Claire smiled serenely. “Nancy. What time are we meeting her?”
“Ten,” I said. “I feel nervous.”
“Why? There’s not going to be any huge shock as she already knows pretty much everything.”
I shrugged. I’d been in touch with Nancy Kilpatrick for a few weeks, initiating conversation via email and explaining about the possible links to her family that I’d found at the priory. Thankfully, nothing had surprised her as she’d always been aware that there had been a family secret and over the years had kind of worked out what it was. “I guess it’s because I’m handing over part of the house’s history. That era has ended now and I suppose there’s some degree of closure.”
Claire nodded. “I get that. When will it be ready?”
“October,” I said. “The planning permission for the extension on the back has just been granted so the builders can start work on that now. It’s going to be an amazing home for Nick and Katie.”
“And their dozen kids,” Claire said, looking over at the twins who were ganging up on Killian and their father. “Katie’s officially adopting them, you know.”
I gave a small nod. “I didn’t know, but I’m not surprised. I heard them call her mum.”
Claire laughed. “They did it for the first time a few weeks ago. We were round at their house. Katie fell apart in tears and the girls climbed all over her, trying to wipe away her tears. It was the sweetest thing.”
“How do the twins’ grandparents feel – on their mum’s side?” I said. The twins’ mother had died in an RTA when the girls were just a few months old. Her and Nick’s relationship had been one of friends with benefits and they decided to co-parent as she was a few years older and when she got pregnant it was the right time for her. Nick had been a single father with support from both sets of grandparents until he had met Katie through a case of Claire’s around a year ago.
“They’re really happy about it. Katie’s never tried to pretend that their daughter didn’t exist. Instead she’s worked with them to make memory books and collected some of her belongings to show the girls when they’re old enough. And they like Katie,” Claire said, smiling at her soon to be sister-in-law. “She’s the best thing to have happened to them all.”
“Do you two ladies want a lift to Oxford?” Eli said, walking over with his hands in his jeans pockets.
My stomach flipped at the sight of him, something I’d gotten used to over the past few weeks.
“I need to buy some new shirts.”
His eyes fell on me, his lips curving into a small smile. “And I’d like to meet Nancy too.”
“I think that can be arranged,” I said. “You sure you don’t want to hang here?”
Eli shook his head. “Something about a run was mentioned. I think I’m going to pass.”
“Wise move,” Claire said. “Killian’s thinking of doing one of these stupid Iron Man things. He’ll be wanting training partners.”
Eli raised his brows and looked amused. “That’s not going to be me. Has he explained how much time he’s going to have to put into training for it?”
“That’s why he’s aiming to do it in ten years’ time,” Claire said. “What time shall we set off?”
Oxford was quiet in the sunshine. Most people seemed to have migrated to the river with picnics and blankets, leaving the city in a golden slumber.
Nancy was waiting for us outside a café that was usually brimming with students, but now was filled with tourists instead. I recognised her from her picture on the hospital website: she was slim and toned, ash blonde hair piled up on her head in a messy bun. I knew she was in her late forties, but she looked younger.
“Ava,” she said, standing and greeting me with a hand shake. Thank you for meeting me here.”
“It wasn’t a problem. This is my sister, Claire and my boyfriend, Elijah. Both have been involved in the priory and tracing some of its history,” I said, the word boyfriend still feeling unfamiliar in my mouth. We’d given up on not having labels, otherwise it was too much of an explanation.
We sat down at the table, the waitress coming out with menus. I ignored the choice of drinks and cakes and instead rummaged in the bag for the pretty box I’d bought to store the artefacts in.
Claire was talking to Nancy about the weather and London and her work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a renowned children’s hospital. I sat and tried to listen, aware of Eli’s hand on my knee as if he was aware I was nervous.
“So,” Nancy said, smiling at me. “You come bearing family heirlooms…”
I nodded and swallowed loudly. “Yes. It was a bit of a surprise really.”
She nodded, not looking surprised. “I knew from being a little girl that my great grandparents had been a priest and a nun. Nothing was ever really said about it, other than to tell me not to talk about it. It was one of those things that everyone knew but no one spoke about.”
“What else do you know about them?”
