Free Family Secrets by Jenny Lane Page B

that’s why people keep asking for me.”
    “I’m afraid that’s not all – there was a visitor,” Fiona said dramatically.
    Rhianna frowned. “How d’you mean – a visitor ? We often have visitors.”
    “This one was from the press – the chap said he had a friend in Kent who’d obviously tipped him off about the raid – wanted to know where Miss Soames was. Don’t worry; I didn’t give you away – stuck to my story.”
    “Thanks . So those people who phoned up – were they from the press too?”
    Fiona spread her hands. “Possibly – no idea... Anyway, let’s forget about it. Look, why don’t you come round to supper at mine tonight? Dave’s got a darts match with his mates.”
    Rhianna suddenly felt tired. The emotional time of last few days was catching up with her.
    “Thanks but there are a few things I ought to do.”
    Seeing Fiona’s disappointed face she said, “Tell you what – come to me. We’ll have a take-away and some more catch-up time.”
    “OK - and you can tell me all about the gorgeous Laurie.”
    *
    The gorgeous Laurie was sharing a tray of tea with Letitia, even as Fiona spoke.
    “She’s a truly lovely girl, Laurie,” Letitia told him warmly.
    He nodded, “She certainly seems to be. I’m pleased it’s working out for you.”
    “It seems Joe hadn’t said anything to her about what happened all those years ago,” she said slowly.
    “And I take it you haven’t told her either?” he prompted gently.
    She twisted her hands in her lap. “No, not yet. We need to get to know each other a bit more before then. Our relationship is still rather – fragile.”
    He gave her a searching glance. “And is ours, Tish?”
    Her head shot up. “No, of course not - whatever makes you say that, Laurie? Oh, I think I see where you’re coming from.”
    He nodded. “You didn’t tell myself or Tina what caused the rift between Rhianna’s father and Reg.”
    There was sadness in her eyes. She stroked Tansy absently.
    “No – well, sometimes things are best left unsaid, and it was all a long time ago. There was enough upset then and I don’t want it to happen again.”
    He nodded. “I understand your sentiments, but I suspect that this time you might have to rake up the past in order to move forward.”
    Letitia knew that he was talking sense. She sighed. “Yes, maybe you’re right. Oh, dear some decisions can be very difficult, can’t they?”
    “Absolutely - such as who’s going to have that last scone. Shall we cut it in half?”
    *
    When Rhianna got home, she had an urge to go upstairs to look at the picture of Anna Soames. It was beginning to hold a strange fascination for her. It was already dark and the attic was not well lit, so she decided to wait for another day.
    She unpacked, sorted out a pile of laundry for the wash and leafed through the mail which was mainly junk.
    She was just about to ring her grandmother when she suddenly remembered the keepsake Letitia had given her. It would be better to take a look first so that she could thank her properly.
    She made a cup of tea and curled up on the sofa. She opened the package carefully. Inside, she found a sketch-book, a thick school exercise book labelled in bold writing, Joseph Delroy , Nature Study , and a pen and pencil set engraved with her father’s name.
    The tears flowed as she examined them. All these years her grandmother had kept them. Had she hoped that one day she would be reunited with her son?
    The sketches mostly had dates on the bottom and had obviously been from her father’s art college days. There were two or three pencil drawings of a very lovely young woman and Rhianna didn’t need to be told that the model was Anna Soames.
    As she closed the book a photograph fell out. It was of a group of young people all laughing at some joke. She didn’t recognise any of them at first, and then she picked out her father and, standing next to him, an attractive woman who had to be Anna. On the other side of