‘Show Oliver the home movie, Abigail.’
‘Okay.’
After switching on the projector, she resumed her seat next to Oliver, listening to the familiar whirring of the machine before the home movie started.
‘This is Daphne’s home movie,’ Carys explained.
Oliver glanced at Abigail. ‘Where did you get the projector? Is it Albert’s?’
She shook her head. ‘My late husband’s. He filmed all our home movies on old cine 8.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘Why did you think it was my neighbour’s?’
‘Because he’s got one just like it.’
Carys added, ‘When we used to visit our aunt, sometimes we’d play in the lighthouse. Well, I think I visited once or twice, but you spent more time there with Albert – didn’t you?’
‘I guess.’
‘Oh, look, the movie has started,’ observed Carys. ‘This one was filmed at your fifth birthday party.’ She looked at Oliver. ‘I don’t know if you remember that father invited local children who were born on the same night?’
Oliver replied, ‘Yes, I remember.’
‘Well, would you believe those two children were Abigail and her future husband, Toby?’
Oliver turned to Abigail, wide-eyed. ‘You were one of the children at my party?’
She smiled at him. ‘Yes, amazing, isn’t it? I don’t really remember much at all. In fact, I’d forgotten about it.’
He returned her smile before glancing at his sister. ‘So, what’s this got to do with Toby and the cottage?’
Abigail reached over and paused the movie for a moment. She explained, ‘Apparently, Toby was a foundling. He was left in the porch of this cottage on that night. I don’t know what happened to his parents, but the nurse who lived here at the time adopted him. When I found this out, at first I thought that was his connection to the cottage and the reason Daphne had put it into a trust for him.’
‘What changed your mind?’
Carys said, ‘Just watch the home movie – you’ll see.’
Abigail restarted the projector. Once again, she wondered if he would see what the rest of them had – the likeness Toby had to the Somervilles. This time, the movie played through without interruptions.
Abigail sat watching it for the fifth time, her concentration waning this time, her gaze roving to Oliver, whose eyes were riveted to the screen. What was going through his mind as he watched his fifth birthday party?