‘Oh, Elle, but look at you now.’ Pippa squeezed her knee. ‘And Irene is the best surrogate mum anyone could ask for.’
Elle smiled. ‘I know she is. I’m very lucky that we found each other.’
‘I didn’t have a clue that Irene wasn’t your biological mum. You even look similar,’ she said, sipping her tea.
‘I think it’s the hair,’ she replied, twirling a strand around her finger.
‘And you have the same surname.’ Pippa looked puzzled.
Elle nodded. ‘Yes, I changed mine by deed poll.’
‘Honestly, I’d have never guessed in a million years.’
‘It was Irene’s idea, just like she suggested I write my story for the competition.’
‘After reading it, I think you’ve got a very good chance of winning.’ Pippa smiled. ‘Have you any clues about your biological parents?’
Elle shook her head. ‘No – except for my mother’s name. Remember, on my birthday, I didn’t come home with you on the bus?’
‘Yes.’
‘That’s when I filled in the form and started the search for her. I’d wondered for years and always thought she might come looking for me … but I also wondered if some things were best left in the past.’
‘There could be numerous reasons she hasn’t come looking.’
‘Such as?’
‘She might be worried about rejection, or that you could be settled and happy, and her sudden reappearance might catapult your life into disarray.’
‘I suppose.’
‘Do you know why she didn’t keep you? Did she leave any kind of letter of explanation?’ Pippa asked tentatively.
Elle shook her head. ‘No, all that I have is an old rent card with a name, address and date of birth but I don’t know where that came from. I don’t know anything else, except my surname before I changed it was Hansley.’
‘Did you say you only started the search last week?’
‘Yes, on my birthday, using the Salvation Army service. I’ve tried googling her for years but I’ve never found anything.’
‘What happens now?’
‘I sit and wait.’
‘Wesit and wait,’ Pippa corrected her. ‘Is this the reason you’re constantly checking your emails?’
‘You don’t miss a trick.’
Pippa leaned over and touched her arm affectionately. ‘I’ll be here for you every step of the way.’
‘I’ve at least had an acknowledgement email to say the Salvation Army have received my form. Who knows how long it will take, but you know how it is when you’re checking your emails every two minutes, hoping the news you want has landed in your inbox.’
‘I definitely know that feeling. I keep checking mine hoping that Harry Styles has finally noticed me on Twitter and thinks I’m sex on legs,’ Pippa said, with a tiny laugh.
‘I think there’s more chance of my email landing than yours.’
‘Yep, you’re probably right. And are you really going to enter this in the competition?’ Pippa asked, nodding towards the laptop.
‘Do you honestly think it’s good enough?’
