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Back Every Little Secret Save as PDF
Chapters (81)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Prologue
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Chapter Sixty
  64. Chapter Sixty-One
  65. Chapter Sixty-Two
  66. Chapter Sixty-Three
  67. Chapter Sixty-Four
  68. Chapter Sixty-Five
  69. Chapter Sixty-Six
  70. Chapter Sixty-Seven
  71. Chapter Sixty-Eight
  72. Chapter Sixty-Nine
  73. Chapter Seventy
  74. Chapter Seventy-One
  75. Chapter Seventy-Two
  76. Chapter Seventy-Three
  77. Chapter Seventy-Four
  78. A Letter From Ruby
  79. Acknowledgements
  80. About the Author
  81. Also by Ruby Speechley

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’

‘Cervical cancer.’

‘Shit, that’s young. So this new book group could be in her honour?’

‘Yeah, I like that idea. I’ll see what the others think.’

‘Do they realise you’ve practically got your own library?’

Maddy laughed. ‘Those old books of Dad’s? I don’t think they’d be interested. They’re more into the latest crime series or contemporary romances.’

He only read DIY books or newspapers, but as long as she was happy, so was he.

The other mums and dads were already there when they arrived. Diane jumped up to greet them, kissing them on both cheeks. She always managed to look like she’d stepped off a French catwalk. After lots of hugging and cooing at Chloe, they joined the rest of the group on the picnic blanket. An array of homemade food was already spread out. Max held Chloe while Maddy offered round the quiche and lemon sponge they’d made that morning.

After they’d eaten, Max fed Chloe her bottle while Maddy chatted about the new book club. Diane made notes on an A4 pad. They decided after a lot of discussion to meet once a month and take turns choosing a book. Once a year they would select the book they all enjoyed the most and give it the ‘Jo Sawyer Best Read Award’ in memory of Maddy’s school friend. He was pleased to see Maddy back to her old self, making plans with her friends. He wanted to support her as much as he could.

When they returned home, he insisted that Maddy go and get some sleep while he put the girls to bed. Although she was doing well, he was aware that if she became overtired, she could slip into depression again and he wanted to do everything he could to avoid it.

It was the best part of the day for him, reading them bedtime stories, making up silly voices then watching them drift off to sleep. He hoped Gran was looking down on him, happy to see how lucky he was and that he’d not turned out so bad after all.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Alison: October 2019

Alison unlocks the front door and cracks open the silence. Jamie runs in and switches on the television. She’s not keen on the amount he watches but is grateful he’s not asked for a phone yet, even though some of his friends have them already. She doesn’t need another expense. Eight seems far too young anyway. Poppy is asleep on the sofa. He gives one bark as an afterthought.