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Back The Sleepover Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PROLOGUE
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. 61
  65. 62
  66. 63
  67. 64
  68. EPILOGUE
  69. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  70. MORE FROM KERI BEEVIS
  71. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  72. About Boldwood Books

There were two windows, one facing the bed, the other on the wall beside it, and from where she stood, she could see the pond where they had once swum and the fields where they had played. Her eyes fell on the garage, and again she remembered that day with Bill, when he had bullied her into dropping her underwear.

Breathe, Hannah. It all happened in the past.

Fuck Bill. Fuck Mrs W.

She moved to the second window, saw it had a clear view of the barn. It was the place where everything had unravelled and a familiar fear crept over her, as the unwanted memories of that summer came flooding back.

46

2002

After Mrs W had locked Hannah in the cupboard, Hannah had no intention of ever returning to the farm. She didn’t care what the others said or did. Even if it meant spending the rest of the summer holiday alone, it would be preferable to ever going back there.

She had toyed briefly with trying to talk to her mother about what had happened but was terrified it might only make things worse. Mrs W had been so convincing when she had dropped Hannah off and she was regarded highly by all of the adults in the village. Telling tales on her might actually make things worse.

No, it was better for Hannah to keep her head down and stay out of the woman’s way. It wouldn’t be that difficult.

Or so she had thought.

After avoiding her friends over the next few days, choosing to stay home instead of meeting up with them and making up lame excuses when they knocked on the door wanting her to come out, Mrs W had come looking for her.

Hannah was in her bedroom reading when the doorbell rang, her mother outside hanging washing on the line, and assuming it was Tash or Rosie again, she reluctantly set her book to one side and went downstairs to answer it.

When she opened the door, she froze, her stomach dropping and nerves stealing her voice.

Her first thought was that Mrs W was here to get her in trouble or tell her off again. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t think of a reason why. Just the fact she was at the door was enough.

‘Hello, Hannah.’

She was back to being all smiles and friendly, no sign of the angry woman who had terrified the life out of her. Hannah had seen behind this mask though and was still afraid.

‘Hello, Mrs W.’ She found her voice, but the words came out as a terrified squeak.

‘I wanted to check up on you and make sure you are okay. You haven’t stopped by the farm with your friends the last couple of days.’

‘I… I… I haven’t been feeling well.’

The hint of a frown made Hannah wish she hadn’t lied.

‘Really? The others didn’t mention that.’

‘I… um… I…’