CHAPTER 18
REUNION
‘Nicholas! Oh!’ Florence scattered spools of thread across the table as she scrambled to stand up and hug her older brother. ‘Welcome home.’
‘Thank you, Flo. I’d like to say it is good to be back but I wish the circumstances were different. Is Mama here?’
‘No. She’s gone with Papa to the store to see about the clean-up. She’ll be so cross to have missed you. Come and sit down. Let me put the kettle on.’
Lillian stood listening in the hall just beyond the door. She’d come inside to fetch a jug of water and some cups for the children who were happily playing in the garden. At the sound of his voice she’d frozen, feeling guilty for eavesdropping on the unaware siblings’ reunion. As she waited indecisively, Florence continued to ask her brother about his travels but Nic
