The Library of Lost and Found(76)

People stared and walked past. Martha saw raised eyebrows, rolled eyes and smirks, yet Zelda carried on reading.

A man carrying a Chihuahua stopped to listen. Two elderly women who wore matching plastic rain hoods took a seat on a nearby bench. A boy trundling past on a small bike tugged on his father’s sleeve and they paused, too. Others joined them, forming a loose circle around Zelda.

Zelda told the story. She clawed her hands and spread her fingers. She brought the story to life with her actions and words.

When she finished, she took a small bow. A round of applause started up, and her eyes shone as a few people dropped coins on the floor in front of her.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you all very much.” She glanced down at the paper in her hands. There was nothing to leave behind this time. She looked up at Martha, her eyes and hands empty.

“It’s okay. You’ve done it,” Martha assured her. “We have new stories now.”

Zelda’s hands shook as she folded up the paper.

“You were brilliant.” Rose bent down and bumped the top of Zelda’s arm with her own.

“Pretty damn good,” Will admitted.

Zelda found a smile. “Yes. I was, wasn’t I?” She put the story in her pocket.

“Well done, Zelda.” Owen said. “Perhaps you’d like to do a reading at Chamberlain’s sometime?”

Zelda broke into a gap-toothed grin. “That sounds ah-mazing.”

“Great,” Owen said. “Well, I’ll head back to the shop now. Thanks for inviting me, and I’ll see you for that coffee soon, Martha.”

Martha smiled. “I’m paying this time, though.”

“Okay. I won’t argue.”

Zelda staggered a little to the side, then caught her balance. “I enjoyed that, but I need a bloody sit-down before the arcades.”

Martha caught her arm. “Come on, then. You’ve done far too much this weekend and I don’t want to be in trouble with Gina. Maybe we’ll give the arcades a miss.” She led her nana to a bench in a bus shelter.

“Perhaps you’re right.” Zelda sighed.

Martha’s mouth dropped open. “You actually agreed with me for once.”

“I know. I’m not all bad.” Zelda winked.

Martha watched as the flow of people on the promenade resumed. Nora spotted her and waved. The boy with the bike rode it away.

But one person stood still, watching. Her blond hair danced in the breeze above the collar of her cream mohair jacket. Her eyes were pink-rimmed but set hard.

Zelda tugged on Martha’s sleeve. “That woman is really staring at us. Do you know who she is?”

“Oh no,” Will said with a groan. “It’s Mum.”





30


Father

Lilian marched toward Martha, her coat flapping open. She clutched her handbag under her arm and her lips were puckered.

Martha tried to find a smile but could see from Lilian’s set jaw that she wasn’t going to win one in return. Her feelings of positivity and happiness ebbed away.

“Hi, Mum,” Rose said quietly.

Lilian came to a halt. She stared at Zelda before focusing her attention on Martha. “What’s going on?” she asked Will and Rose. “You were surrounded by people on the promenade.”

Martha inched forward. “We came over here for a day out.” She glanced at Zelda and silently urged her to stay put.

“Zelda wanted to read a story to everyone. That’s all.” Rose gave a small shrug.

Lilian’s nostrils flared. She glared at Martha. “Zelda?”

“I couldn’t change my arrangements.” Martha stepped forward. “You wanted to talk to Paul, and I wanted to see Nana. I told Will and Rose she’s a family friend. Nothing else.”

Lilian balled her hands into fists. “I warned you,” she said. “You should have left that stupid old book alone. I said I didn’t want the kids to meet her.”

Martha’s stomach turned over with guilt. “I’m sorry, but Zelda told me the story behind the book.”

“About why she left?”

“No. She’ll tell me in her own time, though.”

“I don’t think so. She’s hidden it for so long.”

People began to slow down around them, listening in. A middle-aged couple, who wore matching red anoraks and hiking boots, pretended to look at something on a phone, while their eyes were really trained on Lilian and Martha.

Martha bit inside her mouth. “You know something, don’t you?” she said.

Lilian looked away. “It’s up to her to tell you, not me.”

“But how can she, when you won’t meet her? Let’s both speak to her now.”

Lilian glared over at Zelda. “That’s her, isn’t it?”

Martha gave a small nod.

Will sidled up. “You okay, Mum?”

“Fine,” she said sharply. “You and Rose, get your things, now. I’m taking you home.”

“Our bags are still at Auntie Martha’s house…”

“What’s wrong, Mum?” Rose asked.

“This is what’s wrong.” Lilian pointed at Will and then Rose. “I expected Martha to look after you both, not bring you here with your crazy great-grandmother.”