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Back The Model Wife Save as PDF
Chapters (48)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. About the Author
  4. Also by Tricia Stringer
  5. Title Page
  6. Dedication
  7. One
  8. Two
  9. Three
  10. Four
  11. Five
  12. Six
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Twelve
  19. Thirteen
  20. Fourteen
  21. Fifteen
  22. Sixteen
  23. Seventeen
  24. Eighteen
  25. Nineteen
  26. Twenty
  27. Twenty-One
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-Three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. Author’s Note
  46. Acknowledgements
  47. Excerpt
  48. One

“She left in such a hurry after she’d had those tests. You told us to give her some space. But hearing about Mrs Halbot, well, I wondered if there was something you’re not telling us.”

The colour drained from his face. “Hell’s teeth, I’m sorry you’ve been worried. Your mum is physically fine.” He took a breath, blew it out so that it whistled over his lips. “We had a bit of an argument. It’s nothing that can’t be sorted but your mum’s always wanted a holiday and she decided she was going. It’s partly my fault. I keep putting her off.”

“Then I announced I was going away.”

“We both want you to do what’s in your heart but I guess… well, the timing was off.”

Bree’s shoulders sagged.

“Like I said, your mum wanted a break. She’s having a great time in the warm. She’s fine.”

Fear wormed its way inside her. If her mum had left over an argument that sounded serious. “Will you two be all right?”

“Of course we will.” Milt threw an arm around her shoulder, gave her a squeeze. “You know what a grumpy old bugger I can be. Your mum needed some space and I’ve given it to her.”

“Do you think she’ll come back soon? Not ’cause I want to leave but…well, I miss her. Kate and Laura do too.”

“Me too, love.” Milt’s arm stayed around her shoulder but he stared off into the distance. “That’s why I want you to stay. As soon as we get seeding underway and this bloody stuff with Connie sorted I’m going to fly over and join your mum, have a few days in the sun then bring her home.”

Bree wasn’t sure whether to be reassured or not. Her dad leaving the property during major work like seeding for a holiday was unheard of. Something was happening between her parents and she didn’t understand what.

Twenty-Nine

Twenty-Nine

Natalie took a deep breath of fresh air, captivated by two little birds hopping among the branches of the shrub in front of her cabin, at one moment invisible in the shadows and the next illuminated by the sunlight glinting through the leaves, their happy chirrups punctuating the quiet morning.

At the first hint of light she’d woken, made a coffee and come outside. She liked the early morning, as the sun’s rays first peeped over the horizon. The lower temperature was cool on her skin and she enjoyed the sense of taking a deep breath, a pause before whatever filled her time.