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‘Why did you do it, Dominic? What had we done wrong? You’ve ruined so many lives. You make me sick just looking at you, knowing that I brought someone so evil and disturbed into the world. Do you know what you’ve done to your mother? Do you have any idea what she’s going through? You’re killing her, Dominic. You’re f***ing killing her.’
Mr Justice Hilary halted proceedings while Anthony Griffiths was led away from the courtroom.
So it would seem that even Dominic’s parents believed he was capable and guilty of the murder. Hardly surprising. They would have been run out of Newcastle if they’d tried to side with their son against the weight of evidence.
If anyone could tell me everything about what had gone into making Dominic the person he was, it was his parents… my grandparents. Surely, they wouldn’t turn me away? I was their flesh and blood, after all, no matter what they thought of their son.
I suddenly remembered what Mum had told me about Carole Griffiths – how she had come to the house screaming and ranting when she discovered Mum was pregnant. She had been a volatile woman back then. Hopefully, age would have mellowed her, but how would dealing with finding out her son was a murderer have affected her personality over the years?
The meeting with Barbara and Harry had gone well, despite a few hiccoughs, but how would it go with my grandparents? How would they react to the granddaughter they had never known turning up on the doorstep demanding to know about her father? There was only one way to find out, but I shuddered at the prospect of facing their rejection. Mum might have liked to say I was confident, but a lot of it was just for show. If it wasn’t for the layer of make-up I hid myself behind, I’d have been a gibbering wreck.
I took out the list of people I wanted to talk to about Dominic and ticked off Harry and Barbara. It had been lovely to see Mrs White again after all those years. I hoped I would get another chance to see her, maybe with less crying next time.
I decided to put the list in my phone. I opened the notes app and typed their names in. At the bottom of the list, I hesitated. What the hell, it’s only for my reference, and I don’t have to go through with it if I don’t want to. I quickly typed ‘meet my dad’ before I could change my mind.
Chapter Eight
One of the best feelings in the world is waking up, realising it’s Saturday and there’s no work. You can turn over, pull the duvet over your head and sleep for another hour or three. And that’s exactly what I planned on doing. Unfortunately, my next-door neighbour, Robyn, had other ideas. She’d obviously pulled the previous night, and the sound of her headboard banging against the wall forced me to abandon my lie-in. I had nothing against her having a sex life; I just wished she wouldn’t have it so loudly.
Reluctantly, I threw the duvet back and stepped out of bed. Another cold morning. I wrapped my dressing gown around me, slipped my feet into a pair of novelty slippers and kicked the cold radiator as I left the room. I’d complained about the heating to my landlord on a couple of occasions, and it never got me anywhere. He had loaned me a portable fan heater when we had a cold snap in November, but all that did was overheat whatever part of you it was pointing at while the rest of you remained freezing cold. I was like a human Baked Alaska.
Following a huge bowl of cereal and two coffees, I decided the only way to stop my mother constantly texting me was to pay her a visit.
As it was Saturday, I was able to dress how I wanted and didn’t have to look all business-like. I still wore black, but I whipped up my hair into a small beehive and added extra make-up to give myself panda eyes. I spent ages on my eyes while listening to Dusty Springfield. I had to laugh when she started singing ‘I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself’. You and me both, Dusty.
Leaving the flat, I took one last look at myself in the mirror. I might be a bit on the heavy side but I had style and, if I did say so myself, I looked pretty good.
I parked near Costa and popped in to buy a couple of takeaway lattes and something sugary for a snack for me and Mum. I missed the closeness we had always had, and I wanted it back. I didn’t want to hurt Mum by looking into my father’s background, but I needed her to meet me halfway and understand it from my point of view.
The door to Hollyhocks opened as I approached. A woman with a smile on her face carrying a large bunch of beautiful flowers held the door open for me. Mum really did have a great job. Everyone left her shop with a smile. Unless they’d been in to pick up a wreath.
‘Morning,’ I said on entering the shop, trying to sound as jolly as I could.
‘Hello, stranger! What a nice surprise,’ Mum said, with a huge smile.
‘I thought you’d like something to warm you up,’ I said, placing the cardboard cup on the counter.
‘You’re an angel. I was about to flick the kettle on, but this is much better.’ She wrapped her hands around the cup. ‘I was going to pop around to see you later. I’ve found something I think you might be interested in.’
She took a sip of her latte, let out a satisfied sigh and placed it carefully on the counter. From underneath, she brought out her handbag and rummaged around inside it. She lifted out a photograph, smiled and handed it over to me.
‘I knew I had something somewhere. It took me ages to find it.’
I frowned as I examined the picture. ‘Who am I looking at?’
‘You mean you can’t guess? I didn’t think I’d changed that much. Back row, fourth from the right.’
I leaned in closer and squinted. ‘Oh my God, is that you?’
It was a group shot of a dozen or so people all huddled together in a kitchen.
‘Yes. You can laugh at my hair if you like.’ Mum smiled.
‘Your hair is fine. I was going to laugh at your clothes.’
‘Cheek. I loved that top.’
‘When was this taken?’
