Chapter 1: Cora - The Foster Child

— FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS —

‘How are you settling in, Cora?’ Elaine Stirling, the headteacher, asks, popping her head around the office door as she always does at the end of the school day.

‘Really well,’ I say with a smile as I slip my arms through the sleeves of my thick winter coat then wind my colourful scarf around my neck.

I enjoy working at Thatchbury Primary and still can’t quite believe my luck that the former school secretary was about to go on maternity leave when I applied for a job. I was qualified, local – I’d just moved in with Elliot – and could start immediately, so I guess it was a case of right place, right time. I felt at home straight away. Elaine is approachable, always happy for me to double-check things with her, and the staff are friendly. In the few weeks I’ve been here, I’ve even got to know some of the mums.

When my house was sold and Elliot, my boyfriend of just six months, asked me to move in with him I wasn’t sure at first. But he was very persuasive. ‘I love you. I want to wake up with you every morning and fall asleep beside you every night,’ he murmured, holding me close. ‘Please move in with me.’ He’s a loving, supportive partner, easy to be with. And I adore him. So I agreed.

I’d wondered how easy I’d find it, settling into a village, though. I’ve always been a townie, used to working in a large city school. But I love it here and am so pleased I took the plunge and moved in with Elliot. Our cottage already feels like home and I never tire of walking around this beautiful Cotswold village, with its mix of thatched or tiled roof honey stone cottages. It’s steeped in charm and history and I still have to pinch myself that I actually live here. With Elliot. The local heartthrob dentist who had remained a confirmed bachelor until I came along, as he is fond of telling me.

‘I’m glad to hear it. We’re delighted to have you. You’re a real asset,’ Elaine says. ‘Have a good weekend. See you Monday.’

‘Thank you. You too.’

I hurry out. My daughter, Lori, is coming to stay for the weekend, bringing her new boyfriend, Jacob. She’s in her second year at Exeter university, and has only been seeing him a few weeks, but she sounds completely smitten. She hasn’t had a boyfriend for a while and I can’t wait to meet this man who has stolen her heart so quickly.

I put a lamb casserole in the slow cooker this morning and I’ve baked a carrot cake, Lori’s favourite. Elliot’s working tomorrow morning at the dental practice – he and his partner, Katrina, work alternate Saturdays – but he’ll be home by lunchtime and then we’re all going out for lunch. I’m really looking forward to us all being together.

It’s only a ten-minute walk from the school to Virginia Cottage, so I rarely take my car, parking in the village is a nightmare and it hardly seems worth the hassle for such a short distance. Besides I enjoy the walk. It’s just past four, already dark, though the streets are well lit, and Lori won’t be here until gone six so I’ve plenty of time. Our honey-coloured cottage comes in view now and I quicken my pace – then I see a woman standing outside, looking over the chest-high front wall into our garden. What is she doing?

The drive light is on, we always leave that on in the winter, and I can make out her outline. She’s young, early twenties. Dressed in a beige trenchcoat, knee-high black boots. Elegant. Is she waiting for me?

‘Hello, can I help you?’ I call, moving towards her. ‘I live here.’

She turns. ‘Sorry, I was just passing and simply had to stop and admire that gorgeous garden and the Virginia Creeper climbing up your walls.’ She nods towards the floral-bordered plaque on the gate. ‘Virginia Cottage. The name suits.’ Then her gaze turns back to me. Her brow puckers and her eyes narrow.

‘Aunty Cora?’ She steps closer, reaching out a hand to touch my arm. ‘Aunty Cora. It is you, isn’t it?’

I stiffen.

There’s only one person who’s ever called me that.

Violet.

I search her face, looking for the child I once knew. The nine-year-old I fostered fourteen years ago. The tawny eyes and snub nose are the same. But the mousy brown pigtails are gone, replaced by soft chestnut waves cascading over her shoulders. She smiles and a familiar dimple appears.

Yes. It’s her.

For a moment I’m stunned, searching for words. The past rises up, engulfing me. I’ve thought of Violet often over the years. Hoped she was happy. I hated how it had all ended.

I hadn’t wanted to send her away. My ex-husband, Dale, insisted, saying Lori’s safety and mental wellbeing had to come first. I knew he was right but I felt guilty that we’d failed Violet, and that guilt has never left me.

I’m pleased to see her after all this time, and to know that she’s okay but I can’t help wondering what she’s doing here. Was she really just passing or did she seek me out?

‘How lovely to see you again,’ Violet says, breaking into my thoughts. ‘I’ve thought about you so much. Uncle Dale. Lori.’

She looks and sounds genuine. No hard feelings then. Relief washes through me. I had wanted so desperately to help her. It was Dale’s insistence on sending her back that had fractured our marriage, although it didn’t completely crack until a few years later.

I find my voice. ‘Goodness. What a surprise. I barely recognised you, Violet. How are you? It’s lovely to see you again after all this time.’

‘I’m good. I’ve actually been living in Thatchbury for a year or so.’ Her words gush out quickly, nervously. ‘It’s a gorgeous village, isn’t it? I work at the hairdresser’s. I’m so happy here. I can’t believe you live here too. And in this amazing cottage.’

‘I’ve only been here a few weeks,’ I tell her. ‘Actually, I’ve just come home from work.’

Dismay clouds her eyes. ‘Sorry, I should go, I didn’t mean to delay you…’ Her voice falters.

I sense that she wants to stay and chat and I’d like that too.

Lori and Jacob won’t be here for ages. Half an hour won’t hurt.

‘Look, why don’t you come in for a quick coffee?’ I say. ‘It’ll be good to catch up.’

A smile lights her face. ‘I’d love to.’

I open the gate and we head along the path towards the cottage. Inside, I lead her into the kitchen, switching on the light. It’s a warm LED light that bathes the kitchen in a bright glow. ‘Sit yourself down and I’ll put the coffee machine on. Unless you prefer tea? Or a cold drink?’

‘Coffee would be great – normal white please.’ Violet perches on one of the stools at the breakfast bar. ‘Wow! This place is even more amazing inside than out! Lucky you! When did you all move here?’

I switch on the coffee machine, slip a pod in and get mugs out of the cupboard. ‘I’m not with Dale anymore. We split up a few years ago. Lori is away at university now. Dale’s remarried and I live here with my partner, Elliot.’ I turn – and catch the disappointed look on her face.

‘Oh. That’s a shame. I thought you and Uncle Dale were really happy.’

‘It was an amicable split, we’re still friends. It happens.’ I keep my tone light, I don’t want to go into all of that with her. Especially as she was part of the strain that eventually broke us.

She was a young child, I remind myself. She was going through a difficult time, and she didn’t understand the effects of her actions.

‘What about you? Are you seeing someone?’ I place the coffee in front of her.

‘Not anymore.’

I sit beside her, lifting my own mug. I’m about to ask her where in the village she lives when the door from the garage opens.

Elliot walks in, dark hair windswept. His chocolate-brown eyes rest on Violet and he stops in surprise. ‘Oh – hello.’

‘This is Violet,’ I begin, but she butts in.

‘I’m Aunty Cora’s foster daughter. At least I was for a while.’

Elliot’s thick eyebrows shoot up so much they almost disappear into his head. ‘Foster daughter? I didn’t know you fostered, Cora?’

‘It was only the once. A very long time ago,’ I tell him as I go over and greet him with a kiss on the cheek. ‘Violet and I are just having a quick catch-up. Would you like a coffee?’

‘An espresso but I’ll make it, you carry on chatting to Violet. It must be a while since you’ve seen each other.’

‘Fourteen years.’ Violet takes a sip of her coffee. ‘I have such fond memories of living with you all. They were the happiest few months of my life. I was really sad when I had to leave and I’ve never forgotten any of you. You didn’t even recognise me at first, did you, Aunty Cora?’

Is that reproach I can hear in her voice? ‘Not at first but then you were only nine last time I saw you, Violet, and look at you now!’

I shift in my seat, sensing Elliot’s eyes on me.

‘Did you find out Cora lived here and come to visit?’ he asks curiously, turning around as the machine makes his espresso.

I’d thought that when I first saw Violet standing right outside our gate, I recall. It looked as if she was about to open it, and now I wonder again if she was about to call on me.

‘Oh no. I was on my way home and stopped to admire your beautiful garden,’ Violet replies. ‘It’s such a lovely surprise to find out you live here, Aunty Cora. I can’t wait to see Lori again.’

That throws me after the way they parted. I’m pretty sure that Lori never wants to see Violet again, which is why I haven’t mentioned that she is on her way here.

Before I have time to fob Violet off, Elliot cuts in. ‘She’ll be here shortly so you can catch up with her then. You are staying for dinner, aren’t you?’

I wish he hadn’t suggested that but before I can scramble together an excuse, Violet replies, ‘Oh, I’d love to!’ She turns her eager gaze to me. ‘If you have enough, that is. It smells delicious.’

I feel like I’ve been pushed in a corner but how can I refuse without seeming rude? ‘Yes, of course I’ve made plenty. Do stay.’

I hope that my fears over how Lori will react to Violet being here are unfounded. After all it was a long time ago and Violet had only been a child herself, but she had bullied Lori and traumatised her. Bullying leaves marks for years and Lori has never mentioned Violet’s name since she left. Now I don’t know if this meal is an opportunity to forgive and put the past behind us, or if I will regret letting Violet into my home all over again.