Sam let out a defeated sigh and sat down on a settee in the foyer. ‘I need to ask you something.’
Elle thought she knew what it was, and she was right.
‘The story you’ve written – was it true?’ Sam’s eyes searched hers.
Elle nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
‘But your writing suggests you’re looking for your biological mum, so does that mean Cora – Jenny – is your adoptive mum?’
Elle shook her head.
‘I don’t understand, Elle.’
Elle took a deep breath. She sat down next to him.
‘Irene is my foster mum. I’ve only just been reunited with Jenny. It’s a long story.’
Sam dropped his head into his hands and was silent for a while.
‘How old are you, Elle?’ he asked finally, his eyes gleaming with unshed tears.
Her throat became tight, then her tears fell. ‘I’ve just turned thirty.’ As soon as the words left her mouth, she could see him doing the maths.
‘You’re Matt Harrison,’ she said bravely. ‘The man Cora loved – the man she disappeared on.’
A tear ran down his face. ‘She told you?’
Elle nodded.
‘I loved that woman with all my heart. She just never came home. I thought she must be dead. I filed a missing-persons report, and I searched and searched, but there was no trace of her anywhere. My life turned upside down in an instant and I’ve never got over it. She was my first love. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about her and wonder what the hell happened to her. And then after all these years, she appears out of the blue.’
Elle stood up and stared out of the window over the grounds of Starcross Manor. She spotted two familiar figures sitting on a bench. ‘There they are,’ she said.
Matt looked out of the window then hurried outside towards them, with Elle following close behind.
Jenny’s face was stained with tears, and Irene’s arm was draped around her shoulder.
‘Cora,’ Matt gasped, out of breath, as he stopped in front of her.
‘Hi.’ She managed a weak smile.
Irene squeezed her knee and stood up. ‘Come on, Elle. We need to leave them to talk.’
Elle hesitated but then followed Irene’s lead, looking over her shoulder as they slowly headed back inside.
‘How are you?’ Irene asked tentatively.
‘I’m not sure. I really can’t believe this is happening.’ Elle halted and Irene took both her hands in hers. ‘That’s my father.’
Irene’s eyes locked with hers. ‘Yes, it is.’ She hugged Elle as the tears fell.
‘I’ve found my father,’ Elle whispered in awe.
ChapterForty-Five
One month later
‘Are you ready?’ Noah called up to Elle. ‘The taxi’s here.’
