‘What are you thinking?’ Cam asked, slowly following the line of traffic towards the junction at the bottom of the road.
Molly took a breath. ‘I’m not really sure. That case might provide all the answers or none at all.’
‘There’s only one way to find out,’ Cam replied, giving Molly a sideward glance.
Chapter Sixteen
After they pulled up outside The Old Bakehouse, Cam took the suitcase around to the back door whilst Molly stepped into the shop. Bree was in place behind the counter and Molly looked around in surprise. There was hardly any bread left in the baskets. ‘Woah! You’ve been busy,’ said Molly.
‘Run off my feet and I’ve loved every second of it!’ Bree beamed. ‘And not one single problem except maybe there weren’t enough pastries for all those that wanted one.’
‘The villagers must be venturing out again now those cold winds have dropped.’
‘Did you have a good meeting?’ asked Bree.
‘We did,’ replied Molly. ‘But is it possible for you to hold the fort for maybe another thirty minutes?’
‘It’ll be my pleasure.’
Molly walked down the hallway and peered into the living room, which was empty. Then she heard Cam’s voice from the top of the stairs. ‘I’m up here.’
Quickly taking off her coat and shoes Molly arrived at the top of the stairs, where Cam ushered her into their bedroom. He quietly closed the door behind her. The suitcase was lying in the middle of the bed.
They both perched on the bed, and Cam pulled the suitcase towards them. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’
Feeling emotional, Molly watched as Cam undid the buckle then unzipped the suitcase. He pushed open the lid and Molly gave a tiny gasp – lying on the very top was her mum and dad’s wedding photograph. She leant forward and picked it up. ‘Look at them there, they look so young. My mother is so beautiful and my father was so handsome. I’ve often said that I think finding your one true love is luck. They were indeed very lucky.’ Molly’s voice faltered as she laid the photograph on the bed.
‘Indeed they were,’ agreed Cam. ‘Just like we are.’
Taking a deep breath, Molly began to look through the stuff. There were photographs from when her parents moved into their first house. Photographs of Molly’s sports days at school alongside all of her school reports.
‘“Molly is a joy to teach! Her kindness towards others never goes unnoticed. A caring and dedicated child,”’ teased Cam, reading from one of the reports.
‘Behave!’ Molly swiped his arm. ‘I can’t really see much of any interest,’ she said, shifting through her parents’ memories.
‘What’s that?’ Cam pointed to a blue plastic folder that was sticking out from underneath a pile of nativity pamphlets from Molly’s primary school.
She picked it up then opened it. Her heart began to beat fast when she saw exactly what the official document was. With a shaky hand she handed it to Cam. ‘My birth certificate. I can’t look. Can you look for me? I feel like my heart is going to pound out of my chest.’ Molly closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. ‘Does it say who my mother is?’ She clutched Cam’s knee and stared straight in front of her, trying to prepare herself for what Cam was going to say.
He nodded. ‘It does … but it’s not Lilian Allen. The name on your birth certificate says your mother is Bethan Williams, your father is unknown.’
Molly exhaled and turned towards him. ‘It’s not Lilian Allen?’
Cam was shaking his head. ‘Here, take a look.’
Molly gazed down at the birth certificate. ‘Bethan Williams. I’ve never heard that name before.’
‘How are you feeling?’ asked Cam tentatively.
Molly was still staring at the name. ‘I’ve no idea. Maybe … a little disappointed? I suppose I had this romantic notion that it would be Lilian, and I was about to be reunited with my long-lost sister … that I didn’t know was lost. I thought everyone was going to live happily ever after together. Honestly, I was convinced. I just thought the fact that Bree sparked my flashbacks was some sort of sign.’
Cam lightly tapped the birth certificate. ‘And what about Bethan Williams?’
Molly shrugged. ‘It’s a lot to take in.’
‘Aren’t you just a wee bit curious?’
