BooksBarbecue
Back Familiar Strangers Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  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. A Letter from Jackie
  69. Acknowledgements
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jackie Walsh

Glancing away from the dying woman, I let my head sink back into my shoulders and stare at the ceiling. This nightmare belonged to everyone, not just me; Danny and Mom as well, and Katie Collins, and my real mother. One moment of madness rerouting the lives of so many. What were you thinking, Mom? What was going on in your head? I wish I could talk to her now. But I can’t, I’ll never know what she was thinking that day. Did postpartum depression precipitate her madness, the death of Rebecca, sending her into a frenzy. Or did she act with cold calculation to ease Danny’s lifetime of regret? Whatever the reason, and maybe it was all of these things, I’ll never know.

Outside in the corridor a trolley screeches as it passes by, reminding me where I am, that Dad and Danny will be back soon. I have only a few moments to do what I want to do. Leaning forward, I move my lips close to her ears.

‘I know what you did. I know you abducted me.’

My heart swells as I smell her death closing in on me, her shallow breaths moving further apart. Mom is leaving. Suddenly I start to shiver all over, my teeth chattering, my hands shaking.

Taking her hand, I press it to my face and feel the dry skin scrape my cheek. I loved this woman, I love this woman. My tears fall onto her face.

‘I forgive you, Mom.’

Gently at first, then stronger, her hand squeezes mine. It only lasts a few seconds, but it’s enough.

‘Mom… Mom!’ I cry, letting my face fall onto hers, feeling her last breath on my lips.

When the door opens, Nurse Lucy walks in, with Danny and Dad following behind. Danny stares at me, wondering will I burst this bubble of sadness that unites us. He seems more interested in me than his mom.

The nurse moves to the bed and I step away, turning my back on everything and everyone. I’m here trying to blank it all out, but Dad’s sobbing follows me. There’s no escape.

The nurse’s whisper is a small sound, big enough to destroy everything in its path.

‘She’s gone.’

Chapter Fifty-Five

The two soldiers of grief lean against the wall. Danny with his arm draped across my father’s shoulder. Both faces blank with disbelief. She’s gone. Nancy Wall is gone.