It’s good to hear that they have fixed the road – it’s hard enough driving up the bank without potholes to avoid! I’m glad to hear that the show went well too, Mum, I’m sure you did a brilliant job of organising it.
The whole city is talking about the Viking house found under the old Craven’s factory. We went for a walk over there yesterday, but there’s not much to see at the site. Plenty of people trying to have a look, mind.
Thanks for the money, but please don’t feel you have to keep sending it – I’m doing fine on social security, and I have earned a bit more doing some casual typing work – finally, all those hours practising are paying off. It’s good work, because I can do it when Adam sleeps. I’m lucky that at the moment he’s a good sleeper in the day, though he keeps me up all night long sometimes! I can’t wait for you to meet him – come and see us soon.
All my love,
Rachel
Grace stared out of the bedroom window at the wintry afternoon twilight. From the letters, it sounded as though Connie and Bill had been trying to support their daughter, however upset they must have been when she had run away pregnant. It was strange, seeing Rachel’s handwriting; trying to imagine her in a tiny flat in York, caring for a new baby while working to make ends meet. In her mind, Grace had conjured Rachel up so vividly that she felt a strong bond with Adam’s mother. However, these letters were reminders that she didn’t really know anything about the flesh-and-blood person who had written them and worn the clothes that Grace and Annabel had danced in.
She glanced at a few more pages to find that they contained similar themes. She would have to go through them one at a time, but it could probably wait. It seemed unlikely that Jonny’s name was going to come up. Grace wasn’t even sure how much Adam’s grandparents had known of the boy who had got their daughter into trouble, but presumably since Jonny had emigrated there wasn’t a lot left to say, and everyone would have had no choice but to move on.
She sat for a while, considering what to do next. If she didn’t uncover any evidence of Jonny among these papers, she was going to have to look at other options. She could try to call the library tomorrow, but suspected it would be closed for the Christmas holiday.
Deep in thought, she went down the stairs and discovered Millie holding a biscuit in each hand, a half-empty packet on the table. ‘She won’t eat her dinner now!’ Grace said jokingly as she stroked Millie’s hair.
‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t think of that.’ Annabel put the packet on one side. ‘Listen, I was wondering about going to see Meredith while we’re snowed in. If I give her a call, maybe James can dig me up as far as the schoolhouse so I can interview her. What do you reckon?’
‘Er, excuse me – I don’t know about that,’ James interrupted. ‘Have you seen how high the snow is?’
‘It’ll be better in the morning,’ Annabel replied confidently.
‘Fine by me,’ Grace said. ‘In fact, I might come with you.’ A new awareness reinvigorated her. There was another way to find out more about Jonny, after all. It was Meredith who had been able to tell her the most about him so far. Perhaps if Grace pressed her further she might remember more. Grace couldn’t help but feel that locating Jonny was pivotal – that if she found him, she would find answers.
As her mind slowed, she became aware of the room again, and noticed that they were accompanied by a steady ticking.
‘Did you fix the clock?’ She looked at James.
He appeared confused. ‘No, I forgot all about it.’
Grace turned to Annabel, who shook her head. She stiffened, then walked out into the hallway.
The pendulum was swinging steadily back and forth. Grace’s head began to throb. ‘When did it start again?’ she asked as she came back into the lounge.
Annabel shrugged and James said, ‘I didn’t notice, sorry.’
Grace glanced at her watch, and frowned. ‘It’s telling the right time.’
‘Perhaps it hadn’t stopped after all,’ James suggested.
‘You do remember it stopping, don’t you?’ Grace pressed him.
‘Yeah, I think so.’ But he didn’t look sure.
‘Think, James – do you or don’t you?’
She saw James exchange a look with Annabel, before he answered, ‘Don’t worry, Grace, I remember.’
Grace held the phone to her ear, irritated that she’d been placed on hold for over five minutes now. She was about to give up when a voice said, ‘I’m sorry, Constable Barton is on holiday until New Year. Unless it’s an emergency …?’
‘No,’ Grace said miserably. ‘It can probably wait.’
She felt incredibly frustrated as she hung up. However, she had one more option. She searched around for the scrap of paper Niall had given her, and dialled the number.
‘Hello?’
‘Niall, it’s Grace – Grace Lockwood.’