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Back The Runaway Heiress
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. PRAISE FOR MEG TILLY AND HER NOVELS
  3. TITLES BY MEG TILLY
  4. Dedication
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
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  36. 31
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  38. 33
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  44. 39
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  51. 46
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  59. 54
  60. 55
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  62. 57
  63. 58
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  69. Excerpt from SOLACE ISLAND
  70. 1
  71. 2
  72. 3
  73. 4
  74. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  75. What’s next onyour reading list?

Auntie Jane nodded. “That’s it. He was always jealous of your father. Why did I believe him?”

“He was your husband. Of course you believed him. But why didn’t the doctor at the hospital tell me Lilly had survived?”

“Phillip must have given him the same spiel he told me. He was your legal and medical representative. Or it’s possible the doctor was corrupt and Phillip bribed him. Who knows? But I should have known better. Rather than handing over the envelope of money he told me you’d asked for so you could run, I should have found a way to discuss the baby with you. Should have made sure.” Auntie Jane exhaled deeply. “Anyway, I refused to let him take Lilly to a safe haven drop-off location to put her up for adoption. I insisted we take her home and raise her as our own. She was Barbara’s granddaughter. Barbara had been so delighted that she was going to have a granddaughter to dote on. I just couldn’t let Lilly be raised by strangers. In the back of my mind, there was the belief that perhaps you were suffering with postpartum depression and that in a week or two you would find a way to come and see me. I’d ply you with tea, you’d tell me you regretted your decision, I’d produce Lilly, and all would be well. But you never came.”

“I’m here now,” Sarah said softly.

“Yes, you are.” Auntie Jane’s face was filled with a quiet joy, and wistful, too. “Do you want to go meet your daughter?”

“Oh yes.” Sarah’s words came out almost as a prayer. “So very much.” They got to their feet, helping each other so they didn’t slip in the wet mud. They gathered the borrowed raincoat, the scattered picnic items, and the two of them headed back to the house.

59

Auntie Jane had tucked a soft throw blanket around Sarah’s shoulders. She had spread a dish towel over her lap and handed her another one, which Sarah tucked into the top of her blouse before Lilly climbed onto her lap. Sarah would take a shower later, but her daughter’s little body was nestled into her. Sarah’s arms were holding her child for the very first time, and she was wrestling back tears of joy. Lilly gently glided her finger over Sarah’s bandaged left hand.

“You have a bad boo-boo?”

“Not too bad,” Sarah replied. “Just have to be careful not to bump it is all.”

“You guys are muddy.” Lilly grinned mischievously, as if she’d caught them being naughty.

“We’re super muddy,” Sarah replied.

“Were you making mud pies?” Lilly asked.

“No. I make really good ones though. We’ll have to do that someday.”

“I like making mud pies.” Lilly reached up and patted Sarah’s cheek. “And I like you.”