The door clicked shut behind Marion. I pulled myself to my feet, reaching the bathroom just in time to throw up. I was rinsing out my mouth when Beryl appeared in the doorway.
‘I’ve closed the shop. I guessed something was wrong when that old witch marched out of the shop without saying a word. What on earth’s happened?’
I fell to the floor, leaning against the toilet bowl.
‘Come here, maid,’ said Beryl, grabbing a handful of tissue from the roll and wiping my face. ‘Let’s get you over to the sofa and I’ll fetch you something for your nerves.’
I leaned on Beryl as she guided me back to the living room.
‘Oh my word, what are these? That’s me that is!’ Beryl’s finger jabbed one photograph in outrage. ‘Who’s been taking these photos without consent?’
‘My mother-in-law hired someone. I think it must have been that strange man who was in the pub when we went out for Harry’s birthday.’
Beryl flicked through each photo in turn. She paused and stared at the photograph of me and Seb locked in a passionate embrace.
‘Beryl, please don’t tell anyone about this. No one has any idea about me and Seb, and I don’t want it getting back to Bertie before I’ve talked to him.’
Beryl surprised me with a laugh. She sat beside me on the sofa, patting my knee. ‘You think you’ve kept that a secret?’ She laughed again. ‘It’s been blindingly obvious for weeks.’
‘How?’
‘The smile on your face in the mornings, the faraway look in your eyes, not to mention the way you blush every time a certain gentleman comes in for a pint of milk.’
‘So, everyone knows?’
‘No, not everyone. I know I can be a terrible gossip, but you’ll be surprised to hear I can keep a confidence, if the secret belongs to someone I care about. I have a feeling Harry and Maggie have guessed, but we’ve not discussed it, so I can’t be sure. Anyway, what was the purpose of all this spying?’
‘They want to take Bertie from me.’
‘What? But you’re an amazing mother. Surely you can fight them?’
I shook my head, tears dropping from my cheeks onto the cushion I was hugging.
‘I’ll get you a brandy.’
When Beryl handed me the brandy, I downed it in one, despite hating the taste. It burned my throat and stomach and I wondered if I’d throw up again.
‘Beryl, I’m not sure I can come back to work today.’
‘Of course you can’t. I wouldn’t expect you to. You get yourself off home. You’re going to need all your strength for the fight on your hands.’
I thanked Beryl, collected the photographs and let myself out of her flat and onto the street. My brain was a fog of confusion, my legs disobeying my mind. I made it as far as the churchyard before realising I could walk no further. I found a gravestone at the far end and collapsed against it. Everything I’d worked so hard for was about to be taken away, and I was powerless to stop it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
‘Liv? Liv?’
‘Cass…’
‘Oh my God, what’s happened? Have things gone wrong with Seb?’
I managed to laugh through my tears. ‘No.’
‘OK. Bertie?’
I let out a loud sob and wiped my eyes on my sleeves. ‘They’re going to take him away.’
‘What? Who’s going to take who away?’
