‘Apparently, there were a couple called the Golds who lived in the flat downstairs from my mother who helped her.’ Helen chuckled. ‘Mammy said they claimed they were just civil servants but when she needed them they sprang into action. She thought they worked in intelligence or something.’
‘Spies,’ I said, delighted. ‘Really?’
‘That’s what Mammy claimed. We’ll never know.’
‘That’s amazing.’ I sighed. ‘What a story.’
Helen ran her fingers through her hair. ‘But you see why I couldn’t let anyone see those messages? No one should know what my mother did.’
‘I think she was brave.’
‘Me too.’ She smiled. ‘But it’s just too complicated. I was going to scribble all over them, or tear them out when there was the kerfuffle in the lounge, but I got reading the notes between my parents and then you showed up.’
‘Sorry,’ I said with a grin. ‘How about if we rip the pages out now? Well, not rip – that’s a bit drastic. I could cut them out with a craft knife? We can make it neat so no one will noticeunless they’re looking for it, And then Elsie’s secret will be safe but we’ll still have the other messages.’
‘Would you do that?’
‘I would. I think it’s important to keep the love notes between your parents. They’re so special.’
‘They are.’
‘Then it’s settled.’
‘I’ve not been very nice to you.’ Helen looked down at her knees. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, but I was so worried about you finding the truth. I thought if I made things difficult for you, you’d give up.’
‘I nearly did.’
‘I’m sorry.’
I shrugged. ‘It’s okay. I understand why you did it.’
‘I saw that historian chap had given it up. I watched him move all his things out of that cupboard they’d put him in.’
‘That was my fault,’ I said, wincing. ‘I’ve got a lot of making up to do.’
Helen looked at me. ‘You and me both.’
We laughed and I thought how nice she was and how much I’d misjudged her.
‘Would your brothers or your nieces and nephews come to the unveiling of the mural?’ I asked. ‘Or Julia?’
‘I’m sure they would love to.’ She looked pleased. ‘Not sure about Julia though.’
‘Perhaps you should ask her?’
She shook her head. ‘It’s still a bit raw.’
I didn’t want to push it so I nodded.
‘Fair enough.’
‘Stephanie?’ I looked up and saw Joyce, Val and Mr Yin hovering around the doorway to Helen’s room.
‘Is everything okay?’ Val said pointedly.
Helen shot me an amused glance. ‘Everything’s fine,’ she said to the others. ‘I was just telling Stephanie about my mother.’
‘Helen’s mother was Elsie,’ I said, laughing at their shocked faces. ‘And her father was Harry.’
