Secrets and Lies by Janet Woods Page B

leave the back door to the house open next Thursday. There are some unshuttered windows upstairs, to allow the light in. But you’d better bring a torch,’ he said.
    ‘Goodbye, sir, you needn’t get up.’
    He lowered his voice, making it sound like a game. ‘I thought I might go to the gate to make sure the coast is clear. You can’t be too careful . . . they might have spies posted.’
    She laughed. ‘Don’t forget to read your letter. It’s from America. Could I have the stamp when you’ve read it? My brothers save stamps and they haven’t got many.’
    ‘Take the stamp with you. The letter is from my second wife . . . Rosemary Mortimer. She ran away to Hollywood and acts in films.’
    Meggie couldn’t stop her eyes widening. ‘Gosh . . . how awfully thrilling to have been married to a film star.’
    ‘Rosie isn’t a star. From what I can gather she’s had a few bit parts. And, believe me, dear, it wasn’t all that thrilling being married to her. Looks mean nothing.’
    Tearing the stamp from the envelope he handed it to her and threw the unread letter on to the fire.
    It seemed like a decade until Thursday came round.
    Meggie’s mother arrived home on the Monday and her mouth tightened a little when she saw the rearranged furniture and the pristine tidiness of her home.
    ‘How clean and tidy it looks, but you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble,’ she said, sounding so warmly sincere that Grandmother Elliot smiled smugly. Meggie marvelled that her mother could lie so well.
    Meggie hugged her, firstly, because she was glad to have her home, and secondly because she felt a twinge of conscience that she was going to deceive her. Still, it couldn’t be helped. Her hug was abandoned when the boys came racing in and took over.
    Grandmother left final instructions for Meggie – to make sure she did her share of the chores – and for the boys – to mind they kept quiet while their mother rested.
    Everyone hugged each other with the relief of parting when Denton drove his mother home.
    The atmosphere disappeared with her and her mother gave a big smile the next day. ‘It doesn’t feel like my home, but Grandmother Elliot meant well.’
    ‘Shall I make some tea while you rest?’ Meggie offered.
    Her mother picked up an ornament and placed it back in its former position, and then rearranged the recently colour-coordinated cushions into some sort of confusion.
    Outside the floorboards creaked. She smiled and punched a dent in the largest cushion before she threw it at the armchair. ‘Denton likes that one for his back. As for resting, I’m through with it. You’ve no idea how tedious it is to lie in a hospital ward. Your father was an absolute bully. Everyone jumped to do his bidding, and I had to do as I was told. I’ve quite gone off him.’
    ‘It won’t do you any good, since you’re stuck with me,’ Denton said, grinning as he popped his head round the door and blew her a kiss.
    ‘I might go outside and do some weeding, Dr Elliot. Do I have your permission?’
    ‘Yes, my love, but take things easy else you’ll end up back in hospital.’
    ‘What happened to my lilac?’
    He looked puzzled. ‘What lilac?’
    ‘You mean you’ve never noticed the lilac bush under our bedroom window?’
    ‘I thought it was a fir tree.’ He spread his hands in mystification and left for the hospital – but not before offering Meggie a wink. It was clear he had no intention of being put in the position of having to take sides.
    Livia sighed. ‘Can you believe that?’
    Meggie giggled. ‘No . . . he was teasing you. Grandmother Elliot insisted that Mr Bugg dig the lilac up and plant a tree in its place. I tried to stop her but she insisted on having it her own way.’
    Her mother’s lips pursed. ‘I see. She means well, but I do wish she’d stop interfering.’
    ‘Mr Bugg kept the lilac roots and planted them in a pot. He said it could be replanted elsewhere and it would grow again in the