There was a beep on the horn and Aunty M and I knew granny had arrived. I ran out to meet her and she gave me one of her famous air kisses. She always smelled of the same flowery perfume and it was sort of comforting as it made me think of when I was little when granny looked after me quite often.
“Darling Florence. It is good to see you. You’re looking very well I must say. Madeleine there you are. My goodness you too. You do look well. How are you?”
“We’re both fine, spondoolucks really, thank you. Come in and have a cup of coffee you must be gasping after your drive,” said Aunty M linking arms with granny.
After coffee, granny asked if she could see my room. She followed me upstairs and sat on the end of the bed.
“Are you alright dear? Is anything troubling you?”
“No I’m fine. I’m having a lovely time with Aunty M. She is so kind to me and never tells me off or anything. And we eat all the yummy stuff.”
“Good, but are you sure everything is Ok?”
“Why do you ask?” I said puzzled.
“I phoned Madeleine the other evening and she mentioned that you had heard noises and she was worried about you. She doesn’t understand too well about young people. She thought you might be too scared to talk to her about it.”
“I have heard noises and stuff, but Aunty M told me it’s only the wind and the old house creaking. Mum told me not to bother Aunty M and not to be a nuisance. I’m fine honestly. Mum and dad will be back soon anyway. But I love it here, really I do. Mum phoned the other day but she didn’t say much. She just wanted to know whether I was being good.”
“Mum doesn’t mean to be so cold you know. She’s just so busy and she’s always put her career first. She should put you first we all know that, but that’s the way she is and I don’t think she’ll ever change,” said granny with an exasperated sigh.
“I know she won’t change. I don’t mind. I just want to do the right things for everyone. It will be better when I’m at boarding school.”
“That’s right. It will be better.”
“Granny, have there ever been twins in our family apart from my great, great granny and her sister?”
“Twins? Goodness me. Um, no dearie, oh dear. Why do you ask?”
“No reason. I was just interested that’s all when I saw the painting of the twins. It’s amazing, isn’t it seeing your ancestors. I even have the same hair as them,” I replied. But as I did, I noticed the colour drain from granny’s face and she started to fidget with her cardigan.
“You are a good girl Florence. I’m very proud of you.”
Granny never spoke to me like this before. Her eyes were sparkly with tears and I couldn’t understand why. But over the next few days, I did start to understand as the pieces of the jigsaw started to fit together.