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Back All You Need Is Love Save as PDF
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

‘…because if you do, you’re best leaving it a couple of weeks. You might find it easier to drop him an email. It’s [email protected]. Is there anything else I can help you with?’ The phones were still ringing and I could hear the urgency in Hilary’s voice to get me off the phone.

‘No. That’s all.’

‘Thanks for calling The Kelshaw Group. Goodbye.’

Adam Hannigan? ADAM HANNIGAN? What the hell was going on? There was only one way to find out.

To: Adam Hannigan

From: Jemma Browne

Subject: Important Question

Hi Scott … or should it be Adam?

I’m sorry to contact you at work but, given that you seem to have cut contact through any other method, I don’t think you’ve left me much choice.

I just have one question for you: WHY?

My mum has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I needed you and you weren’t here. I’ve got the message loud and clear that you don’t want to be, but I think you owe it to me to explain why, including why you lied about your name. Don’t you?

A reply came back instantly.

To: Jemma Browne

From: Adam Hannigan

Subject: Out of Office Response RE: Important Question

I’m on paternity leave for two weeks. Back on 11th July. Please contact John Eccles in my absence.

Oh! I guess that answered my question.

10

Jemma

‘Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?’ Mum flashed me a sideways concerned look as she drove us to her appointment with the consultant the following afternoon. ‘You don’t seem yourself. Whilst I’m thrilled to have you home for two weekends in a row, I can’t help thinking it’s because something’s wrong.’

I was going to tell her – no secrets – but I wanted to focus on the appointment. If she knew about Scott, she’d suggest cancelling or, if it went ahead, she’d be distracted. We had the rest of Friday and the whole weekend ahead of us. I’d tell her when the timing was better.

Trying to smile when my world had fallen apart wasn’t easy. ‘I’m tired. Still recovering from last weekend. I don’t think I can party as hard as I used to.’

Mum laughed. ‘Lightweight. Wait till you hit my age. Then you’ll really have something to complain about.’

She knew, of course. She knew I was lying, but she also knew me well enough to accept that I’d tell her when I was ready.