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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

‘He didn’t destroy them,’ Jan said, slightly affronted. ‘He didn’t do any real damage. I’m sorry it happened, and I will tell Camile. I’m not sure what else I can do.’

Chris nodded, placed his napkin on the table and said, ‘As we’ve finished I’ll get the bill.’ Without waiting for Jan’s reply, he raised his hand and signalled to the waiter.

‘The bill, please?’ he said, not meeting her gaze.

‘Yes, sir. Would you like a coffee?’

‘No, thank you.’ He was already taking out his wallet.

‘I’ll pay my half,’ Jan offered.

‘No. I asked you out. I’ll pay.’

She watched him settle the bill with no idea what she’d done wrong or how to put it right. Why should he be so worried about Tinder getting into Camile’s spare bedroom? The dog hadn’t done any real harm. Perhaps there were things in there he didn’t want her to see. The photograph album of their last holiday? But she hadn’t admitted to looking at that, thank goodness.

They stood and walked towards the exit in silence. She could have kicked herself for telling him Tinder had gone into the spare bedroom. The wine had loosened her tongue, but she hadn’t seen any reason not to mention it. She still didn’t.

She walked beside him to his car and they got in.

‘Chris, have I done something wrong?’ she asked as he started the engine.

‘No.’

‘So why have you gone all quiet on me?’

‘I hadn’t realized I had,’ he said dourly, and starting the car he pulled out of the car park.

‘I can get a cab if you like,’ Jan offered.

‘No, I’ll take you home.’ And that was all he said for a long time.

TWENTY-ONE

It had been easy for Ian to find the Moller Clinic on the Internet. There was only one listed with that name in the UK. It was situated in a small village on the other side of Coleshaw, about a thirty-minute drive away. A well-established fertility clinic, the tagline read, set up by Carstan and Edie Moller thirty years ago, and offering a sensitive and personalized service. There was a photograph of the couple standing outside their clinic as if welcoming in their clients. A homely couple in their sixties with greying hair. The clinic itself appeared to be an extension built on the side of what Ian assumed to be their house, but with its own front door. The pictures of the inside of the clinic were like many other private clinics, showing a comfortable waiting area, and a consultation and treatment room.