‘Look at the date.’
Ruth shrugged. ‘Exactly it was something that happened yonks ago.’
‘No, I mean the actual date.’
‘I’m not sure what you’re getting at, Trish.’
‘Girls, it happened over thirty years ago, the same age we all are now – well apart from Ruth who’s twenty five of course,’ she added jokingly.
But neither Ruth or Nina were laughing. Instead they stared at the article, both finally understanding what Trish was getting at.
‘I don’t believe it,’ Nina whispered, re-reading the headline: Abandoned newborn found on café steps. ‘That baby could be someone we know.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ Ella said, when shortly afterwards they accosted her again. But her face was flushed and her eyes kept darting from left to right as if trying to find an escape route. Had she taken the baby in herself, maybe raised it as her own? Or perhaps there was some temporary arrangement …
Whatever it was, there was no denying that her boss was seriously thrown by the appearance of the article, and their accompanying questions.
‘As I said, it’s a long time ago – really, it’s so long I’d almost forgotten about it myself.’
‘What about the mum?’ Ruth asked, referring to the police appeal mentioned in the piece. ‘Did she ever come forward?’
‘Yes, yes of course. There was no problem … it was all sorted out within a day or two. Really, I don’t know why the three of you are so interested. It’s a nothing story, really.’
‘A nothing story?’ Trish chortled. ‘Ella, it’s probably the most interesting thing that’s ever happened in this town – well apart from Ruth’s big success, of course,’ she added quickly and Ruth smiled. ‘Look, we just want to know who was involved, you know, just for interest’s sake. I mean, the baby is about the same age as us, so chances are we know the person –’
‘And if you did know all the details, how do you think the people involved would feel?’ Ella snapped. ‘Look Trish, for once, just mind your own business. Nothing good will come from you snooping around in things that you have no business with. You need to stop this immediately.’
There was a brief silence as the three were confronted with a side of Ella they had never seen before. Clearly this was something very personal to her.
‘Ah come on Ella, really, it’s no big deal, we’re just curious –’
‘Trish, leave it.’ Nina interjected softly, deciding they should leave the older woman alone. ‘Ella’s right, it is none of our business. Let’s just forget about it.’
Trish was about to say something else but seeing Nina’s exasperated look, seemed to think better of it. ‘Oh all right then,’ she said wearily. ‘I just thought it might be interesting for my book, that’s all.’
But it was a pitiful excuse and they all knew it.
‘Well pet, some things are just better left undisturbed, trust me on that.’ Ella said, sounding somewhat calmer now. ‘Now, I’m sorry but I’d better get back to work.’
‘Would you like me to stay on and help out for a while?’ Nina asked, feeling somewhat guilty. ‘Things seem to have calmed down a little since, but – ’
‘Not at all, Alice and I will be grand.’ Ella headed back towards the kitchen. ‘See you tomorrow morning?’
‘Sure. You know how much I love the early shift,’ Nina joked, thinking that early mornings would no doubt be par for the course once the baby arrived in a few weeks’ time.
The three girls exited the café and drifted down towards the lake.
‘Bloody hell,’ Trish said. ‘The way she acted you’d swear it was Prince William that was left on the front step.’
‘Yes, she was pretty reluctant,’ Ruth said thoughtfully as they walked along.
‘You know, we could still figure this out,’ Trish went on. ‘All we have to do is ask someone else, someone who was around at the time.’
Nina rolled her eyes. ‘Trish, didn’t you hear anything Ella said back there?’
‘Oh come on! We can’t just forget all about it and surely I’m not the only one who’s curious.’ She looked at Ruth. ‘What do you think?’
‘Well …, when Ella was talking back there, something struck me. What if … well, what if she was so adamant that we leave this alone because … well because it was one of us?’
Trish’s eyes widened. ‘You mean the baby? Oh my goodness – I never even thought of that!’
‘You cannot be serious.’ Nina said. ‘Sure we all know that none of our mums would have done that. Abandoned us on a doorstep? Come on?’ Nina certainly knew that Cathy would never in a million years have done something like that. She adored her, always had.
Ruth’s eyes were downcast and she looked vulnerable. ‘The date on the article – it was only a few days after I was born, whereas you two are a little older. It could be me.’
‘Ruth no –’
‘Seriously Nina, it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise. I know I was … an accident.’ She looked ashamed. ‘It’s why I’m an only child.’
And perhaps also why you’ve spent m
ost of your life striving to be accepted, Nina thought silently.
‘Oh.’ For once Trish had little to say on the subject. ‘Well look, if you’re seriously worried it might be that Ruth, it’s your call. We won’t go any further with this. As Ella said, maybe there’s nothing to be gained from pursuing it.’
‘No, I think I’d like to know actually. I mean, it would hurt of course, but at least then I wouldn’t always be wondering, like I am now.’
Nina put an arm around her shoulders. ‘Are you sure? It was a long time ago, remember? And if something like that did happen, it’s really nobody’s business but yours and your family’s.’
Ruth looked out over the large expanse of water, which looked almost black in this light. ‘No really. I think I would like to know.’
The three were silent for a while as they digested the implications of what they’d found, and what else they might eventually discover.
‘So where do we go from here?’ Ruth asked finally.
‘I suppose we just keep asking around,’ Nina ventured. ‘Trish, maybe we could try some of the older people you spoke to before, the ones who were around at the time. Lakeview was tiny back then, surely everyone would have heard about it.’
Trish was looking into the distance, towards the direction of Nina’s house. She seemed to be thinking hard. ‘What about your Dad?’ she asked, turning to look at her.
‘Patrick? What would he know?’ Nina looked dubious.
‘You’re the one who’s always complaining that he’s never put his nose outside of Lakeview, so it’s likely he was around at the time.’ Trish looked from one girl to the other. ‘So maybe he’s the one we should have been talking to from the beginning.’
‘So do you think he’ll know anything?’ Ruth asked as the three made their way across the stone bridge to Patrick’s house.
‘Well if he does, there’s no guarantee he’d tell us anyway,’ Nina replied in an odd tone, and saw both girls look questioningly at her. ‘Let’s just say we haven’t been on the best of terms over the last couple of months – especially since he realised it wasn’t a beach ball I was hiding under here,’ she said wryly. ‘These days we sort of just stay out of each other’s way.’
Ruth sucked air through her teeth. ‘I’m not sure if this is such a good idea then. I mean, he barely even knows me…’
Nina gave a short laugh. ‘Don’t worry, he barely knows me either and I’m his daughter. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’
Soon they reached the house and with Nina leading the way, the three climbed up the steps and into the house. As they entered, Nina called out. ‘Dad? Are you home?’
A sound that resembled something like a grunt came from the direction of the kitchen and the girls exchanged looks. Nina just shook her head and smiled as if to say ‘See what I mean?’
‘Dad? It’s me, and I have some friends with me,’ she said.
It was only then that Patrick peered out of the kitchen, obviously curious.
‘Oh hello,’ he mumbled, and Nina noticed his gaze rest ever so briefly on not only her bump, but Ruth’s too.
Obviously noticing this too, Ruth stepped forward and flashed her best Hollywood smile. ‘Hi Mr Hughes,’ she said amiably. ‘You probably don’t remember me but you fixed up a lot of stuff for my parents over the years. I’m Ruth, Ollie Seymour’s daughter?’
‘Right.’ Patrick said, staring at Ruth’s outstretched arm as if he wasn’t sure what to do with it, and Nina was surprised to see some form of recognition dawn in his eyes. Could her strange old man be a fan of Glamazons? Nah, she couldn’t see it really – Patrick wasn’t really into TV (apart from his obsession with their insides).
But more to the point, could it be that Trish was right – and that he recognised Ruth because she was indeed the abandoned baby from all those years ago?
No, no, she was reaching now – of course her father would have seen Ruth before, if not in recent newspaper articles, then almost certainly when she was growing up in the town. Hadn’t she just said herself that he used to fix things for her family?
‘And of course you know Trish,’ Nina supplied, and Trish in turn waved hello.
Well, no one could say that her dad was a beacon of hospitality, that was for sure, Nina thought, embarrassed that he hadn’t the manners to even say hello, to say nothing of shaking hands. But she reminded herself, they were here for a reason and it wasn’t hospitality.
Patrick looked at her. ‘I’m making dinner but I don’t have enough for everyone,’ he said pointedly.
Nina groaned, mortified. Could he be any more unsociable? ‘That’s OK, we’re not here for that. We actually just wondered if maybe you could help us out with something.’
‘Oh?’ Patrick looked past them, almost instinctively seeking out a TV or electronic appliance of some sort, Nina figured. ‘No, no, we don’t want to fix anything, we just hoped we could pick your brains really.’
He frowned, although it was more a look of confusion than irritation.
‘Seeing as you’ve lived in Lakeview your whole life,’ Trish interjected. ‘Remember last time I was here I was telling you about that book I’m doing?’
There was a short grunt and Nina was sure he wouldn’t have the foggiest idea what her friend was on about, much less a recollection of it, but to her surprise he said: ‘I told you I didn’t have any photographs.’
‘No it’s not that. We actually just came across something in the news archives, something that happened here a long time ago and we were hoping you might remember it.’
Another grunt.
Trish reached into her bag. ‘Do you mind taking a look at this article?’
‘I’d really rather have my dinner.’
‘Look we’re just asking for a quick favour Dad – if you don’t know anything about it, then you don’t know anything about it. If you could just take a look –’
‘Your mother would be a much better source of information, I think. Yes, you should ask her Nina; she would know.’
‘But Mum isn’t here now is she?’ Nina replied through gritted teeth.
‘You should ask her,’ he repeated, as if his daughter hadn’t spoken and she looked to her friends, as if to convey that this was a complete waste of time. Clearly he had no interest whatsoever in helping them and as usual, couldn’t be more brusque and obstinate if he tried.
‘I’m sorry guys,’ she sighed, as Patrick retreated into the kitchen. ‘There’s no point, we might as well just go.’
‘Oh for heaven’s sakes,’ Trish exclaimed following him. ‘Mr. Hughes, really, if you could just take a quick look at this for us, we’ll be out of your hair in no time.’ She offered the piece of paper to Patrick. ‘We were just hoping to find out more about what happened.’
Nina’s father glanced at the piece of paper and he skimmed through it a little before his gaze dropped to the floor.
‘Why did you come to me with this?’ he asked flatly.
Ruth stepped forward. ‘Like we said Mr Hughes, we thought you might remember something about it,’ she replied, her tone eager.
‘Do you know something about it Dad?’
‘Yes, I know something about it.’
Ruth stared at him, as if the strength of her gaze could urge more information out of him. Welcome to my world, Nina thought.
‘What do you know Dad? What happened?’ Almost instinctively, Nina knew that they needed to tread softly with this. You could never coerce anything out of Patrick and if they pushed too hard he would simply clam up and walk out of the room.
‘Please, Mr. Hughes, we’re just curious, none of us have heard anything about this before,’ Trish pleaded.
Patrick exhaled heavily and shook his head. His gaze roamed around the room, as if he was looking for something. But upon closer inspection, Nina realised that there was something in his expression, almost like some kind of internal struggle. She didn’t understand.
‘Mr Hughes, really, it’s not a big deal –’
Nina’s heart began to beat very fast. Something was going on here; something very important but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. Was … he somehow … involved in this?
‘Maybe we should go…’ Ruth ventured quietly. She looked at Patrick. ‘I’m sorry we upset you sir, but we just wanted to find out if you knew anything about this. We thought it could be important, but it doesn’t matter, sorry.’
She and Trish turned to leave, and they looked at Nina who was standing rooted to the spot, her gaze boring into her father’s.
It was like every room in the house had suddenly begun to shrink, the walls bearing in on her. And Nina knew she needed to ask the question, even though she already knew the answer.
‘That baby …’ she began breathlessly, ‘the one that was left on the steps of the café all those years ago. It was me, wasn’t it?’
Patrick looked at her, and as always, his face was expressionless. ‘Yes Nina,’ he replied simply, ‘it was you.’
Chapter 36
Nina stood there, hurt beyond her wildest dreams. She was unable to speak, unable to move, barely able to breathe. Trish stood frozen next to Patrick, looking at him in horror. Ruth too was rooted to the spot, as if afraid to move.
Meanwhile, after dropping his bombshell, Nina’s father had simply turned around and resumed making his dinner.
She’d been abandoned as a baby, cast aside by her parents, by Cathy – but why? What had she done wrong? What was wrong with her – or more to the point what was wrong with her father? How could he just dump something like that on her and then go back to his business as if nothing at all had happened?
‘Nina…’ Finally she felt Ruth touch her arm, which broke through her reverie.
‘I don’t believe you!’ she cried, addressing the back of Patrick’s head. ‘Mum would never do something like that. She loves me! She’s always done everything for me – you’re the one who was –’
Then she stopped short, realising something. ‘Oh no,’ she whispered, talking to herself more than anyone else. ‘It wasn’t Mum who left me there, was it? It was you.’