‘Why would you do it? Why would you be so cruel?’ Grace whispered to herself as she made her way towards the edge of the balcony. With her elbows perched on the rail she let her body rest forward, cupping her face in her hands, her shoulders taut with sympathy as she imagined Connie’s distress. Then, glancing up, she gazed at the turquoise sky and whispered a silent ‘sorry’ to Connie, before wiping her eyes and resolving to find Lara … no matter what it took. And then at least she could try to reverse some of the damage that Connie’s parents had inflicted upon her. Grace would show Lara the diaries, the letters, the love her mother had for her, and pass on Connie’s carefully stored possessions too, which she was now convinced were all waiting there for Lara to inherit. Connie had gathered everything she had of any value and kept it safe for her daughter to find. All that was left now was for Grace to find Lara. And then she said a silent prayer … please let Lara still be alive.

Chapter 22

Grace swivelled around to see Ellis approaching from his bedroom, carrying a bottle of wine and a brown paper bag. ‘Hey, what’s up?’ He dumped everything on the table and went to her. Through the tears which still filled her eyes, she could feel his arms folding around her and pulling her in close, instinctively comforting her. ‘What’s happened? Is it your mother? Has she done something to you?’ he asked, the concern clearly palpable in his voice.

But Grace couldn’t speak. She couldn’t tell him because his kindness made her cry even more and she instinctively dipped her head into his chest. And they stood together in silence for what felt like forever. Until Ellis moved his hands on to Grace’s shoulders and stood back just enough to see her face. After tilting her chin up so as to look straight into her eyes, he spoke in a soft voice, his toffee-coloured eyes searching hers, pleading to know why she was so distressed.

‘Grace, darling, please tell me why you are crying?’ he asked, gently dabbing his thumb on her cheek in an attempt to stem the tears. She opened her mouth, hesitated as another sob caught in her throat and then, as if on autopilot and in slow motion, her lips moved towards his. And he responded, sending a spark of pleasure to the very core of her, taking some of the anguish away. She could feel his fingertips stroking the side of her face, his other hand tangled in her copper curls. His tongue entwined with hers making her tingle all over with longing for him.