all my uncles had in common. Personality wise, they were poles apart.’
‘Did he and Laurence live together at Hyland Hall?’
‘No. Jack lived abroad for most of his life. He left here when he was twenty-three and stayed away for forty-three years. He never bothered coming back, not even for my mother’s funeral.’
‘That must have been very upsetting.’
‘Water under the bridge now.’ He shrugged and positioned the photograph back on the piano. ‘You’re right about the affection you see in those photographs. Laurence was like a second father to me. I was heartbroken when he died.’
The thudding sound of Jack’s walking stick startled them both.
‘I’d better check…’ She shrugged as the thudding continued.
‘Talk to Jack in your own time, Sophia,’ Victor said. ‘Like you, I want what’s best for his continued comfort. I’ll ring you tomorrow to see how he is.’ The touch of his lips against her cheek was fleeting yet she could still feel the quivery impact on her skin as she walked with him to the front door.
‘Mum! The Rec— Mr Hyland wants you.’ Isobel, her arms folded, stood outside the den.
‘I heard him.’ Sophy waited until Victor had descended the steps before turning around to meet her daughter’s challenging stare.
‘Was he kissing you?’ Isobel demanded.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Isobel.’ She hurried upstairs, her annoyance rising with each demanding summons.
‘Has he left?’ Jack asked when she entered his room. He was only sixty-six, she thought, yet he had the hunched appearance of a much older man. What a toll the fire had taken on him.
‘Yes. He was disappointed he wasn’t able to see you.’
‘I’m sure he was.’ His dismissive tone held a warning for her not to continue the conversation.
Caesar panted, eager for her to bring him outside for his nightly ramble. She had discovered a high wall dividing the two properties. It was covered in a thick blanket of ivy but she had been able to make out the shape of a gate. It was almost invisible and welded tight by clinging vines. She imagined Victor preparing his evening meal in his kitchen. Would he have a swim first? A solitary figure, poised on the edge of the pool. Or maybe he would relax in the hot tub. Such thoughts were unsettling, testament to the effect he was having on her. She was not ready to define this emotion. To do so would give it credence and she was too vulnerable to trust her heart to anyone.
Luke phoned as she was walking back to the house. He was ready to leave the Oasis of Hope and would travel to Clonmoore on Saturday to see the girls. Decision time was upon them. The sharing and caring, time slots and awkward handovers. She had known they would eventually have to make such arrangements but she was still unprepared for what would be involved.
Chapter Ten
Isobel
Her father had already arrived at The Coffee Bean and was waiting for them at a seat by the window. He stood up when they entered the café and gripped the edge of the table. Maybe he was frightened they were going to run away. Or maybe, Isobel thought, it was to stop himself from running away from them.
‘Hello, Sophy,’ he said. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m fine, Luke. And you?’
‘Very well, thank you.’
Isobel couldn’t believe her ears. Was that all her parents had to say to each other after being apart all these months? But she hadn’t the slightest idea what she was going to say to him either. What had happened to their family was too enormous to be wrapped up in a few casual words.
He cleared his throat but he still sounded choked when he said, ‘Thank you for bringing my girls to see me.’
‘They’ve been looking forward to it,’ her mum replied. ‘I hope you have a nice day together. I’ll collect them here at six o’clock.’
‘Come with us, Mammy,’ Julie pleaded. ‘You’ll have a nice day too.’
‘I have to look after Mr Hyland, darling.’ She turned away and hurried as fast as she could from the café.
It was weird being with her father again. Like meeting a stranger whom Isobel knew really well, which was a contradiction, but was exactly how she felt. He had lost weight. His face looked saggy, older. His brown hair was going grey; she’d never noticed that until today, and his eyes were swimming with tears. Julie threw her arms around him and he hugged her just as fiercely. When he held out his arms to Isobel, she hoped