She went to bed thinking about the little girl, and when she got up the next morning, she checked her phone.
There was no image of a child.
She scrolled through, wondering if it haddisappeared from her screen but was available in the cloud. But it had gone. She groaned out loud.
Surely she hadn’t imagined it. Was she now hallucinating during the day, seeing someone who didn’t exist? She thought the photo would prove she wasn’t mistaken. Now the lack of it could seem that she very much was.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Juliette had been surprised when Richard shouted her over the next morning and mentioned that Sarah would like to join her for coffee. She was busy with clients but arranged a quick lunch for the two of them.
She made a salad bowl, boiled some new potatoes and put out a tray of cheese and hams to choose from. Fresh bread had been in the cupboard already.
She was looking forward to having some company if truth be told. She’d found it particularly hard to be by herself this week.
‘It’s lovely to see you,’ Juliette said as she sat in her garden with Sarah. ‘I start talking to myself from the middle of the week.’
‘So it’s lonely without Danny?’
‘Well.’ She sniggered. ‘Sometimes it’s much more peaceful than if he was here.’
‘You seem to be fitting into village life from what I can see.’
‘Yes, the book club was fun and I love nipping to the coffee shop with my laptop. What do you do during the day?’
Juliette had dropped it in so subtly, but she’d been dying to ask. Perhaps now Sarah would come forward about being the nanny.
‘I paint too,’ Sarah replied. ‘Landscapes mostly. Richard will take them to sell when he does craft shows. They’re not much but I get pocket money for them. Saves me from being totally reliant on him.’
‘I suppose.’ She paused. ‘What did you do before you came here?’
‘I worked in a factory. When I met Richard, he didn’t want me to work and I was happy to leave that place behind.’
‘I expect you miss the camaraderie? Some of the places I’ve worked in we ended up being like family.’
‘I wasn’t really close to anyone.’
A silence dropped between them and for some reason, Juliette sensed the conversation was over. She decided to jump in with what she wanted to ask her.
‘Did Richard tell you about the child I thought I saw in your garden?’
Sarah took a sip from her drink before replying. ‘He did mention it. No one has visited us for quite some time now.’
‘I know. I’m sorry. I really thought I saw a little girl. And then last night, I thought I heard crying. I was out in the garden and well, the noise travels as it’s so quiet, doesn’t it? I think I’m going mad at times.’ Juliette couldn’t bring herself to mention the disappearing photograph.
‘Maybe it’s the foxes, or a cat?’ Sarah offered.
‘Maybe.’ It was good of her to try and make her feel better, but it wasn’t an animal she’d heard.
‘It will take a long time to get over your daughter’s death, if you ever do,’ Sarah added.
There was another pause as Juliette waited for her to speak again. It was a good opportunity for her to say she missed Richard’s daughter.
But Sarah didn’t say anything. Instead she looked at her watch.
‘Would you like a drop of wine?’ Juliette asked, not wanting her to leave just yet.
‘Oh, no, I?—’
