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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

‘Anne is my new tenant,’ Camile replied. ‘It makes sense for her to live here, in the middle of nowhere, without fear of being discovered. When I return from my contract abroad I will help look after them. Anne will be able to spend time in her own house again without the constant worry of being found out.’

‘How did Anne get involved?’ Jan asked.

‘As a midwife she was seeing and hearing of children being born with the condition. She became suspicious and started asking about their history. She discovered that all the grandparents of the babies had used the same fertility clinic.’ Jan nodded. ‘These babies are born a lot earlier than human babies. Some are stillborn, but others can survive. Instead of leaving them to die, Anne began taking them away and looking after them for however long they had. She’s a saint in my eyes, but if anyone found out she would be prosecuted. I dread to think what would happen to the little ones then.’

‘I won’t tell anyone,’ Jan said. ‘No one would believe me anyway.’

They fell silent for a moment and then, glancing at Chris, Camile said, ‘I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you two. Chris is a good man. He was only trying to protect me. He was upset when you told him Tinder had got into our baby’s clothes. I kept one outfit and the rest I got rid of.’

‘Those clothes belonged to your baby?’ Jan asked.

‘Yes.’

‘I’m sorry. I had no idea. I put them back carefully and made sure that Tinder never went in there again.’

‘Thank you,’ Camile said. ‘They’re all I have to remember him by.’

There was silence again and then Jan said, ‘I think I should be going now.’ She stood.

‘Are you sure you won’t stay the night?’ Camile asked.

‘No, but be reassured, your secret is safe with me.’

‘Thank you, and thanks for the flowers.’

‘I’ll see you to your car,’ Chris said.

Jan petted Tinder one last time, said goodbye to Camile and went with Chris to the front door. Outside, the clouds had parted to reveal a full moon. Jan unlocked her car door and got in.

‘Goodbye, Jan,’ Chris said, one hand on the open door. ‘Look after yourself.’

‘I will. And you.’ She smiled.

‘Perhaps, once you’re settled at your mother’s, I could text you?’

‘Yes, I’d like that.’

He ducked his head in and kissed her cheek. ‘Drive carefully. I’ll be in touch.’