The Visitors(23)

She’d decided not to mention it. Cora was in her seventies and Holly didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. After all, no harm had been done; she’d probably just got a lot on her mind.

Holly decided she’d go downstairs now and make Cora a cup of tea. Perhaps they’d have breakfast together and put last night behind them.

She could only try.



* * *



Two hours later, Holly boarded the bus for the twenty-minute ride into town.

She’d given herself an hour to get to the interview, but still she couldn’t get rid of the uneasy churning in her stomach. She knew herself well enough to determine that the best thing she could do to avoid the steel grip of anxiety was get into town early and walk off the nervous feeling once she arrived.

She paid her fare and took a seat, already feeling calmer now that she was on her way and wouldn’t be late for her interview.

As the bus trundled away, she turned to catch a glimpse of Baker Crescent.

It was odd to see that the curtains were closed again at Cora’s bedroom window. The door to that room had been ajar this morning and Holly had glanced in to see a neatly made bed and drawn curtains. Cora had already been up and pottering around downstairs.

Holly wondered if she’d had gone back to bed, although she had her pegged as a bit of a stickler for rising early and getting things done.

She thought about the contents of the letter she’d found in Cora’s bedroom and smiled.

She wasn’t sure how, but maybe the closed curtains had something to do with that. There was no rush to find out; time would tell. The last thing Holly wanted to do was make Cora aware she knew her secret. She would no doubt be annoyed, and quite rightly.

Before she’d left the house, Holly had made tea and toast as planned and Cora had seemed her usual bright self again, so she’d decided not to mention last night’s little misunderstanding – if that was what it was.

She hadn’t mentioned this morning’s interview either; she got the feeling Cora was somehow irked about her news. But as she’d left the house, Cora had called goodbye and wished her luck. It had been a relief.

As the bus inched its way through the traffic, Holly stared out of the smeared, cloudy glass at the park beyond.

Despite being on the threshold of spring, the air still had a spiteful nip to it. At least the sun was out now, brightening the young pale green leaves on the bushes that surrounded the park’s gaudy children’s play area.

Holly too felt brighter, as if some of the weight had already been lifted from her shoulders. It was a welcome feeling, one that had been absent from her life for too long.

It was only a matter of time before Geraldine caught up with her. That was why it was imperative for Holly to go on the offensive, take her by surprise. Getting in first was the only real chance she had of setting things straight.

The bus slowed down again, groaning like a great beast as it eventually stopped and let two people off.

A group of older boys who looked like they ought to still be at school boarded the bus. They sniggered and leered at the other passengers in that way teenagers sometimes did when they thought they knew everything there was to know about life; that nothing could touch them.

They stormed past Holly’s seat cackling and sniping at each other like a pack of dogs.

She looked out of the window and waited for them to pass.

She could sense the dark thoughts crowding in at the periphery of her positive attitude like jackals. Just waiting for a chance to bite.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second or two.

Everything is going well. Everything is going to be fine.

She wouldn’t let her past define her any more… Today was all about her future, and she would push aside anyone who tried to stop her in her tracks.

She had to do it for herself, and this time ensure she made a much better job of it.





Chapter Eighteen





Holly





As soon as the memory drifted closer, she got the familiar sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Ordinarily she’d push it away as hard as she could, back in its box and snap the lid shut. But today, she felt so good she thought she might just risk allowing herself a few minutes to think about what had happened.

To move on, she knew she had to revisit the past in an effort to construct an organised timeline that might help her now she was feeling better.



* * *



Markus had reassured her more than once during the coach trip to Manchester that he had already organised temporary accommodation for the two of them.

‘Where?’ she’d asked. ‘A hotel or an apartment?’

He had laughed. ‘Take a chill pill, Holly.’ He’d shaken his head. ‘I had you down as a little more of a maverick rather than the worrying, nervous type.’

‘I’m not worrying or nervous,’ she’d lied. ‘I’m just asking, is all.’

He had smiled and closed his eyes again. ‘Trust me. Everything will be fine.’

The cold rain had lashed their faces as they’d alighted from the coach at Manchester bus station. Reversing beeps and vehicle headlights had lit up the darkness and showered them with a blaze of artificial brightness that Holly had found herself turning away from.

Markus had brought a holdall and a rucksack, the same as Holly had, and they’d waited in turn behind the other passengers, ready to pull their bags from the under-vehicle luggage stowage.