Lili stared at Ray. She didn’t belong here, no matter how attached she had grown to them all. She was just making her way to the taxi when William ran up behind her and threw his arms around her waist. ‘Don’t go.’
Lili turned around and knelt, wiping tears away from his cheeks. ‘I have to, William.’
‘Why does everyone always leave?’ William cried. He ran off into the house.
Bella stood there whining.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lili called after him. She looked up at the house and caught Nate at a window.
‘I’ll call you if I find out anything,’ Ray said, approaching the taxi. He opened the car door.
Bella seemed to take that as an invitation. She jumped into the back seat.
The taxi driver turned around and looked at the dog. ‘You didn’t mention a pet.’
Lili sighed. ‘You’re not going for a car ride today, Bella.’ Lili took two paces back and said, ‘Come!’
Bella jumped out of the car.
‘Sit!’
Bella sat obediently by Lili’s feet. ‘Good girl.’ Lili knelt and gave her a fuss. ‘I’ll miss you.’ Lili glanced at the house. ‘All of you.’
Ray looked at Bella in surprise. ‘I didn’t know she was so well behaved.’
Lili stood up. ‘Maisie and William have been training her. She really is a lovely dog if you just give her a chance.’
Ray kept his distance.
‘Stroke her, Ray. She likes a fuss.’
Ray stepped forward and tentatively patted her head.
The taxi driver wound his window down. ‘I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to leave, now with or without you.’
Ray looked up. ‘Stay, Lili. Please. I have a spare bedroom. I can put you up at my place.’
Lili was already shaking her head before he’d finished speaking. ‘That’s really kind of you, Ray, but I have to return to London.’
She knew it was a fib; she didn’t have to return to London. She didn’t have to be anywhere. ‘Will you water Joseph’s plants in the conservatory?’ Lili had noticed one of his rare, prized orchids was starting to bloom.
Ray nodded. ‘You’ll come back, though.’
‘Goodbye, Ray.’ She opened the car door and apologised to the driver. ‘I’m so sorry for holding you up.’ Lili had barely put her seatbelt on when the car took off, speeding down the driveway.
Lili turned in her seat and glanced out of the window, taking one more look at the house. She saw Bella running down the drive, trying to catch up with the car. As they turned in to the unmade road that led into Thorpeness and the main road skirting the beach into Aldeburgh, Lili saw Bella stop at the entrance to the property. ‘Go home, please,’ Lili breathed, hoping Bella didn’t continue following them. Bella looked toward the house. Lili guessed Ray was calling her. She stopped and ran back up the driveway, out of sight.
Lili turned in her seat, tears rolling down her face.
‘Where to?’ the driver asked.
Lili found a tissue in her handbag and looked at the taxi driver. She said under her breath, ‘I wish I knew.’