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Chapters (62)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. Contents
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Book
  6. Dedication
  7. Your Worst Nightmare
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. The Answer to All Your Prayers
  18. TEN
  19. ELEVEN
  20. TWELVE
  21. THIRTEEN
  22. FOURTEEN
  23. FIFTEEN
  24. SIXTEEN
  25. SEVENTEEN
  26. EIGHTEEN
  27. NINETEEN
  28. TWENTY
  29. TWENTY-ONE
  30. TWENTY-TWO
  31. TWENTY-THREE
  32. TWENTY-FOUR
  33. TWENTY-FIVE
  34. TWENTY-SIX
  35. TWENTY-SEVEN
  36. TWENTY-EIGHT
  37. TWENTY-NINE
  38. THIRTY
  39. THIRTY-ONE
  40. Somebody Else’s Child
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. THIRTY-FIVE
  45. THIRTY-SIX
  46. THIRTY-SEVEN
  47. THIRTY-EIGHT
  48. THIRTY-NINE
  49. FORTY
  50. FORTY-ONE
  51. FORTY-TWO
  52. FORTY-THREE
  53. FORTY-FOUR
  54. FORTY-FIVE
  55. FORTY-SIX
  56. FORTY-SEVEN
  57. FORTY-EIGHT
  58. FORTY-NINE
  59. Sunlight on Water
  60. July
  61. September
  62. Acknowledgements

‘Hello you,’ she says. ‘How are you doing?’ There’s a moment of silence, long enough to tell her there’s a problem. ‘Where are you?’

‘At the leisure centre. I’ve just dropped Harry off for cricket.’

‘What time are you coming over?’

She can’t help herself asking the question, even though instinct and experience have already told her the answer.

‘It’s going to be difficult tonight,’ he says. ‘Bridget’s not very well. She’s gone to bed, so I’m saddled with taxi duty.’

‘For God’s sake.’ The bag in her hand feels suddenly heavy. Naylor presses the unlock button on her key, and the car beeps. She pops open the boot and stows the carrier bag inside. ‘You promised.’

‘What could I say?’ he asks. ‘Come on, Rachel. Don’t be like that.’

‘Come on yourself,’ says Naylor, and ends the call.

THIRTEEN

THIRTEEN

21 June

Jack’s given Bob Sturgess a list of what needs doing, even though Bob’s been farming more years than even Jack and could run Ainsclough Top with his eyes shut.

Sensing his leaving, Millie the collie presses herself against Jack’s legs. He bends down and strokes her head.

‘You’ll ring me if there’s any problems?’ he says, and Bob nods his assent. ‘We’ll be back by Saturday at the latest.’

Dora’s already waiting in the car, wearing a summer frock decorated with yellow tulips. Jack climbs in beside her and starts the engine.

‘You look nice, love,’ he says. ‘I haven’t seen that dress for a while.’

‘I haven’t been able to get into it for a long time,’ says Dora. ‘I suppose I must have lost a bit of weight. Has Bob got a key to the house?’

‘House key, sheds and everywhere else. And I’ve told him to ring Matt’s if he’s any problems. He knows what he’s doing. Have you got everything you need?’

‘I think so.’

‘And is that cake put somewhere safe?’

‘I put it under your jacket to keep it out of the sun. I think it’ll be all right.’

Jack takes it steady down the pitted lane, slowing down even more to make a last eyeball check on the ewes and lambs on the home field. At the bottom of the hill, two weeks without rain have reduced the stream to a trickle, though the banks are still lush with grass, and pretty with corncockles and kingcups. High clouds are beginning to encroach over Blackmire Ridge, but as they reach the road the sky ahead is clear, and Jack puts on the Yankees cap Matt brought him from America to shield his eyes from the sun’s glare.