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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

‘I don’t know but something has happened. The mad woman is apparently Claire McCarthy’s sister. Angela Burke is coming to the house this evening to talk to us. Can you be here?’

‘What time is she calling?’ With my head heavy, my lack of attention causes me to bump into an oncoming shopper. ‘Watch where you’re going, love.’ I want to shout back I wish it was that easy. I wish I had some control over where I was going but I don’t. I’m being dragged along. Instead, I raise my hand to apologize.

‘She said around six, will you be home?’

‘Yes, I’ll tell Megan I have to leave early. Jesus, Tom, this is mad.’

‘I know… I know, I’ll see you later, love.’

Love. The word echoes in my ear. Love. Why did you lie to me, Tom? Love. Why did you not share your secret, Tom? Love. Why do I feel like a fool, Tom? Love.

Turning to walk back to the salon, I watch the people passing by, everyone a wave, the ups and downs of life keeping them moving, until they reach the shore. I think of Tom, our relationship, how far are we from the shore?

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The rest of the day moves in slow motion. At 5 p.m., I put my jacket on and leave the bustle and excitement of Friday evening behind and head for home.

My heart skips a beat when I notice Burke’s black car in my parking space outside the house. This time I’m more interested than nervous to meet her. I hope she tells us everything she knows and won’t leave us with more questions than answers. If Joyce is a relative, this could be good for us. No more prodigal son in the playroom. We could get back to normal and Kenny could come and visit. Maybe call every second Sunday and have dinner with us. I know I can’t wipe him out altogether, he’s Tom’s son after all. He’s going to play a role in our lives from now on whether I like it or not. But I’d much rather it was planned from a carefully orchestrated distance.

When I find a spot to park the car, I put my bag over my head to dodge the shower of rain that decides to fall just as I get out. Tom already has the door open when I scurry up the garden.

‘She’s in the kitchen,’ he whispers, closing the door gently. ‘Amber is in the front room with the boys watching TV.’