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Mrs White took a sip of her tea and looked at her husband over the top of her cup. I felt as if some kind of question had been asked between the two of them telepathically.
‘Forgive me for being so blunt,’ Mr White said. ‘But why have you come here?’
‘Ah.’ I could hear my cup rattling in the saucer so decided to place it back on the tray. ‘I’m not quite sure how to say this. I don’t even know if I should’ve come here, but… well, you were my favourite teacher, Mrs White?—’
‘Goodness, call me Barbara,’ she interrupted.
I smiled. ‘Barbara. Thank you. I felt that if I didn’t come and tell you then it would always weigh on me. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing or not.’
‘Dawn, slow down. What’s happened?’
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath and tried to draw some energy from somewhere deep inside me to break the bad news.
‘I’m not sure if you remember, but my mum brought me up by herself. Well, my grandparents were there a lot, but it was my mum who… Sorry, I’m waffling.’ I took another deep breath. ‘A few days ago, my mum told me who my father was. She had always told me it was someone she met at a party whom she didn’t really know. It turns out that was a lie. She did meet him at a party, but they went out together for about a year. She knew exactly who he was but didn’t tell me, as she wanted to protect me from the truth.’
Barbara’s face had dropped. The smile had gone, and she looked tense.
‘My father… is Dominic Griffiths.’
Barbara visibly baulked at the mention of his name. She let out a noise that sounded like an animal in pain. It was like I’d slapped her in the face. Mr White jumped forwards, grabbed the cup and saucer from her and placed it on the tray. He perched on the edge of the armchair and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
‘I think it’s probably best if you go,’ he said.
‘I’m so sorry.’ It sounded insincere, but it was the truth. ‘I really didn’t mean to upset you like this.’
‘Please. Just go.’
I stood up and reached for my coat.
‘No. Wait.’
I looked back. Barbara had stood up.
‘Don’t go. Sit down. Please.’
‘Barbara, love, we don’t need this.’
‘No. We don’t. Neither does Dawn. But we’re lumbered with it. Now, let’s all just sit down.’
Barbara sat first. I followed. It was a while before Mr White took his eyes off me and went back to his place on the sofa.
‘I’m guessing you didn’t know he had a child,’ I said. ‘I don’t think anyone did. Mum certainly didn’t tell anyone. She only told me because… well, recent events have been playing on her mind.’
Barbara’s eyes filled with tears. ‘It can’t have been easy for her,’ she said, though her words lacked feeling. She took a breath and continued, ‘That man brought so much tragedy into our lives. He stole the most precious thing we had and destroyed our lives.’
‘At school… we knew you’d lost a daughter, but I had no idea…’ I trailed off.
Barbara turned to the photo of Stephanie on the mantelpiece. I followed her gaze.
‘Stephanie was the best daughter we could have wished for. She had so much life and energy inside her. She wouldn’t sit still for a moment, except when she was watching football with her dad.’
I looked across at Mr White. He had tears in his eyes and his bottom lip was wobbling.
‘I can’t stand the game myself,’ Barbara continued. ‘Never could. Harry and Stephanie were obsessed though. If they weren’t watching it, they were playing it or talking about it. They drove me crazy.’ She half-smiled at the memory.
‘Have you spoken to him?’ Mr White asked.
‘I’m sorry?’
