Chapter 155

** Paige’s POV ** For a while, neither of us moves. The air between us feels heavy with the ghosts of Mum’s laughter, Dad’s quiet warmth, all the pieces of a life that suddenly don’t fit the same way anymore. But underneath it all, there’s comfort too. Poppy’s hand in mine. The quiet promise that we’ll face whatever comes next together. That nothing has really changed. After a while, she exhales softly, leaning back in her chair. “You know,” she says, her voice a little steadier now, “there is one person who might have known. Mum’s old friend… what was her name again? The one who used to visit at Christmas with those terrible makeup sets that gave us a rash.” I huff out a small laugh. “Margaret. Gods, yes. She used to hug us so hard I thought she’d crack my ribs.” Poppy smiles faintly at the memory. “She always smelled like flowers and sherry.” “Mostly sherry.” That earns a snort, but her face sobers again. “Maybe she knew something. Maybe Mum confided in her back then.” I shake my hea