Babs smiled and nodded. ‘Like my father.’
That was the first Will had heard about that. How strange. He wondered if the sea had always been in his blood.
Marie smiled softly. ‘Willard never had a family, so he joined young, making his own.’ She nodded at him. ‘But now he’s older, he’s decided to find out who his parents are. Where he comes from, you know, that sort of thing.’
Babs sat up straighter, looking as though she was studying him. ‘I loved my parents. Good people.’
Will warmed, pleased with the knowledge there were good people in his family. At least his grandmother seemed to have had a happy life.
Marie took a sip of tea, then cleared her throat. ‘Willard did one of those gene test things that tell you who you’re related to. He found some distant relatives.’
Babs perked up. ‘What did you find, love?’
Will smiled softly. ‘I found out I was related to you.’ There was silence for a while, before he continued. ‘Some distant relatives told me you’re my grandmother, then I did some research. Birth certificates and all that, but I don’t know much so far. I was hoping you might be able to fill in some blanks.’ He steadied his breathing and waited.
‘You okay, Babs?’ asked Marie. ‘Do you understand what this man is asking?’
Babs started to twiddle with the gold bracelet on her left wrist. Her thin lips twisted to one side as she assessed him from head to toe. ‘I thought that was you as soon as I saw your face. I knew you would come back one day. I felt it.’ She kept eye contact, not showing much emotion, more intrigue. ‘You were adopted.’
Will shook his head. ‘No, I wasn’t. I was raised in and out of care homes for most of my childhood, then one foster mum took me in when I was twelve.’
Babs looked confused. ‘My grandson was adopted. I was told.’
‘By who?’ he asked gently, not wanting to force anything, for fear of her clamming up.
‘My little girl told me. Your mum. She couldn’t cope, see. I tried, but I’ve always had bad health, and she didn’t want youaround so . . .’ Her hand met her lips. ‘Sorry, love. That sounded terrible.’
He didn’t feel too great either, but he kept that info privy.
Marie stepped in. ‘We all handle life our own way.’ Her smile was sympathetic, but it didn’t soften the blow Will had just taken to his solar plexus.
There was no way he was going to get a happy ending, by the sound of things, but he still had questions whirling.
‘Why did she give up her baby?’ he asked, thinking that a simple enough start.
Babs lowered her eyes to her bracelet again. ‘She wasn’t very well. Good girl, until she wasn’t. It was that lad’s fault. He made her ill. Took my baby away, he did.’ Her lips pursed as her eyes narrowed.
‘You don’t have to talk about it, Babs,’ said Marie, and although Will agreed on some level, he wanted to know the truth.
Babs wiped her hands together. ‘Done and dusted,’ she said sadly. ‘Gone now. Nothing I can do.’
Will shuffled forward, placing his tea on the coffee table. ‘I’d like to know about her.’
There was a shift in the old woman’s eyes as she turned his way. ‘You look like my husband. He was a handsome chap as well.’
‘Tell me about my mum, please,’ he said gently, hoping she would take pity on his needs.
‘She met a boy. He was no good. Got her taking all sorts. She was never the same. She had you, and he was angry. Told her to get shot, else she couldn’t live with him. It was only me here, and she wouldn’t listen. What did I know? I was just her daft old mother.’ She breathed out a small laugh as she twiddled with that bracelet.
‘So my mum was on drugs?’ He needed the confirmation, as it seemed like that was what Babs was saying.
Babs glanced up. ‘She had lovely skin. After him, she was such a mess. Broke my heart, Marie.’
Marie moved to her side to hold her hand. ‘She’s at peace now. Let that comfort you.’
It wasn’t comforting Will. ‘She died?’
‘Long time ago,’ said Babs. ‘So young.’
