Chapter 24: Cora - The Foster Child

Lori calls me a few minutes after Elliot goes out to park his car. It’s another audio call, not a video one which is unusual for her. I prefer a video call, then I can see how she is. Especially as this is the second audio call from her today.

‘Hello, darling, why no video?’ I ask.

‘I’ve got a face mask on.’

Her voice sounds a bit wobbly, it must be a bad connection.

‘I just phoned to check how you both are. I can’t believe it was only last weekend when we were there.’

‘And you’ll be here again soon.’ I pull out a chair and sit down. ‘We went to see Nan and Grandad today, they’re looking well. They’ve asked us to pop over Boxing Day, if you and Jacob would like to.’

‘Oh yes, it will be great to see them again.’ Lori has always been close to my parents.

‘Now how are things with you?’ I ask.

We both chat for a while and then I hear Jacob’s voice. He sounds quite curt and loud.

‘Oh I have to go now, Mum. See you soon. Love you.’

I feel a little uneasy as she finishes the call. It sounded as if Jacob was shouting at her. And she didn’t really talk much. It was as if she phoned me just to hear my voice.

I hope everything’s okay. Lori used to message me every day, not a long message, just checking in. It’s something we’ve done ever since she left home to go to university. But although I still message her it takes her ages to reply just lately and then it’s only a short one. And I’m worried that she didn’t do a video call today. Is she hiding something from me?

She’s busy. I’ve got to stop worrying, she’s twenty now and she’s got her studies, her friends and now Jacob too. I’m looking forward to spending some time with her over Christmas, then we can have a good catch-up. If only Jacob wasn’t coming. Still, it will give me a chance to get to know him better and assess their relationship. I might be misjudging him. He might be one of those people who have an abrupt manner without realising it.

Elliot comes back in looking a bit flustered.

‘Everything okay, darling?’ I ask him. ‘You look a bit stressed.’

‘All good,’ he reassures me, ‘but I’ve just remembered that I need to do a bit of paperwork this evening. I won’t be too long then we can watch a film together.’

‘That’s fine, I have to marzipan the Christmas cake. And I’ll write Violet’s card and drop it in to her tomorrow.’ I don’t mention my worries about Lori to him, he looks as if he’s got a lot on his mind. I think the stuff that has happened is bothering him more than he’s let on to me. And I was really surprised at him wondering if it was Violet. Although I jumped to her defence, I am still a bit suspicious of her myself. Not only has everything happened since she turned up, she looks after Tilly sometimes and Tilly has never acted up before. Could she have been behind that incident too?

I really want someone to talk things over with, someone who knew what went on in the past, so I text Molly, she’s been my best friend ever since school and lived near me and Dale when we fostered Violet. She still lives in the same house now, and we’ve kept in touch since I moved in with Elliot. I message.

Hi, how’s things? Do you have time to chat?

A reply zings back a few minutes later.

Always. Shall I call you? Vid or just chat?

Just chat please.

Sometimes it’s easier to talk without the camera.

Molly calls. ‘How are you doing, hunni?’

We chat for a while, catching up on each other’s news. Then she says, ‘How are you settling into village life?’

‘Good, I love it. But…’ I hesitate.

‘Spill. I’m a good listener.’

So I tell her everything that’s happened. And about Violet turning up.

‘Wow, she lives in the village? That must be weird after everything.’

‘It is, she’s very friendly though and doesn’t seem to bear a grudge but I’m wondering if she’s behind it all. She looks after Tilly and it’s all been since I met her.’ I falter. I hate accusing Violet like this.

‘I don’t know, hun, but it sounds like someone’s got a grudge against you. And Violet had us all fooled, didn’t she? We all thought she was wonderful to Lori and all the time she was bullying her. I’d watch her, Cora. I know she was a kid back then, but if seeing you again has suddenly brought it all back and she wants revenge… well, just be careful.’