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Chapter 1

I never i e of Helston, but after years of battling guilt and grief, I’ve finally made it here, to London, where I’ve alanted to be Maybe a few years too late and definitely under shitty circumstances, but I’ve made it

Mum will be fine It’s what I’ve told ht smile felt forced, her wave see with ehtly and told me to show London what I’m made of But I’m not sure what I’m made of I’m yet to find out

Mum will be fine Mum will be fine Mum will be fine

I’d probably be more certain if Dad was there with her

My father was a very traditional man He owned a small antiques store, most of the stock worth peanuts He used to say that the monetary value was of little importance – that more opulent art and antiques were ree with hiet into a debate over that Many called ht He was a character for sure, spent all his time lost in the mountains of junk he called his treasure, his spectacles resting on the end of his nose as he inspected, polished, or restored whatever piece he’d recently acquired Mum used to call his shop Steptoe’s Yard I used to call it the office

I certainly inherited h I have always been drawn to the richer andspectrum The more rarefied and desirable pieces The real treasures of this world, not the dilapidated junkthrough a history degree at university, and was all set to chase my dreanosed one week, the next he was gone There was nothing to be done There was also no time to come to terms with it before he was confined to his bed where he rapidly deteriorated to nothing He was skin and bones Half the one

And so it was My future was sealed I sacrificed , orld to keep Dad’s ression, I guess you could call it It didn’t feel very natural to me While Dad’s treasure held a certain fondness in my heart, it wasn’t the level of history I drea But Mum needed me

Now he’s been gone five years I’ve spent the best part ofto keepof history beyond acy Like Sotheby’s and fine antiques Like auction houses and historical masters of art Like the tons of books on treasure I’ve irief, and a heavy sense of responsibility kept me in Helston I felt suffocated Unfulfilled Dad’s business struggledwith it And then there was a breaking point The point when I realised I orthfor – both professionally and personally It was the moment when I walked in oneach other’s clothes off

I didn’t scream I didn’t collapse to y to beat faster I turned and walked away, my mind focused on my next move, as David chased after me and Amy sloped off quietly My next move didn’t involve either of them In that moment, I realised that I owed it toand encouragement, I was ready to do exactly that

So here I arand city within o back to university to finish ree, but I’m prepared to start at the bottoet some money behind o

I can do this I’m where I am supposed to be

I look at the photograph in my hand, the one I always carry on me It’s of me and Dad His ar, red hair tangled in his fingers, and rip He never liked letting go of , scary London, Dad,’ I say to the picture ‘Wish me luck’ I tuck it away in my purse and take a deep breath