Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
- Keep Reading …
- Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
- About the Author
- Books by Lisa Stone
- About the Publisher
‘No,’ he replied a little wearily, glancing up from his laptop. ‘She has no reason to.’
‘But supposing she contacts Anne?’
‘She doesn’t know who our midwife is, and anyway Anne will know what to say.’
‘You’d better warn Anne the police have been here,’ Emma persisted. ‘I wouldn’t want her getting into trouble. She’s helped us so much, seeing to everything, even though she shouldn’t have.’
‘I’ve already spoken to her,’ Ian replied.
‘What did she say?’
‘That what we told the officer was right. But if she comes back, it’s probably best to pretend we’re out so we don’t have to answer any more questions.’
‘Comes back!’ Emma exclaimed in alarm. ‘I thought you said she went away satisfied. Why would the police come back?’
Ian sighed. ‘I don’t think she will, I’m just telling you what Anne said, as you asked.’
Emma fiddled nervously with the sleeve of her jumper as Ian returned his attention to his laptop. It was evening and they were in the living room, but she couldn’t concentrate on the book she was supposed to be reading. She felt even more wretched now, with the worry of the police visit on top of the trauma of losing the baby. She’d been in bed all day, but Ian had persuaded her to come down for dinner, which he’d made. Now she was regretting it. Sleep gave her some respite from the horror of it all, but when she was awake it was full on. All she did was sit and remember – right from the start, when she’d first found out she was pregnant again and the baby was damaged the same as the first one. Day after day, week by week, until the unimaginable horror of giving birth. Thank goodness it hadn’t been full term and thank goodness for Anne, she thought. She wouldn’t have managed without her. It had shot out, she remembered grimly, as pleased to be rid of her as she was of it. Her stomach clenched at the recollection.
David, they’d decided to call him, which meant loved one. He would have been so loved had nature not played another cruel trick on them. A baby that wasn’t viable was the clinical term, but it had only been confirmed when it was too late for a termination. Ian seemed to be doing better than she was, Emma acknowledged, and was able to concentrate on work. But then he hadn’t been pregnant, carried it all those months, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. It was easier for him.
‘I think I’ll go back to bed,’ Emma said, and closed her book.