BOOK 6

Eunice showed Jill the room she would have during her stay at the ranch. It was light and cheery, with yellow-striped wallpaper on the walls and white eyelet curtains at every window. A window seat on the far wall, overlooking the front of the house, had a yellow, cabbage rose cushion in place.

‘I love the room, Mrs Reed,’ Jill said. ‘I’ll be very comfortable in here.’

‘I hope you will, my dear,’ Eunice replied pleasantly. ‘What I think you’ll like best is that the adjoining bathroom connects to the room Joey stays in. That way you don’t have to go so far if he needs you at night.’

‘I can’t wait to meet him,’ Jill said.

Eunice smiled. ‘He’ll be home from visiting his other grandparents shortly. Now, there’s something I hope you’ll do for me, Jill,’ Eunice continued, stopping to pause in front of the vanity mirror hanging over an antique table. Her fingers lightly patted the silvery-white dross of her hair, twisted into a delicate chignon, which Jill thought suited her.

‘I’ll do whatev