Page 79 of Three Widows

Kathleen sipped her tea slowly before putting down the mug, her hand shaking. ‘Helena is an only child. She found it difficult to make friends, and when she did, she found it hard to hold on to the few she had. She was always lonely as a child, and I think she sought comfort in imaginary friends. She had no luck with boyfriends. In her thirty-three years on this earth, she’s struggled in relationships. But to answer your question, I have no idea why she joined this widows’ group.’

‘The group is called Life After Loss. Could she be mourning the fact that she’s lonely?’

‘Maybe. It’s hard to understand how her mind works. But it’s inconceivable that she would make up a child for notice.’

Lottie thought the same, but Helena might be inventing a life she had yearned for. Why join in with women who were mourning, though? It didn’t make sense. Or did it? Was it sympathy she craved?

‘She called her husband Gerald and her son Noah. Do those names mean anything to you?’

‘What? Don’t think so.’

‘What else can you tell me about her?’

Kathleen was silent for a moment. ‘Helena’s biological father cut his stick when I told him I was pregnant. Left me as an eighteen-year-old unmarried mother to fend for myself. Told me to head to England for an abortion. Even if I’d wanted to take the boat to Liverpool for the procedure, he never gave me a penny to fund it. I never laid eyes on him after that.’

‘You told Helena this?’

‘Yes.’

‘Maybe she invented an imaginary husband to right her biological dad’s wrongs,’ Lottie said, trying to make sense of it all. ‘Then she had him die and became a fictional widow.’

Kathleen looked horrified. ‘It sounds preposterous.’

‘Do you think it’s possible?’

Lifting her mug, she held it in both hands, still shaking. ‘I suppose so. She was also devastated when my husband, her stepdad, died.’

‘And you have no idea where we might find your daughter?’

‘No, but she disappears for days at a time. You see, Helena developed a love affair with alcohol. She had a stint in rehab, and I’d hoped she had turned that metaphorical corner when she got the shop, but I was wrong.’

‘And you can’t give me any clue to where she might be now or how to find her?’

‘No, I’m sorry. If she contacts me, I’ll let you know.’

‘I’d appreciate that.’ Lottie finished her tea and stood. She handed over a card with her contact details.

Boyd remained seated. ‘Kathleen, despite her problems, Helena is doing her best to make a success of her business. Don’t be too hard on her.’

Kathleen smiled weakly. ‘I fund her business. Again and again, I’ve dug her out of a financial hole. It’s the only way I can keep her onside. I hate to admit this, but Helena is a pathological liar and she can be volatile. She’s threatened to cut me out of her life on numerous occasions, and only calls me when she runs out of money.’

‘You said you saw her a week ago. What was her mood like when you met her?’

‘She was asking for money, per usual. Brought me a concoction of herbs and God knows what.’

‘Did you give her what she asked for?’ Lottie said.

‘Are you a mother, Inspector?’

‘I am.’

‘Then you know I would give her the shirt off my back if it would make her happy.’

‘What did you talk about?’

‘The shop, mostly.’

‘Did she talk about her friends, Éilis or Jennifer?’

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