Postscript

Postscript

The afternoon sun on the deck was offset by the cool sea breeze as Jesse and Susan joined Amanda and Mark.

"Where's Steve?" Jesse asked.

"He called from the station, said something came up and he'd join us in a while" Mark replied.

"I hear Harriet Ross paid for Annie and Patrick to be buried yesterday" Susan began.

Amanda nodded "It was beautiful" she smiled at Mark "I know my job detaches me more than yours but it's only right for somebody, anybody to have a proper funeral."

Jesse nodded "And I think Steve proved every case is a deserving one, no matter how old."

Mark smiled and shook his head.

"What?" Steve asked as he appeared in the doorway, pulling up a chair beside Amanda.

"Just imagine if you'd let the investigation fall to the bottom of the pile" Mark began "That babies body wasn't the only thing that was uncovered in Garrett Drive."

"Donald Oxley would have kept on believing that Annie left him by choice" Susan pointed out "At least now he knows that she still loved him."

"Harriet too" Jesse added "She thought Annie had shunned her because she was ashamed, now she knows why she never got in touch, why she never sent any photos of Patrick."

"And don't forget Charlie Farrah" Mark pointed out "we'll never know exactly what happened that day with Annie, but it's not ours to judge now. Where he's gone there is only one vote that counts" he pointed skywards. "But whatever did happen in 1946, I know what I saw in that hospital room. Charlie knew he was dying, he had no reason to lie. I honestly believe he loved Harriet, I believed that the first day I met him. I think he deserved to find out the truth as much as anyone, that Harriet hadn't harmed their baby, that she loved him but was led to believe he didn't want her."

"And Harriet found out the same" Steve concluded "That Charlie had loved her and was willing to start a new life with her, no matter what. It seems Annie really had a lot to answer for there."

"How do you think Harriet will cope now?" Amanda asked, not recognising the look on Steve's face "I mean really as far as Patrick is concerned, she's lived the only painless lie in this mess. She thought he was safe and well in Canada, now with all this guilt about hiding him away…."

"She won't have to worry" Steve interrupted "I got a call at the station just as I was leaving. Harriet Ross didn't open her curtains this morning, so one of the neighbours went around to check. It seems she passed away in her sleep."

Mark sat back in his chair and let out a deep breath "within a few days of Charlie" he shook his head.

"She died of a broken heart," Susan said softly,

"She died knowing the truth," Amanda added.

Mark looked down at the ocean, not addressing anybody in particular he said; "they were different times. Having a child out of wedlock was scandalous. Not being able to have a child was deemed a failure. Annie saw an answer, Harriet kept her reputation and she and Donald could raise Patrick as their own."

"And if Patrick had been born today?" Jesse asked already knowing the answer.

"Harriet and Charlie loved each other, he'd never been in any serious trouble until that point. Nobody would care that they weren't married and chances are they'd have lived happily ever after" Amanda speculated.

Mark turned to Steve and grinned "What was it Charlie Farrah said that day in his garden?" he asked.

Steve thought for a moment. "The guy doesn't always get the girl" he smiled, "it's not always happily ever after."