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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

Ian gave a small nod and continued to gaze at the sleeping child. His child, although not like other children. A throwback from the ancestral past or, as Anne preferred to call them, an outsider. A child who should never have been born and would never experience the joy of living with his parents, playing, having friends or going to school. A child who hadn’t long to live.

Ian swallowed hard and slowly extended his hand. Reaching out, he lightly touched his son’s forehead. It felt warm and smooth, not cool and rough, as he had expected. He touched David’s hand, which was still clutching the corner of the blanket. That too was soft and smooth despite the fine down. The little fingernails were all perfectly formed, although Ian noticed his thumb was shorter than that of a normal child.

David’s eyes suddenly flickered open and Ian quickly withdrew his hand. He stared up at them, startled and confused.

‘It’s all right,’ Anne soothed. ‘There is nothing to be afraid of, love. This man won’t harm you.’

‘He understands?’ Ian asked incredulously.

‘A little, combined with my facial expression and tone. Babies do. Say something, talk to him, but don’t make any sudden movement as it frightens them.’

‘David,’ Ian said softly.

The child looked at him.

‘Are you all right?’

He looked back.

‘Do you have everything you need? Are you well and happy?’

The brightness that came into his eyes suggested he was.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Ian said, his voice catching. ‘Sorry for you being like this. If I’d had any idea this could happen, I would never have had children.’

David looked back with something that looked like sadness in his eyes.

‘I’m your father,’ Ian said. But there was no response.

‘He doesn’t understand,’ Anne said. ‘He’s had no experience of a father. They just have me.’

Leaning into the cot, Anne said, ‘This man is good. A parent, like me. He loves you.’ She touched Ian’s arm to show David she approved of him.

David’s expression lightened.

‘I think he knows who you are,’ Anne said softly.

‘So do I,’ Ian said, and a tear escaped down his cheek.

He was looking at the child he’d never thought he’d have and he could never share it with Emma – it would be too cruel – and Moller was to blame. That man needed to be punished, and at that moment Ian vowed to do it, for David’s sake and all those like him. Whatever it took.

FIFTY-EIGHT