She huddled more deeply into her sweatshirt, but the chill she felt seemed to come from within, not from the swirling breezes. When I suggested that we move indoors she didn’t seem to hear me.
“Ed broke his parents’ hearts,” she went on. “He drank, he stole, he lied, and he manipulated everyone who tried to help him. His mum and dad ordered him to leave home on his eighteenth birthday because they couldn’t stand the chaos anymore. When Amanda showed up years later with their granddaughter in tow, they felt as if they’d been given a second chance at parenthood. They took the child in and showered her with the love Ed had squandered. Granddad set aside money for her education and Gran told her that she had a bright future ahead of her.”
Bree stared at the ground with unfocused eyes, lost in memories. Then her lips tightened.
“But Ed came back,” she said. “My grandparents believed him when he promised to clean up his act. The prodigal son had returned and they rejoiced. But his saintly phase didn’t last.”
“He reverted to his bad old habits,” I murmured.
“He drove Gran to an early grave,” said Bree. “And Granddad and I became his prisoners. I was too young to throw him out and Granddad was too old, so he took over. He sold Gran’s jewelry to pay off his gambling debts. He forced Granddad to cash in his investments and to sell the furniture, the house, the cars.” Bree lifted her chin. “But Granddad refused to touch the money he’d set aside for me. Ed threatened to kill him for it, but Granddad said he’d rather die than to see my future thrown away at the track.”
“Why didn’t your grandfather report Ed to the police?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t let him,” she replied, as if she were stating the obvious. “My grandparents had never adopted me formally, and I was still underage. If the police had gotten involved, I might have been put into care and there would have been no one to look after Granddad.”
The wind had let up, but the temperature had taken a nosedive. I was certain that Bree was as cold and stiff as I was, but she didn’t show it. She sat with her back to the granite column and her arms wrapped around her knees, occasionally meeting my eyes, but staring mostly at the ground.
“Eventually,” she said, “we had nothing to live on but Granddad’s pension, my education fund, and the money Ed brought in when he felt like working. We should have found a cheaper flat in another part of the city, but Granddad wanted me to go to a good school, so we stayed in Takapuna. I left the day after I buried him.”
“And went looking for your mother,” I said.
“I thought she might . . .” Bree’s face crumpled, but she quickly mastered her emotions. “But it was no good. Every time Amanda looked at me, she thought of Ed. I could see it in her eyes.”
“She called you her taonga,” I murmured. “Her treasure.”
“Some treasures are cursed,” Bree said harshly. “So I moved on.”
“Your mother told me that Ed cursed the English aunts,” I said.
“He did,” said Bree. “He blamed them for ruining his life. If the English aunts hadn’t robbed us blind, he would have been wealthy, famous, influential. He kept the silver picture frames as proof of our family’s lost riches. I didn’t know what he was talking about until I read Granddad’s obituary.”
“How did Ed find out about the English aunts?” I asked.
“Granddad must have mentioned them somewhere along the line,” said Bree, “but he never mentioned them to me.” She peered puzzledly into the middle distance. “Maybe he thought I would resent them.”
“Do you?” I asked.
“No.” Bree’s mouth twisted in a humorless smile. “Money didn’t make Granddad a good man, and the lack of it didn’t turn Ed into a monster. If Ed had inherited a million dollars, he would have blown it all on booze and bets. I’m glad the money went to two women who like flowers.”
“I think they’d like you, too,” I said.
“I doubt it,” said Bree, wrapping her arms more tightly around her knees. “Ex-cons have trouble adjusting to life after prison. I disappointed my teachers by not going on to university. I haven’t been able to hold on to a job since I left Takapuna. I attacked Roger for no good reason, and I expect I’ll do the same to Holly. I don’t know how to behave around normal people.” She pressed her hands to her eyes. “I’ve given up hope of learning.”
“No you haven’t,” I said.
She lowered her hands and regarded me dubiously.