“Did you and your giraffe sleep well?” he asks.
Clover looks up warily. Someone has washed her hair, and a tray of cleared bowls and plates nearby shows she’s just finished breakfast.
“She perked up a fair bit after you left,” a nurse says, pouring her a cup of water from a jug. “Didn’t you?”
Clover takes the cup of water, her eyes darting cautiously to Luna. Luna sits on the bed next to her, absorbing the sight of her again. Physically, the girl’s likeness to Clover is uncanny. But Luna is aware, painfully aware, of how desperate she is for this to be Clover. For the search to be over, for the two halves of her life to lace together into a perfect whole once and for all.
“Morning,” a voice says, and Luna turns to see Eilidh approaching with a wide smile. Beside her is another woman, who isn’t smiling. She’s tall with short black hair and a hard face, a document folder tucked under one arm and her hands tightly clasped. She fixes Luna with an unyielding stare, until Luna looks away.
“How are you today, sweetheart?” Eilidh asks Clover brightly. “You’re looking better already, now that your sister’s here.”
Clover plucks Gianni from beneath the blanket and holds him tight. Eilidh turns to the woman beside her and says, “That’s the toy she remembered.” She nods at Luna. ‘The one you brought for her.”
Luna nods, understanding now the point Eilidh is making—that the toy is proof.
She turns to the woman with the hard face. “This is my colleague, Shannon Young. She wants to have a wee chat, if that’s OK. Just to sort things out before Clover’s discharged.”
Luna follows Eilidh and Shannon as they look for “somewhere quiet to chat,” and her stomach is in knots. The presence of the other social worker doesn’t bode well.
They find a small office in a side room and arrange three chairs in a tight triangle.
“Nothing to worry about,” Eilidh says as they sit down. She glances at Shannon, then at Luna. “We just have to fill in some paperwork before we let Clover go. Obviously we’re glad you’ve been reunited, but we need to take some information from you.”
Luna swallows. “Of course.”
“Wonderful,” Eilidh says, beaming. “Now, if you have something with your name and address on it, I’ll get it photocopied.”
Luna pulls out her wallet and finds her driver’s license. She hands it to Eilidh, who holds it toward Shannon. They both inspect it closely.
“Coventry?” Shannon says. “You lived there long?”
There’s a tone in Shannon’s voice that strikes Luna as suspicious. “I’ve lived there for nine years now.”
“And what is it you do there?”
“I work for a children’s mental health organization,” she says. “I specialize in arts therapies for adverse childhood experiences. I use art to help children from abusive homes develop coping strategies.”
“And you live in Coventry with your partner?” Shannon says.
“Yes.” Luna doesn’t think it worthwhile delving into the complexities of her relationship with Ethan.
“Your partner’s full name?”
“Ethan Singh.”
“Can I ask about your mother?” Eilidh says gently. “When I first spoke with Clover, I asked her who usually takes care of her. So we could contact her family, you see. She told me her mummy looked after her, and her big sister, Luna. I couldn’t find your mum, Olivia, but luckily I was able to find you.”
Luna draws a breath. “Our mother passed away.”