Free Daisy's Secret by Freda Lightfoot Page A

keep and which should be consigned to the fire. I feel safe in assuming that any letters or papers she has left, she is quite happy for me to read.’
    ‘OK, good point. Hadn’t thought of it that way.’ A slight pause and then he added. ‘Anything interesting?’
    It was on the tip of her tongue to say she wouldn’t tell him if there were when he picked up the guest book she’d just been reading and flipped it open. ‘Ah yes, I remember her showing me this once, telling me about some of these people.’
    ‘She talked to you about them?’ Despite her initial antipathy to the guy, Laura couldn’t disguise her surprise. She was instantly intrigued, wanting to know more.  
    He glanced up, recognising the interest in her voice. ‘Sure, why not? We were near neighbours for almost ten years, and she was on her own, so enjoyed a bit of a gossip. I was very fond of Daisy.’
    ‘I didn’t see you at her funeral.’
    He gave a sad little chuckle. ‘She gave me firm instructions not to come. Said she hated the things, had been to more in her life time than anyone ever should and too many folk either wept and mourned with little sincerity, or started sharing out the household silver before the incumbent was reclining in her grave.’
    They both laughed and Laura admitted there was some truth in the comment.
    ‘Genuine grief, Daisy said, should be carried out in private, and I was to drink a toast to her instead, and get on with my life. Her philosophy was to live for today, and let tomorrow take care of itself.’
    ‘There are some who might consider that to be a dangerous policy.’
    ‘Not Daisy.’
    ‘I wish I’d known her better,’ Laura burst out, suddenly envious of this man’s inside knowledge of her grandmother.
    ‘If you want to hear more, I’d be happy to tell you. Why don’t you come for supper tonight and I’ll tell you everything I know, as much as I can remember anyway.’
    Despite her curiosity, Laura instinctively backed off from the speculative light she recognised in his eyes. She really didn’t need any further complications in her life right now. Not until she’d finally made up her mind what to do about Felix. She shook her head. ‘Thanks, another time maybe.’
    He looked disappointed. ‘Oh, I thought you were genuinely interested in Daisy, and not just in whatever it is she left you.’
    Again Laura’s cheeks started to burn, and the tone of her reply was stringent. ‘I am.’
    ‘Well then, come to supper. You have to eat after all, and it is a Friday, which is as good a reason as any.’ He glanced at the book and stabbed a blunt tipped finger on a name. ‘I could tell you how she met Harry Driscoll for instance, the love of her life.’
    ‘Harry? But that wasn’t my grandfather’s name. At least - I don’t think it was.’
    ‘Was it, or wasn’t it?’
    For the life of her, she couldn’t remember. Had she ever been told his Christian name, or simply not paid attention? He’d died before she was even born. She knew a great deal about her maternal grandparents, who were sweet and supportive and had recently retired to Torquay. But of her father’s family she knew less than nothing, which wasn’t at all surprising. What she did know was that her father’s surname, her own maiden name, wasn’t Driscoll. ‘Where did she meet this Harry Driscoll, and if he was the love of her life, why didn’t she marry him? Was he killed in the war?’
    ‘Oh dear, you really don’t know anything at all, do you?’ Laughing, he shrugged his wide shoulders and swung away from her, back towards the door. ‘But, if you’re not hungry, either for food or information right now, I’ll leave you in peace. Give me a call if you change your mind.’ And to her utter fury and frustration, he strolled calmly away.

 
    Chapter Five
    Daisy and the children slept the clock round, waking late the next morning. It being a Saturday, still with no sign of their host, and facing the prospect of an empty