‘I’ve got a letter from my mother.’
‘Huh?’ replied Cam, suddenly noticing the strange atmosphere that had flooded the room.
Molly held his gaze and repeated, ‘I have a letter from my mother.’
Chapter Eighteen
Molly stared at the envelope for a while longer. Everything seemed surreal. Bethan Williams had changed her name and reinvented herself to escape an abusive relationship, which made a lot of sense to Molly. Cam moved from the chair and perched on the coffee table in front of her. Surrounded by silence, Molly opened the envelope carefully and pulled out a sheet of white paper. She stared at the words on the page, but found it hard to focus.
Cam touched her arm and Molly jumped. ‘Would you like me to read it?’
Blinded by tears she nodded and handed the letter over to Cam, her thoughts swinging like a pendulum between apprehension and excitement. All eyes were on Cam. He swallowed then began to read aloud.
My Dearest Molly,
I’m struggling as how to begin this letter and I’m not even sure you will ever read it. You were a wee girl when we were parted and since then, you have always been in my head and my heart. Not a day has passed without me thinking of you.
It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made to put you up for adoption, but my life had spiralled out of control. After my own parents had passed away, I found life incredibly difficult and along the way made some bad decisions, which included a toxic relationship with a man – your father. Things were going from bad to worse and I knew my main priority was to make sure you were safe. I met with Di and Doug on numerous occasions before the adoption was finalised and they seemed so lovely. I hope your life with them has been a happy one.
Cam looked up at Molly to see tears streaming down her face. ‘Do you want me to go on?’
Molly nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
Your father was a drug addict and as much I loved him I feared for my own safety so I planned my escape with the help of a woman from the women’s shelter. She gave me clothes and food and I stayed at the shelter when I left him. This is when I decided to change my name and make a fresh start so I took a risk and moved from the safety of the shelter to the small village of Heartcross. I didn’t have a job or anywhere to stay but a kind man called Ted Bird gave me a chance at life. My best days were spent at The Old Bakehouse learning how to bake and more importantly being a part of a family I truly loved.
‘I still don’t understand why Lilian would leave after we welcomed her into our family,’ murmured Dixie.
‘I think I’m coming to that,’ said Cam, looking from Molly to Bree, whose eyes were fixed on him.
After getting my life back on track I can’t believe what I am about to write: not only did I let my good friend Ted down, I also let myself down. After some years your father tracked me down. He walked into The Old Bakehouse as bold as brass. I’d escaped for nearly fourteen years and there he was standing in front of me. I was shocked and scared.
He claimed he was clean and that he did it for me and all he wanted was his family back. I fell for his chat and his charm and even after everything that had happened, I agreed to meet him that evening. Which I did. He’d organised a picnic at Primrose Park and pulled out all the stops, including champagne. The sun was shining and everything seemed quite relaxed. We shared a moment and soon after, while we were lying on the blanket under the stars, he told me that all he’d ever thought about for the last ten years was us. He wasn’t aware you had been adopted as I’d escaped his clutches the day after you left. When he was talking, I noticed a figure by the bandstand and when he excused himself I watched him go over to speak with the stranger and realised that your father wasn’t clean as he handed over money in exchange for a package. I was engulfed with fear. I didn’t want to go back to that life and I was stupid to have agreed to meet him.
Soon after, I made my excuses and left, promising I would see him again but knowing I wouldn’t. When I arrived home, I put on a film and after Ted went to bed I knew I needed to take the opportunity to run again. That man would have brought a lot of trouble to Ted’s business and to me and I was frightened of what he would do, especially when he realised that you were no longer with me. So I left in the dead of night without a word to anyone. I had to start again and hope he wouldn’t find me.
It is just over eight months later now and here I am writing this letter to you while lying in a hospital bed after just giving birth to your sister, Bree Allen. She is as gorgeous as you were.
I have no idea how to finish this letter, but I hope it’s not the end, just the beginning and that one day we will all be reunited. Your sister and I would love to meet up with you soon.
Keeping looking at the moon until we can be reunited. Loon moon.
I love you,
Lilian x
Molly’s head was whirling as Cam finished reading. She was never going to be reunited with Lilian but sitting next to her on the couch was her sister, and not just a half-sister. Even though there was a terrible sadness in the room that Lilian wasn’t here for this moment, Molly knew she had been brave to hand her over for adoption for her own safety. It had been the right thing to do in the circumstances.
‘Lilian must have been scared witless to give up her life again and run from everything that had made her feel so safe,’ said Dixie.
‘And you really didn’t know anything about Molly when Lilian started working here?’ asked Cam.
‘Absolutely nothing, and if Ted did, he never breathed a word to me,’ Dixie replied.
Molly took the letter from Cam and her eyes flicked over it quickly. Then she turned towards Bree. ‘You’re my sister,’ she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
‘I am,’ replied Bree. ‘I know you will never see Mum again but she was one in a million, and I’m so sorry she isn’t here for this.’
Molly’s eyes searched Bree’s.
