for the duration of James’s life out of respect for his dedication to the fulfilment of his promise, but after his death following a stroke the previous year, she had known the truth deserved a hearing. After they separated, James had stayed in Porthsennen, and despite their differences they remained cordial for their daughter’s sake; Kate had loved him as a father her whole life. And Elizabeth too had found an unusual sort of friendship at his side, support when it was needed, and a companion upon whom she could rely. When her father passed away at the age of eighty, living as a near recluse in the far reaches of Scotland, it was James who told her, and who understood the absence of grief. Elizabeth had expected upset, even anger when she told Kate the truth, but she had never expected to be excised from her daughter’s life. Elizabeth didn’t know if Kate’s anger ran deeper for the lie, or for the lost opportunity with Tom. But now there she was, standing before her.
“I’ve missed you,” Kate said as she reached out to hold her mother. “I’m so sorry for everything.”
“No, I’m the one who is sorry, Kate. Sorry for the lies, and that it took me so long to get us here.”
“Well, we’re here now.” The grand Victorian building rose up above them, Kate’s eyes drawn to the details. “I can’t believe I’m going to see him. And Alice too. Will he know it’s me?”
Elizabeth wiped her daughter’s tears. “I’ve done my best to explain to him, love, although he isn’t very coherent. But rest assured he knew the truth all right. He was never sure, but he told Alice he felt it.”
“I shouldn’t have taken so long to get here,” Kate said. “I left it too late.”
“It’s never too late,” Elizabeth said, guiding her daughter toward the door.
* * *
Their feet fell into step as they climbed the stairs. With shaky fingers Kate reached for her mother’s hand. Looking at her daughter, the scarf pulled away from her face, Elizabeth saw the pale skin of Tom’s family and Kate’s nervous nibbling of her lip, which betrayed her fears.
“It’s going to be all right,” Elizabeth said, even though everything about that statement felt uncertain.
Letting go of her daughter’s hand as she reached the narrow corridor that led to Tom’s room, she motioned for Kate to enter. Over her shoulder Elizabeth could see Alice, emotion claiming her as her half sister arrived, tears welling in her tired eyes. Seeing them together was like seeing twins, albeit with an age difference. Alice came to the door, and without hesitating, she took Kate into her arms. Elizabeth felt like an interloper on the edge of their embrace, as if she shouldn’t be there, but moments later she felt Alice’s fingertips brushing her own. Alice was smiling at her as she held Kate with all her strength. She mouthed a thank-you, before leading Kate toward the bed. Alice whispered something in Kate’s ear just before they arrived, but Elizabeth couldn’t hear what was said.
“Dad, Kate’s here. She’s come to see you.”
Elizabeth lingered in the doorway, watching her daughter be guided by Tom’s daughter. Alice was younger, but in that moment it was she who seemed older, the one who offered support and led the way forward. Kate reached for Tom’s hand, and he opened his eyes a little, a flicker of a smile registering on the side of his face that was still working. “All right, Bab,” he said, his nickname for Alice, but he was looking at Kate as he said it.
“I think he thinks you’re me,” Alice whispered.
“Hello,” Kate said as she gazed at Tom, his eyes flickering shut. She wiped a tear away from her cheek as she leaned in close, kissing him on the forehead. “We look like him,” she said, turning to Alice. “I can tell that even now.”
“You’re alike in more ways than you could imagine,” Elizabeth said as she stepped into the room. A sense of rightness joined her then, a peace that perhaps she had laid the first brick in the road to recovery. “You have the same temperament, same determination.”
Kate stared at her father, her hand on the bony outcrop of his knee. “I don’t know what to say to him,” she whispered. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Would you like some time alone?” Elizabeth asked. “Just you and him?”
Kate shook her head and pulled up a chair. Her fingers clasped Tom’s, so