‘You do love her, don’t you?’
‘What I want is for Amy to be with you. You’re her mother...’ Chloe looked around wildly, trying to think of something that would persuade Hannah.
Jon was there. Again. Always. ‘I don’t think this is a conversation that you can have on the phone. You need to talk face to face. What do you say, Hannah?’
There was a long silence, before Hannah replied quietly, ‘Okay.’
‘Good. Chloe, what do you think?’
In the warmth of his gaze she could suddenly think clearly again. It was time to draw some boundaries. Hannah had to know that she was loved, but she also had to know that her actions had consequences.
‘I think... What do you say we make a deal? I know you need some time to think but I need to see you.’ Chloe took a deep breath. ‘Next Saturday.’
That was five days away and it seemed like an age. But if Hannah would agree to sit down and talk then Chloe could agree to wait.
‘It’s a long way...’
‘I don’t care if you’re camped out on the moon. Where are you?’
‘Remember when I was fifteen. We were going to go on a trip together but we never did get to go.’
Chloe’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry...’
‘That doesn’t matter. I know you meant to take me, but you were ill. But I finally made it back, Chloe...’
‘That sounds great, Hannah.’ Chloe almost choked on the words. ‘You can show me around.’
‘Yeah, I’d like that. Saturday?’
‘I’ll be there. Saturday.’
‘I’ll be there too. I’ve got to go now.’
Hannah sounded as if she was crying, but that was okay, because Chloe was crying too.
‘Will you call me? Or when can I call you?’
‘I’ll call. Every evening at eight, I promise. I do have to go...’
‘I know. That’s okay. I love you, Hannah.’
‘Love you too.’
The line suddenly went dead. Chloe stared at the phone for a moment, trying to take in the enormity of what had just happened.
‘Where is she?’ Jon’s quiet voice broke the silence.
‘She’s in the village where my father was born and where my parents met. In France.’
* * *
Chloe seemed almost in shock. That was understandable after the conversation she’d just had. But she’d stood up for herself, let Hannah know what she needed, and Hannah had responded to that. A trickle of pride ran through his chest, making him shiver.
He picked up the phone, putting it out of Chloe’s reach on the mantelpiece. The crystals could look after it for a few minutes.
‘What did Hannah mean? When she said she’d finally made it?’ He decided to start with the least emotive question he could think of.
‘My father never talked much about his family or the place he was brought up. We went back to France every year on holiday, but never there. I suppose that James and I were less curious, because we had more time with our parents, but Hannah was very young when they died. My father’s village took on a special significance for her. I think she thought that somehow she might find them there.’