This is the story of a lady who after 30 years realizes that her dad was not her biological father and is faced with rejection when she approaches her real father under the instructions left behind by her mother before her death. Katie Lavender is on top of her media career when she is informed that she is part of the group being laid off. Her mother has been dead for a year and her father for three years, but she is yet to accept this reality. She however thinks she is tough until she is summoned to a solicitor's office and given a letter from her mother informing her that Mr. Desmond Lavender is not her biological father and that her real father Stirling Nightingale had put up a trust fund for her which she is now supposed to redeem if she wishes to. Stirling has been married to Gina for the past thirty-four years and together they have two children, Rosco, 32 and Scarlet, 29.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
Ian, Katie's boyfriend is for the idea that she should take up the trust fund but this suggestion only creates a rift between them because she feels he is just being materialistic. He even goes ahead and searches for Stirling's address against Katie's wishes. After dismissing Ian, Katie feels like he was right and decides to go on and look for Stirling, but promises herself to study him from a distance first. She ends up in Stirling's home at a time when they are celebrating his mother's ninetieth birthday and she manages to attend the party by impersonating a waitress. Her plans flop when Cecily, Stirling's mother asks for her name and recognizes her immediately. She informs her son who probes her and she ends up telling him the truth. This happens a midst so much confusion since Neil, Stirling's elder brother has just been reported dead from intentional drowning.
Katie is welcomed into Pen's family and Cecily seems to be growing fond of her more than her other grandchildren. Stirling breaks the news of her new found daughter to the family the night after Neil's burial and that is after they went over and over with criticizing his dead brother for infidelity. Gina throws him out of the house and suggests he books himself a hotel somewhere but Lloyd takes him in at Pen's house.
At this point, the only person Stirling feels comfortable talking to is Simone, Neil's mistress. This however ends up in an affair since he feels Simone is the only person who can quench his frustrations. Lloyd on the other hand reveals to Katie that he is adopted and the realization that they are not cousins leads them to starting a romantic relationship which they intend to keep a secret, but Pen notices as soon as it starts. Gina, under Rosco's instructions gives Stirling an ultimatum to choose between the family and Katie. He goes ahead and blackmails him about his affair with Simone and as a result Stirling agrees to let go off Katie.
This dismissal means that Katie cannot continue seeing Lloyd since she needs to be away from the entire Nightingale family. Lloyd however confronts Stirling about the decision and he admits it was a wrong move. He confesses his affair with Simone to his wife and as a result they plan a divorce. They also go after Katie together with Pen and Cecily and manage to bring her back to the family. Despite accepting Stirling as her biological father, she states that her dad will remain to be Desmond Lavender, the man who loved her dearly even after knowing that she was not his real daughter.
Best part of story, including ending:
I like this story because it reflects how people with different attitudes are able to handle similar situations.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene is when Katie arrives at the Willow bank for the first time and decides to act as a waiter in the party. This is because she thinks she won't be discovered this way, but is discovered by the least expected person, Cecily Nightingale.
Opinion about the main character:
Katie is forgiving and that is why after everything she still agrees once more to join the Nightingale family and even interact with Rosco and Scarlet.
