‘So you think he might be lying toyouabout what happened to her?’ I ask, glancing cautiously at her.
She answers with a small nod. ‘Do you think it really was suicide?’ she asks, such uncertainty in her voice it tears a hole inside me.
‘It must have been. The conclusion was that she’d jumped, wasn’t it?’ I reply carefully. After glancing again at Lina and noting her eyes are still closed, I continue quietly. ‘Your father didn’t have anything to do with her death, Evie. I think you know that, in your heart. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s even rerouted the plumbing on building projects to avoid disturbing wildlife habitats.’
A frown crosses Evie’s face, and she nods thoughtfully again, then looks away.
As she fixes her gaze on the side window again, I think back to what Jack had told me about his wife. He’d been devastated, visibly, when he’d talked of her, the way she died, her mental health problems. Had everything he’d said been the truth, though? Worry niggles away at me as I realise I only have his version of events. I’m doubting him, I realise, swayed by Lina’s ridiculous accusations, which were obviously the product of a confused mind. Surely the police would have arrested him if they suspected he had played a part in her death. I try to reassure myself, but I can’t quite manage it.
After a moment, I feel Evie’s gaze on me. ‘Was he seeing you before Mum died?’ she asks suddenly, astounding me. ‘Were you two involved before we went on that cruise?’
‘No,’ I reply firmly. ‘I was married for many years, Evie. I lost my husband and my little boy. I was struggling with my grief right up until I got together with your father.Hewas strugglingwith his own grief. We helped each other through a dark period in our lives. If anyone’s told you anything different, then?—’
‘We’re here,’ Evie says, cutting me short. ‘It’s the flat above the empty shop on the right. You can park in front of it.’
Pulling up, I glance at her curiously. ‘She lives here?’ I ask, surprised. There’s no reason I should be, I suppose. Lina is obviously on her own. I wonder whether her husband, Natalia’s stepfather, has passed away or whether they might have split up. Something had obviously happened between him and Natalia. Jack had said something about her being at a vulnerable age, Lina turning her back on her, and I’d gleaned that she’d suffered at her stepfather’s hands. Whatever happened, the man clearly isn’t around any more, and looking at where Lina is now living, above a shop in a run-down property, one of many on the high street, it would appear that she’s struggling financially.
‘She can’t afford anywhere else.’ Evie confirms it. ‘I have a key. I’ll go and open up,’ she adds, climbing out of the car.
Now I’m really taken aback. If she has a key to Lina’s flat, she’s clearly become quite close to her. I had no idea. Obviously Jack didn’t either.
As she goes to open the door at the entrance to the building, I help Lina out.
She smiles sweetly and takes hold of the hand I offer her. ‘I mustn’t give in,’ she sings softly. Once she’s safely on the pavement, she looks at me and her smile fades. ‘Natalia?’ she whispers, her eyes growing wide with fear. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’
SIXTEEN
As I look Lina over, my heart breaks for her. She’s said some awful, frightening things, but she’s obviously extremely confused, as demonstrated by the fact that she appears not to know where she is for a moment. When I go through the front door of her flat, I’m deeply concerned for her. The stairs coming up, which she could barely manage, were bad enough, strewn with litter and thick with dust. The flat itself is appalling, freezing cold, dark and dingy, and so tiny, one room combining a small living area and kitchenette, with a bedroom leading off. There are boxes everywhere, overflowing with magazines, old books and documents. Clothes spew from carrier bags. The coffee table is piled high with newspapers and food-encrusted plates, providing a feast for the flies. I can see from where I’m standing that the sink is also overflowing with unwashed crockery.
I press the back of my hand to my nose as the pungent smell of sewage reaches my nostrils. ‘It’s from the shop,’ Evie says, glancing at me as she begins collecting dirty plates and dumping them in the kitchen area. ‘The plumbing’s backed up. I tried to call a local plumber, but no one got back to me. They’re obviously not interested in doing small jobs.’
I note the look as she glances again at me, one of anger and disillusionment, and I gather she hadn’t considered mentioning it to Jack, who could have taken a look or got one of his team to. Clearly Lina has communicated that he doesn’t want anything to do with her.
Coming back, Evie helps Lina with the coat she’s struggling to unbutton, then wraps an arm around her and steers her across to the sagging sofa. After helping her to sit down, she fetches a throw from the back of the sofa, arranging it over her knees, then bends to scoop up a box that’s been abandoned in the middle of the floor. I almost jump out of my skin as something scurries from beneath it, its thin, scaly tail dragging behind it telling me it’s one of my own worst nightmares. If the place is infested with mice, I daren’t think what other kind of vermin might be lurking.
‘This is awful,’ I say quietly, joining Evie as she carries the box to the front door. ‘It’s not at all suitable for someone with Lina’s health issues.’ With some serious work it might be habitable, but then there are the stairs, which I could see had left her breathless.
Evie gives me a look. ‘She doesn’t have much choice,’ she says, continuing to attempt to tidy up. ‘She can’t afford anywhere else, and she has no family except me,’ she adds pointedly. ‘She won’t be here long anyway. The money-grabbing landlord’s serving eviction notices. He’s selling the building to be developed into luxury apartments rather than spend any money on improving the existing flats.’
‘I’ll be fine, my lovely.’ Lina smiles wanly. ‘The place soon warms up with the fire on, and I’m sure I’ll find somewhere else.’
Where else? If this is all she can afford, isn’t she bound to end up somewhere equally appalling? My gaze goes to the gas fire, which is ancient and has probably never been serviced.
‘Sorry about the mess.’ She indicates the many overspilling bags and boxes. ‘I couldn’t bear to part with Natalia’s things, but there’s not much room here, I’m afraid.’
‘They’re her memories,’ Evie says. ‘Reminders of my mother.’
She’s close to tears, I realise, and I feel so bad for her. For Lina too. She can’t stay here. I doubt Jack will be very pleased, but I can’t think of any alternative than for her to come and live with us for a while, especially as she’s about to be evicted anyway. It’s clear she’s struggling to manage on her own. Evie’s obviously concerned for her, and from her determination earlier, she’s not about to abandon her.
‘She could stay with us,’ I offer tentatively. ‘At least until we can get somewhere more suitable sorted out.’ I glance from Evie to Lina. ‘The annexe was converted into a granny flat. It will need a few things, bed linen and so on, but it’s not being used, so…’
Evie’s expression is a combination of surprise and confusion. ‘But what about Dad?’ she asks doubtfully. ‘He’s not going to be thrilled about it, is he?’
‘I’ll talk to him. He’ll come round,’ I say with an optimism I don’t feel. ‘He was shocked when Lina turned up out of the blue. And by some of the things she said. He was bound to be.’ I glance again at Lina, who is gathering the throw more tightly around her. ‘We would all need to try hard to make it work, but for the moment it seems like the only sensible option. She can’t stay here.’
‘Nan?’ Evie looks across to her, her expression hopeful. ‘What do you think?’
Lina frowns. ‘I’m not sure,’ she murmurs. ‘I don’t want to be a burden.’
