The Keeper of Lost Things(36)

Felicity stopped banging for a moment.

“Who is?”

“Laura.”

“What, that funny housekeeping woman? Why in God’s name would she be hiding?”

“From me,” Sunshine replied with a sad smile.

“Well that bloody sodding shit of an arsehole Freddo better not be hiding from me!”

Sunshine decided to try to be helpful. The blond woman was looking really furious now, and Sunshine was worried that she might break the doorbell.

“Perhaps he’s hiding with Laura,” she suggested. “He really likes her,” she added.

Sunshine’s words didn’t seem to help as much as she had hoped.

“You mean the bastard’s probably humping the help?”

The woman crouched down and began yelling through the letter box.

Freddy shoved his way into the pantry beside Laura and pulled the door to behind him. It was Laura’s turn to raise her eyebrows.

“It’s Felicity,” he hissed. The scorn had disappeared entirely from his voice to be replaced by an edge of desperation.

“And . . . ?”

It was Freddy’s turn to sigh.

“We had a date last night, except I couldn’t go, but I didn’t exactly tell her until it was too late and I guess she’s pretty mad . . .” He trailed off lamely.

Despite being cold, feeling sick, and with a head that was about to explode, Laura couldn’t help but smile. Her next words were delivered with as much relish as crammed the shelves that she was leaning against.

“Well, at least have the guts to go and make your excuses to her face.”

Freddy looked at her, astonished, and then his handsome face broke into a lopsided grin.

“I know you’re in there, you bastard!” Felicity’s voice shrieked through the letter box.

“You and that tart of a housekeeper! Well, if that dried-up, scruffy old bag lady is the best you can do, you were clearly punching well above your weight with me. You were crap in the sack anyway. She’s welcome to you!”

Sunshine stood next to the incandescent Felicity, uncertain how to proceed. She had gathered in all the words that had been spoken, or rather yelled, and was hoping to sort them out into some kind of sense later. Perhaps when Laura had stopped hiding, she would help her. Felicity appeared to have run out of steam. She gave the front door a parting thump and strode off the way she came. Moments later, Sunshine heard a car door slam, an engine rev, and tires squeal as Felicity took her leave, in a foul temper, leaving a good deal of rubber on the tarmac. Just as Sunshine was about to go home, another visitor arrived. This woman was older; smartly dressed and smiling.

“Hello,” she said. “Does Laura live here?”

Sunshine wondered what this one was going to do.

“Yes. But she’s probably hiding.”

The woman didn’t seem at all surprised.

“I’m Sarah,” she introduced herself. “I’m an old friend of Laura’s.”

Sunshine offered her a high five.

“I’m Sunshine. I’m the new friend to Laura.”

“Well, I’m sure she’s very lucky to have you,” the woman replied.

Sunshine liked this new woman.

“Are you going to yell through the letter box too?” she asked her.

Sarah pondered a moment. “Well, I thought I might just try the doorbell.”

Sunshine was hungry. It didn’t look like she was going to get any lunch at Padua today.

“Good luck,” she wished Sarah, before setting off for home.

Freddy and Laura were still dithering in the pantry, straining their ears to hear if anyone remained at the front door. The doorbell rang again. A single sound, followed by a polite pause. Laura retreated back into the pickles.

“You go,” she pleaded with Freddy. “Please.”

Freddy relented, fueled by remorse for the insults Felicity had aimed at Laura.

He opened the door to an attractive, middle-aged brunette with a confident smile and a firm handshake.

“Hello. I’m Sarah. Can I see Laura?”

Freddy stood back to let her in.

“You can, if she comes out from hiding in the pantry.”

At the sound of Sarah’s voice, Laura hurried into the hall to meet her.

“You were hiding in there too!” she reminded Freddy.

Sarah looked at them both and winked at Laura.

“Hiding in the pantry! Now that’s a euphemism if ever I heard one.”

“Not a chance!” Freddy’s answer was a knee jerk, but a kick in the teeth nonetheless for Laura.

Sarah, as usual, saw what was required. She took Laura by the arm.

“Why don’t you make me a lovely cup of tea? And by the way, your hair looks gorgeous.”





CHAPTER 25


Sarah Trouvay was a first-class barrister with a stellar career, two healthy, rumbustious young boys, and a rugged architect husband. She also had an unexpected talent for yodeling, which had earned her extravagant plaudits as Maria in the school production of The Sound of Music. She and Laura had met at school and remained close friends ever since. Not close in terms of geography or frequency; they rarely met or spoke more than two or three times a year. But the bond between them, formed at an early age and tempered over time by triumphs and tragedies, remained as durable as it was dependable. Sarah had witnessed the bright, sparky, dauntless young Laura gradually, relentlessly diluted by a bad marriage and a barrage of self-doubt. But she had never given up hope that one day, the real Laura would reemerge victorious, in glorious, shining Technicolor.