Finders Keepers by Edie Baylis (epub ebook reader txt) 📕

from the belief that she was handling the death of her daughter well and with dignity. It was more than imperative everyone maintained the perception that she was brave as well as coherent.

However, it would undeniably be difficult not to scream for joy when Helen was officially out of her life. Plus, the funeral marked that the police did not suspect her having any hand in it. Another reason why she’d been so keen that Helen’s final journey after the church service should be a fast track to the crematorium.

Dulcie smiled. She was leaving nothing open to chance. Not a thing.

Her brow suddenly furrowed, as she realised in hindsight that Robert was going towards the kitchen. And Teagan was in there.

Silently swinging her legs off the bed, she moved to the door, her hand slowly turning the handle. Hearing voices, Dulcie stiffened. He was in there. With her.

Holding her breath as she slipped out of the bedroom, Dulcie padded up the hallway.

‘OH, YOU’RE IN HERE!’ Robert’s gruff voice startled Teagan so much she almost dropped the plate she was drying. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’

Turning around, Teagan looked at Robert. His face was fierce. Angry. ‘Wait!’ she cried. She’d promised to speak to him, so she might as well do it now.

‘What is it, Teagan? I’m tired.’

‘I... I...’ She glanced at the impatience on Robert’s face, the thick lines across his brow. She wanted to reach out, tell him not to be angry and that she cared how he felt. She didn’t want any awkwardness between them. She wanted it to get back to like it had been before when she’d felt like they were becoming friends. ‘Your mother... she...’

‘I don’t want to discuss my mother,’ Robert growled. The only way he’d got through the day was by breaking his cardinal rule and going into the office. Even spending the day and half the evening with those half-wits was preferable to sitting in the same room as his mother, knowing what she’d done. Knowing what she was really like.

‘Dulcie wants you at Helen’s funeral,’ Teagan blurted. ‘It would mean the world to her if you changed your mind and agreed to go.’

‘I already told her I’d go.’ Robert snapped, pointedly not looking at Teagan because he didn’t want anything to deflect him from his inner rage. ‘I don’t want to go, but I said I would. She knows that. What’s the matter with her?’

Teagan frowned. ‘Oh! She said...’

Robert finally glanced at Teagan and frowned. ‘Have you been crying?’

‘No...’ Teagan flapped her hand and turned towards the sink, already feeling the burn of new tears.

Robert strode across and placing his hand on Teagan’s left arm, turned her none too gently towards him. ‘What has she done? What has she said to upset you?’

Teagan shook her head. ‘Nothing really. She believes I told you about your father, but I think we’ve sorted it out now.’ She stared at Robert’s hand, his fingers wrapped around her arm.

Robert scrutinised Teagan. What he wanted to say was not to listen to anything that his mother said because none of it was true, but he couldn’t. If he said that then he’d have to explain why. He’d have to recount what he’d found in that notebook and he wasn’t ready to physically put that into words. Speaking of it would make it real.

The closeness of Teagan and the strange surge in emotions weren’t helping either. If he didn’t walk out of here soon, he ran the risk of kissing this woman and he didn’t want to. Thinking like that upset his concentration and he didn’t like it. It ruined the routine.

‘You look strange. What’s happened?’ The worry in Teagan’s voice was audible. ‘Please tell me what’s bothering you.’

‘You’re bothering me,’ Robert growled, stepping towards Teagan, until hearing a loud crash from the hallway made him stop in his tracks.

‘Robert! ROBERT!’ Dulcie screamed, her voice filled with panic.

Jumping back, Robert stared at Teagan in confusion. Shaking his head in utter frustration, he went to see what had happened to the mother he no longer knew, angrier than ever with his inability to stop himself from succumbing to what was making his life even more confusing.

Eighteen

LUCKILY, TEAGAN HAD A BLACK DRESS and smart jacket in the clothes she had brought with her for the contract at Footlights, so she didn’t feel out of place, but despite it now having just turned July, it was surprisingly chilly in the small church.

Walking behind Dulcie and Robert, Teagan looked anywhere but at the tall frame of Robert, his hand on his mother’s elbow. He’d completely blanked her so far today. Things were awkward. She’d been sure he’d been about to try to kiss her last night and she didn’t know what to do about that.

She’d begun to really like Robert – as a friend, but if he was beginning to think something else could be on the cards, then things would become impossible. His behaviour, apart from a couple of strange looks recently, had always been the opposite of attraction, but last night she’d got the distinct impression something had shifted and that was the last thing she wanted.

How selfish was she? Dulcie’s fall last night was a stark reminder to Teagan that she wasn’t here to worry about her client’s son. She was here to look after Dulcie. Shame engulfed her. Stop it, Teagan, she admonished. Her thoughts and concentration should be on Dulcie. Nothing else. Especially today.

Nearing the top of the aisle, Teagan faltered seeing a framed photograph sitting atop Helen’s oak casket on the stand. Helen’s eyes burrowed into her as she paused, unsure where to sit. She wasn’t family, so shouldn’t sit on the first row of pews. Considering the circumstances, there was a surprisingly good turnout at the funeral. She cautiously eyed the faces of the other mourners, presuming the majority were Helen’s work colleagues and associates.

Moving towards a pew several rows back, Teagan was