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Back All You Need Is Love
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. OCTOBER
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. Acknowledgments
  53. More from Jessica Redland
  54. About the Author
  55. Also by Jessica Redland
  56. About Boldwood Books

She sighed. ‘I’m so sorry, Sam. If it wasn’t for Mum, I really would have it switched on silent and away in my bag.’

‘It’s fine.’ Plus, it delayed the confession. Why was it so hard to say the words? My fiancée died. My fiancée’s dead. My fiancée was walking next to me one minute making plans about the future and, five minutes later, she was dead in my arms. I took a gulp on my pint, forcing it down over the lump in my throat. As soon as Jemma hung up, I’d just come out with it. Nikki’s dead. Yeah. The minute she hung up…

22

Jemma

‘Jemma speaking.’ I pulled an apologetic face at Sam. It was probably going to be a wrong number or some annoying salesperson trying to talk me into claiming for an accident that wasn’t my fault.

There was a pause. ‘Hi Jemma, it’s Sarah Derbyshire.’

I frowned. Sarah Derbyshire? The name was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. ‘Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that,’ I said, hoping she’d give me a clue.

‘Sarah Derbyshire. From Seaside Blooms.’

Of course! She ran the florist’s over the road from Bear With Me. I’d chatted to her a few times but we’d never exchanged phone numbers so how and why was she calling me? ‘Hi, Sarah, how are you?’

‘I’m good, thanks. I hope you don’t mind me calling you, but… well… I’m worried about your mum.’

My heart started to pound. ‘Why? What’s happened?’

‘Probably nothing. It’s just that I was working late and I noticed the lights were still on in Bear With Me. I figured your mum must be working late too so I came to the window to wave goodnight to her. And that’s when I spotted that the door was ajar.’

‘Oh my God! There’s been a break-in?’

‘I don’t think so. There’s a couple of police constables here now but they’ve had a good look round and there’s nothing to suggest anyone’s been in. The safe’s still locked and the shelves seem to be fully-stocked.’

‘And there’s no sign of Mum?’

‘No. I’ve tried phoning her but it goes to voicemail. I saw your number on the noticeboard in the staffroom so I thought I’d better call you. I didn’t know what else to do.’

‘You did the right thing. Thanks, Sarah. You say the police are still there?’

‘Yes. Hang on a sec…’ I heard muffled voices. ‘Hi Jemma, I’m going to hand you over to one of the policemen.’

‘Jemma Browne?’

‘Yes.’

‘My name’s PC Gavin Haines. Am I right in thinking Bear With Me is your mother’s business?’

‘That’s right.’