The Keeper of Lost Things(38)

“Freddy. I’ve just come in to make a coffee. Can I get you one?”

“No thanks. We’re just going out.”

The silence, deliberate on Sarah’s part and embarrassed on Freddy’s, was broken only by the rattle of water boiling in the kettle. Looking everywhere but at Sarah, Freddy caught sight of Laura’s dress, hanging out of the bin. He fished it out and held it up.

“Hmm. Nice dress.”

“Yes. I bet Laura looked absolutely gorgeous in it.”

Freddy shifted uncomfortably in his muddy boots. “I wouldn’t know.”

At the sound of Laura’s footsteps coming down the stairs, Sarah stood up.

“I know it’s probably none of my business, but sometimes someone has to say something, even if they’re the wrong person. Last night; it wasn’t what it seemed.”

She turned to leave the kitchen and over her shoulder added:

“Just in case you’re interested.”

“None of my business either,” Freddy muttered sulkily as he poured boiling water into his mug.

Liar, liar! Pants on fire! thought Sarah.

The Moon Is Missing was hosting a wake for a ninety-two-year-old former boxing coach and horse dealer called Eddy “The Neddy” O’Regan. The mourners had clearly been toasting the dear departed enthusiastically for some time already, and the mood was cheerful, rowdy, and sentimental. Laura and Sarah managed to squeeze into one of the booths, and over saucisson cassoulet and puréed potato, washed down with a glass of house red for Sarah and a Diet Coke for Laura, they caught up with each other’s news. They had spoken briefly after Anthony died, but since then Sarah had been working on an important case that had only just been heard in court.

“Did you win?” Laura asked.

“Of course!” said Sarah, poking with her fork at the rather mushy-looking sausage and bean stew on the plate in front of her. “But never mind about that. Tell me everything.”

Laura did. She told her about Anthony’s will and the letter; the study full of things; hiding from Sunshine; and being the latest and juiciest subject of local gossip. And Felicity.

“I mean, it’s lovely in one way; the house is beautiful, but the monumental lost property department that comes with it is another matter entirely. How the hell am I supposed to return all that stuff? It’s madness. I have no idea what to do about Sunshine, there’s no guarantee that the website will work, and most of the locals think I’m a money-grabbing slapper. I’ll end up living in a house full of mice and cobwebs and other people’s lost property, until I’m one hundred and four, and when I do die, it’ll be months before anyone notices, and by the time they break in and find me, I’ll be liquefying on the sofa.”

“And not for the first time,” Sarah replied with a wink. But then she put down her knife and fork and pushed away her plate.

“Laura. My dear, lovely, funny, clever, absolutely bloody infuriating Laura. You’ve been left a great big beautiful house, full of treasures with a dishy gardener thrown in. Anthony loved you like a daughter and trusted you with everything that was precious to him, and instead of turning cartwheels, you sit here whingeing. He believed in you; I’ve always believed in you. It’s not just Sunshine that you’re hiding from; it’s everything. And it’s time to stop hiding and start kicking life up the arse. And to hell with what anyone else thinks,” she added, for good measure.

Laura took a sip of her Diet Coke. She wasn’t convinced. And she was terrified of disappointing yet another person who loved her.

Sarah looked into her dearest friend’s troubled face. She reached over and placed her hand over Laura’s. It was time for some long-overdue home truths.

“Laura, you have to let go of the past. You deserve to be happy, but you have to make it happen yourself. It’s down to you. You were seventeen when you met Vince; still a child; but you’re a grown woman now, so start behaving like one. Don’t keep punishing yourself for things you did then, but don’t use them as an excuse either. You have a chance now to make a really good life. Grab it by the balls and get on with it.”

Sarah sat back to see what impact her words were having. She was probably the only person in the world who could, and would, talk to Laura like that. She was determined to find the woman whom she knew was still in there and get her out. By force, if necessary.

“You do realize that we all fancied Vince, back then?”

Laura looked at her incredulously.

“Seriously. It wasn’t just you. He was handsome, drove a flash car, and smoked Sobranies. What more could a girl ask for? We all thought he was sex on legs. It was just bad luck that he chose you.”

Laura smiled.

“You always were an insufferable clever clogs.”

“Yes, but I’m right. Aren’t I? Come on, Laura. You’re better than this! When did you turn into such a wimp? This is a once-in-a-lifetime, twenty-four-karat-gold, fuck-off fantastic opportunity that most people can only dream about. If you chicken out of this one, I’ll never forgive you. But more importantly, you’ll never forgive yourself!”

Sarah raised her glass in a toast.

“And as for it being madness, well, that should suit you perfectly. You always were a complete loony tune!”

Laura smiled. It had been Sarah’s nickname for her all those years ago at school, when life had still been exciting and full of possibilities.