“Did I hear a car?” said granny straining to look out of the sitting room window.
“I think you did,” said Aunty M.
“Who could that be?” asked granpy.
I could feel my face getting hotter and imagined it turning beetroot red, “I’ll go,” I offered heading for the door.
I rushed out of the room and opened the front door. There standing on the doorstep were my grandparents smiling.
“Please come in,” I said and I opened the door wide. I took a step back and trod on someone’s toe. I swung around about to apologise to whoever it was. Standing there was Aunty M. She put out her hand and shook their hands vigorously. I looked at them and at Aunty M.
“I phoned Aunty M, Florence. Just to make sure. I hope you don’t mind,” said grandma.
“And I phoned granny so she was prepared,” said Aunty M.
I could hardly believe my ears.
“What about mum?”
“We thought it best not to. We thought we would spring the surprise on her and then she could not back down. All this bad feeling and separation has gone on long enough and you are the most important person here, Florence,” said Aunty M and with that she turned towards the sitting room. The three of us followed.
“What on earth is this?” asked my mum standing up. “What are they doing here?”
“We invited them, Helen. It is time all the secrets were out in the open after all this time. Florence found out about her father and her twin sister. We all need to forgive and forget. Time has moved on and we must all move on too,” said Aunty M.
“What do you mean, we have to forgive and forget. I have nothing to forgive and forget. How dare you, Madeleine. You always were selfish. You always got your own way when we were growing up.”
“No I didn’t. Anyway, this is not the time for that. We have to think about Florence now. Her life has been turned upside down.”
“What do you mean turned upside down?” spat my mum at her sister.
“Don’t you realise the significance of all of this?” said Aunty M quietly.
“Yes I do,” snarled my mum. “What you are saying is Florence needs to find out about her mother too. I think you should tell her, don’t you. She obviously doesn’t know that part, does she?”
“No she doesn’t. Florence, there is something you should have been told and I could not pluck up the courage to tell you but now I know I must.”
“What must you tell me, Aunty M? What haven’t you told me?” I pleaded, dreading the answer.
“Madeleine, be careful,” said granny getting up and grabbing me.
“What’s going on? Please tell me,” I pleaded again.
“Florence this was why they kept us apart,” said grandma. “We knew you see.”
“Why did they keep us apart? What’s the big secret? Please tell me. It is not fair to do this to me,” I said as the tears streamed down my face.
“Florence, the thing is,” said Aunty M, “the thing is. I am your mum.”