Chapter Fourty Two

Dan.

‘Is that a fact?’ Her eyebrows rose to match her interest. ‘Then you must be Dan, the rich, successful older brother who no one ever talks about. You don’t look like Nate, ’ she added, without waiting for confirmation.

‘We were half brothers. Same father, different mothers. Nate favour's, well favored his. Mother.’

‘Should one speak ill of the dead at his own funeral?’ she enquired, with a refreshing lack of sentimentality. Then, clearly not expecting an answer,

‘I’m Matty Lang,’ she said, offering her hand. ‘Mira’s cousin. So what’s the mystery? Why haven’t we met?

There’s no mystery. I’m a geologist. I spend a lot of time overseas in remote places.’ Then, because he didn’t want to elaborate on why he didn’t include family visits when he was in London, he said, ‘Mira must be glad to have you here. Her parents live overseas, I understand.’

‘They do. In separate hemispheres to avoid bloodshed. As for the rest of them, they’re all too busy to waste time at a funeral that won’