‘I bet that will be a long, drawn-out process.’
He nodded. ‘It would be quicker to just speak to his sister. He might not have approached her about all this, but then again …’ he trailed off.
Abigail’s thoughts turned to Toby’s funeral and the wake. She had noticed that Clarissa was avoiding her. She hadn’t taken it personally; she just put it down to the fact that Toby’s sister wanted to avoid the inevitable uncomfortable conversation with a grieving widow. Now, after what Ray had said, she wondered if maybe there was more to it than that.
‘Do you think you will contact his sister?’
Abigail didn’t think she had much choice. ‘Yes, I will.’
‘If you discover what we’ve discussed is the case – he was adopted by the woman who raised him – come back and we can talk about how to find his biological family.’
Abigail shook her head.
‘I don’t charge friends, Abigail, or friends of friends.’
‘It’s not the money,’ said Abigail, even though she knew she couldn’t afford his services. Why would she go and find them, only for them to go through and suffer that loss? Why would she make a mother and father discover they had lost a son?
‘Well, it’s been a lot to take in, I know.’
Abigail voiced her thoughts about how his actual parents might feel about being contacted by their son’s widow. ‘What would it achieve?’
‘I understand.’
‘I’m only doing this because Daphne must have had her reasons for giving Toby the cottage, and I don’t want her family, the Somervilles, thinking they can take his legacy away.’
Ray nodded. ‘Can I ask you something … personal? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.’
‘What is it?’
‘Look, this is a personal question, but do you have children? The reason I ask is that for a variety of reasons – like health, for one – it’s worth finding out the identity of his biological parents.’
Abigail hadn’t thought of that. But it was inconsequential. ‘We didn’t have children.’
There was a moment’s awkward silence. Abigail was aware she had suffered two losses; she would never have another opportunity to have Toby’s child. A rat-tat-tat at the patio doors interrupted the silence.
Abigail turned in her seat to see a lady, whom she guessed was Sarah, wearing a pretty floral dress and strappy sandals, standing at the patio doors. Abigail rose from her seat as Ray walked to the patio doors and slid them open. She caught the look on Sarah’s face, surprised to see a young woman on Ray’s houseboat. Abigail wasted no time introducing herself. ‘I’m Abigail, I’m here to …’ she stalled, wondering where to begin.
Ray stepped in. ‘This is Abigail,Lili’s friend. I’m helping her out with a trust.’
Sarah walked in and smiled. ‘You’re the young lady helping Lili with the accounts at The Potting Shed.’
‘‘I just need to check the meal, Sarah.’ Ray walked over to the kitchen.
‘Yes, that’s me. Although I served in the shop one time too. It wasn’t intentional. I’m afraid I didn’t do a very good job of it. I think I lost Lili a customer.’ Abigail didn’t know why she was telling Sarah all this on her way out of the door.
Sarah raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh, I can’t imagine that.’
‘I didn’t know who he was. I found out afterwards it was Oliver Somerville. His manner was kind of rude and it put my back up.’
‘Ah, yes, he can be abrupt.’ Sarah looked at her askance. ‘Come sit with me. It looks as though dinner isn’t ready yet.’
Abigail joined her on the sofa.
‘Lili tells me you’re also working at the Hall.’
Abigail nodded, catching Ray glancing at her from the kitchen.
‘How’s that going?’