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Back The Secrets He Kept Save as PDF
Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. Prologue
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Forty-One
  44. Chapter Forty-Two
  45. Chapter Forty-Three
  46. Chapter Forty-Four
  47. Chapter Forty-Five
  48. Chapter Forty-Six
  49. Chapter Forty-Seven
  50. Chapter Forty-Eight
  51. Chapter Forty-Nine
  52. Chapter Fifty
  53. Chapter Fifty-One
  54. Chapter Fifty-Two
  55. Two Weeks Earlier
  56. A Letter From Jackie
  57. Acknowledgements
  58. About the Author
  59. Also by Jackie Walsh

Aaron is uncomfortable with the strength of the hug I’m giving him, trying to wiggle from my grasp so I put him back on the ground, tears stinging my eyes. Tom puts his arm around me while Cian pulls their two bags from the shelf below the coats.

‘Sal, it’s probably nothing.’ But as I watch Aaron take his bag from Cian, I know it’s not nothing. Aaron needs help and I’m damned if I’m going to let a dead woman or a homeless boy get in the way of it. I’m going to make sure he gets the help he needs before he goes to primary school.

His little hand grabs mine, eager to leave, as he pulls me to the door.

‘Can we get ice cream?’ Cian says as I strap him into his seat. Poor kid thinks it’s a special occasion because both his mammy and daddy came to pick him up. I’m not about to disappoint him.

‘Of course we can get ice cream, Cian, we’ll go to McDonald’s.’

Tom looks at me like I’ve said something mad while Cian and Aaron wiggle with joy.

‘Ring your mother, Tom, she said she wasn’t in a hurry. I want to take the boys for ice cream.’

At McDonald’s, I watch each move Aaron makes as he successfully spoons every inch of ice cream into his mouth. Tom says he’ll ring the number first thing tomorrow. Get the ball rolling but I’m still worried about putting my kid into the system. Will it go on forever? Will every little move Aaron makes be scrutinized and discussed like he’s some sort of failure. I can’t believe this is happening, that I didn’t see it. But how could I, working full time to clear Tom’s debts? I should have been here for Aaron, noticed what was noticed in the crèche. Maybe I’d have seen things sooner, got him earlier intervention. This is all Tom’s fault.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Ellen is ready with her coat buttoned up, scarf wrapped around her neck when we get back to the house. Jack gives his usual wave as they drive away.

Sugar-fuelled, the boys run in circles, before following me into the house. Everything feels different but looks the same, the grey carpet on the stairs, in desperate need of a clean. The framed photographs hanging on the wall, dusty and tired. Reaching my hand to straighten one, Tom smiles from behind the glass. I smile too, my arms wrapped around the boys, while Amber’s reaching over her dad’s shoulder. Good times. I let go of the photo and it slips sideways again. Let it.