That night, Holly fell fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but then, in the early hours, she woke and tossed and turned for what seemed like forever.

At some point she dropped off again, and quite deeply, because the alarm trilling out at seven thirty woke her with a start.

A warm feeling flooded her solar plexus, followed by a fluttering in her stomach when she remembered her interview today. Three hours and she’d be there… This could be the start of solving her problems and making a fresh start. Far earlier than she’d expected.

She pushed her feet into her old slippers and grabbed a worn, bobbled cardigan from the bottom of the bed.

She looked down and saw the laptop, the amber light on the front now turned to green, indicating it was fully charged. She’d thought about it a few times, this important portal to finding and contacting Evan, but she hadn’t really felt strong enough to deal with what she might find.

Today, though, felt like a good day, a lucky day. She promised herself she’d take a quick look later. She couldn’t afford to crush her spirit, but she had to try every avenue out there.

She owed it to herself, and to Evan, to be vigilant.

And if she got the job today, one of the first things she’d already decided she’d treat herself to was a fluffy white dressing gown like the one Geraldine had worn. Well, not exactly like that one, of course – Holly could never afford a Ralph Lauren robe – but it would be something just as soft and comfortable.

It seemed a bizarre and indulgent thought to have, but it would signify something powerful to her. She’d learned from the past that the value of staying upbeat was immeasurable.

That would be, of course, if she had enough left over after starting to make inroads into the mountain of debt she’d incurred over the past year.

The payday loans, overdrafts and credit cards had all been used not to buy fancy clothes and make-up or fabulous restaurant meals, but to pay for her various methods of trying to find Geraldine and Evan.

A private investigator, cabs, train fares, online searches and, finally, the documentation she’d needed to collate to come back to her home town… it had added up surprisingly quickly.

The fluttering sensation moved up to Holly’s throat.

She’d lain awake in the early hours, but for once, it hadn’t been the debt that was unsettling her. She’d been fretting that she’d upset Cora in some way. She couldn’t fathom exactly how; she was just judging it on Cora’s grim expression and the way she had snatched up her unfinished plate so suddenly.

They’d been having a perfectly nice conversation and Cora had made a real effort to prepare a nice tea. Then, out of the blue, a strange look had come over her face and she’d simply stood up and left Holly sitting at the table to finish her meal alone.

Perhaps the older woman was getting a little confused. Holly had noticed the other day that the tea canister had been put back in the fridge and the fresh milk in the cupboard.

She’d decided not to mention it. Cora was in her seventies and Holly didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. After all, no harm had been done; she’d probably just got a lot on her mind.

Holly decided she’d go downstairs now and make Cora a cup of tea. Perhaps they’d have breakfast together and put last night behind them.

She could only try.

---

Two hours later, Holly boarded the bus for the twenty-minute ride into town.

She’d given herself an hour to get to the interview, but still she couldn’t get rid of the uneasy churning in her stomach. She knew herself well enough to determine that the best thing she could do to avoid the steel grip of anxiety was get into town early and walk off the nervous feeling once she arrived.

She paid her fare and took a seat, already feeling calmer now that she was on her way and wouldn’t be late for her interview.

As the bus trundled away, she turned to catch a glimpse of Baker Crescent.

It was odd to see that the curtains were closed again at Cora’s bedroom window. The door to that room had been ajar this morning and Holly had glanced in to see a neatly made bed and drawn curtains. Cora had already been up and pottering around downstairs.

Holly wondered if she’d had gone back to bed, although she had her pegged as a bit of a stickler for rising early and getting things done.

She thought about the contents of the letter she’d found in Cora’s bedroom and smiled.

She wasn’t sure how, but maybe the closed curtains had something to do with that. There was no rush to find out; time would tell. The last thing Holly wanted to do was make Cora aware she knew her secret. She would no doubt be annoyed, and quite rightly.

Before she’d left the house, Holly had made tea and toast as planned and Cora had seemed her usual bright self again, so she’d decided not to mention last night’s little misunderstanding – if that was what it was.

She hadn’t mentioned this morning’s interview either; she got the feeling Cora was somehow irked about her news. But as she’d left the house, Cora had called goodbye and wished her luck. It had been a relief.

As the bus inched its way through the traffic, Holly stared out of the smeared, cloudy glass at the park beyond.

Despite being on the threshold of spring, the air still had a spiteful nip to it. At least the sun was out now, brightening the young pale green leaves on the bushes that surrounded the park’s gaudy children’s play area.

Holly too felt brighter, as if some of the weight had already been lifted from her shoulders. It was a welcome feeling, one that had been absent from her life for too long.

It was only a matter of time before Geraldine caught up with her. That was why it was imperative for Holly to go on the offensive, take her by surprise. Getting in first was the only real chance she had of setting things straight.

The bus slowed down again, groaning like a great beast as it eventually stopped and let two people off.

A group of older boys who looked like they ought to still be at school boarded the bus. They sniggered and leered at the other passengers in that way teenagers sometimes did when they thought they knew everything there was to know about life; that nothing could touch them.

They stormed past Holly’s seat cackling and sniping at each other like a pack of dogs.

She looked out of the window and waited for them to pass.

She could sense the dark thoughts crowding in at the periphery of her positive attitude like jackals. Just waiting for a chance to bite.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a second or two.

Everything is going well. Everything is going to be fine.

She wouldn’t let her past define her any more… Today was all about her future, and she would push aside anyone who tried to stop her in her tracks.

She had to do it for herself, and this time ensure she made a much better job of it.