Grace flinched.
‘Jenny, this was your father’s doing, not mine!’ Meredith’s voice turned pleading.
‘Don’t you dare, Mum – you … you …’
‘Everybody, stop,’ Claire demanded, her face distressed. ‘Come inside, Jenny.’
Jenny let Claire lead her away. When they had gone, Meredith threw her icy stare upon Grace again. ‘I have held this family together for longer than you’ve been alive … and you have just blown it apart. Are you satisfied now?’
Grace stood defiant before those glacial eyes. ‘I’m calling the police,’ she said stonily. ‘And you can tell them exactly where my husband is … because I would bet both my life and Millie’s that you know what happened.’
They glared at one another.
Ben came and pressed a hand against Grace’s back. ‘Grace, let’s go.’
She let him guide her to the car. He helped her in with Millie, then closed their door and walked around to the driver’s side, saying, ‘Come on, Bess,’ and letting the dog jump through into the back.
‘I’ll go really slowly,’ he said as he got in. ‘Just hold her tight in case we skid.’
They exchanged a tense look before he began to reverse. As the headlights swept around, Grace saw Meredith one last time, standing on her driveway, her posture as rigid as always, watching them leave.
They made their way in silence. The snow had lightened but continued to float down; the village was hushed and still. When Ben pulled up at the cottage, Grace tried to persuade her legs to move, but she kept on sitting there.
‘Grace …?’ Ben said gently. ‘Would you like to stay with me tonight?’
‘Yes please.’ Relief flooded through her. ‘Thank you. I just need to get some things from inside for Millie. Can you come with us?’
‘Of course.’ Ben switched off the car engine and came around to open the door for her. Millie’s eyes were glazed and sleepy now, and Grace passed her to Ben while she climbed out, then he handed her straight back. ‘Stay, Bess,’ he said, as the dog tried to jump out.
Inside the cottage, Grace snapped the light on as Ben asked, ‘What do you need?’
‘Can you get her pyjamas from the top drawer upstairs, and some nappies? I’ll go and get her some food for morning.’
In the living room, she glanced at the packed cases and boxes. Only one more night, she told herself. She took some jars of food from the top of a box, using one hand to push them into a small bag while she held on to Millie. As she stood up, she thought she saw a flash of light in the darkness outside. She went over to the window and heard Bess’s distant bark.
She peered harder through the glass, trying to force her vision to penetrate the black void.
‘Ben,’ she called. ‘We’re ready.’
She turned and jumped to find him standing right behind her.
‘I’ve got everything here,’ he said, holding up the pile in his hands. Then he registered the expression on her face as she looked wide-eyed over his shoulder.
‘Grace …?’
He swung around.
Meredith stood behind them.
‘Mum, what are you doing here?’ Ben demanded.
‘We need to talk,’ she replied, glaring at Grace.
Grace held Millie tighter. ‘I have nothing to say to you. Now get out.’
‘Grace, I would like to speak to you alone.’
Grace gave a loud bark of derisive laughter. ‘Are you serious? Ben, I want you to stay right here.’
Ben didn’t reply, but went across and sat down on the sofa, looking rebelliously at his mother.
Meredith took a small step closer to Grace. ‘I know you’re frightened of me,’ she said softly. ‘And it is ridiculous. I have been on your side, you know. I haven’t done anything wrong. In fact, I’m the reason your daughter is safe –’
Grace froze. Ben got up again from the chair and came to stand next to her. ‘Mum, get on with whatever it is you want to say.’ There was a warning note in his voice.
Meredith held his gaze. ‘I don’t even understand it all myself … but I will tell you what I know.’
She waited for a moment, eyes turned fixedly towards the window as though steeling her nerves, and then she began.
‘The first I knew that Adam existed was when he came here after Rachel died. I had my suspicions about his true paternity as soon as I realised how old he was. However, Bill and Connie thought that Jonny was his father – the timely move to Australia had made him a convenient scapegoat. I’ve always been unsure why Rachel kept up the pretence when she knew she was dying. I’m surprised she let them bring Adam back here.’