Chapters (64)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Prologue
- Five Years Later
- 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
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgements
- Canelo Crime
- About the Author
- Also by Sheila Bugler
‘I should have told you what was going on,’ Adam said. ‘But at the time, my head was all over the place. I felt betrayed by what Robbie had done and confused about the best way to deal with it. I didn’t want to involve you in something so horrible. I was trying to protect you, that’s all.’
‘I’ve told you a thousand times, I don’t need protecting.’
‘I can’t help it,’ he said. ‘You’re so important to me, the thought of anything bad ever happening to you… I can’t bear to think about it. Maybe losing Viv has made me like this. Whatever’s behind it, I know I can be a little over-protective but it’s only because I love you so very much.’
The food, which had tasted delicious a moment ago, had lost all taste. Clodagh forced down the piece of lamb in her mouth and put down her knife and fork. She had to tell him now that she was having doubts.
‘And because I love you,’ Adam continued before she could speak. ‘I did what you wanted me to. I called Rachel Lewis earlier and told her the real reason Robbie had left.’
‘You did? Oh, Adam, that’s brilliant. Well done.’
‘I should have done it ages ago. Thanks for making me see sense.’
‘Does Jake know you’ve spoken to the police?’
‘I haven’t told him yet. He’s not going to be happy about it. But I don’t care. I feel a whole lot better having got it off my chest. In fact, it’s made me realise what a distance it’s put between you and me. When I was out on the bike, I was reflecting on how I’ve behaved these last three months. I haven’t been myself recently. But I promise that’s going to change, Clodagh. Do you think you can give me another chance? Please?’
‘I can try,’ she said, ‘but Adam, we can only be together if you’re honest with me. No more secrets, okay?’
‘No more secrets, I promise.’
She opened her mouth to tell him about the baby. At the same moment, Adam’s phone started to ring. It was inside, on the kitchen table, and he jumped up to answer it.
‘I’m expecting a call from Boris, the show’s producer. I sent him my outline for the first six episodes earlier today. I’m keen to hear his feedback.’
Clodagh’s mouth snapped shut and she nodded for him to go ahead. After he left, she started to tidy away the plates and cutlery. When she went inside, she could hear Adam in the front hall, talking.
‘Well you need to sort it, Jake. That’s what I’m paying you to do, isn’t it?’