Chapter 35

Part of me wants to get out of the cafe as soon as possible after that. I want to storm back to the cottage and confront Iris. Demand that she tell me everything she's hiding.

The only reason I don't is because I doubt she'll actually tell me anything. And I'm certainly not in the mood to listen to any more of the conspiracy theories. Not from Val or Iris, or anyone else for that matter.

I understand where it comes from - the denial. At least, I understand the psychology behind it. Back at the children's home, soon after that day, Elijah and I had both, separately, seen a psychologist who was supposed to help us come to terms with Mum and Dad's deaths. He'd explained all about denial and grief, the signs to look out for, the ways to cope or to help if we recognized those signs in each other. He was trying to teach us to accept it and to move on with our lives.

But I already had accepted it. I knew they were gone then, and I still do. Even with my wandering mind, an