She was still thinking about Tom’s words. If there was a reasonable explanation for what happened, then why didn’t he take his chance and explain it to her? She felt so confused and just wanted the truth, some sort of closure, so it wasn’t always preying on her mind.
‘Did he know where you’d just been or have any inkling about the meeting tonight?’
‘I don’t think so, and even if he did, it wasn’t mentioned.’
‘Tea’s ready,’ shouted Martha from the kitchen.
‘That’s good news. I’m in need of a cuppa and I’m feeling rather peckish.’
‘It’s a good job I brought you a sandwich back from the pub along with a chocolate brownie then, isn’t it?’
‘You’re just the best friend,’ gushed Florrie, with a bright smile.
As they walked through the back door of the cottage, Florrie noticed a large number of boxes stacked up in the hallway. ‘Where have all those come from?’
‘Flynn dropped them off along with the picnic blankets. He thought they may come in handy when you start packing up the cottage. There’s tissue paper and bubble wrap too.’
‘That’s really kind of him. I know I should be making a start but it’s just so difficult to know where to begin, packing up someone’s life.’ Florrie sat down at the table.
Martha placed the sandwich and brownie in front of her. ‘Itisdifficult. If you like, I can pack up Ada’s clothes and take them to the charity shop in Glensheil.’
Florrie blinked back the sudden tears. ‘Would you? I don’t think I can face it.’
Martha touched her arm. ‘Of course I can. I can do it this weekend.’
‘Thank you,’ replied Florrie, before taking a bite of her sandwich.
‘We expected you back earlier than this,’ added Martha.
‘Florrie had a flat tyre on the way back from the TV studios,’ shared Isla. ‘And guess who was on hand to help her out.’
‘Go on,’ replied Martha, looking between them.
‘Tom Houston!’
‘Does he know about your TV appearance?’
Florrie shook her head. ‘I don’t think so, he didn’t mention anything.’
‘He will soon enough, and wait until the world discovers that Dolores will be singing here during Flowers in Bloom.’
‘It’s very kind of Dolores to put herself out there to create that type of publicity for Ada,’ said Florrie. ‘I had a chat with her about William Houston, founder of W. Houston Property Developers, and apparently they were good friends.’
Martha nodded. ‘We all were.’
‘But Dolores wasn’t keen on his son Edward. Do you know why?’
Martha raised her eyebrows, ‘Something went on back then but I’m not sure exactly what. Whatever it was, Ada and Dolores kept it to themselves.’
‘But you must know something?’ pressed Florrie.
‘All I know is just before Ada married Ewart and moved into this place, I was somewhere I shouldn’t have been and I think I witnessed something I shouldn’t have witnessed, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about. I’d sneaked into a party that was invite-only.’
‘Whose party?’ asked Isla.
‘A masquerade ball on a private yacht anchored on the banks on the River Heart. That day, Dolores had been splashed all over the headlines because she’d been linked romantically to the prince. I was sitting in the pub when Dolores came in. She was livid about the story and wondered how they’d come up with such nonsense. Ada joined us a while later, after her hospital shift.’
‘What hospital shift?’ queried Florrie.
