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Back The Village Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION
  4. CONTENTS
  5. START READING
  6. PROLOGUE
  7. CHAPTER ONE
  8. CHAPTER TWO
  9. CHAPTER THREE
  10. CHAPTER FOUR
  11. CHAPTER FIVE
  12. CHAPTER SIX
  13. CHAPTER SEVEN
  14. CHAPTER EIGHT
  15. CHAPTER NINE
  16. CHAPTER TEN
  17. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  18. CHAPTER TWELVE
  19. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  20. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  21. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  23. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  24. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  25. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  55. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  56. CHAPTER FIFTY
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  60. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

‘But he’s not her dad, is he?’ Morgan’s eyes shone with tears. ‘Why did you do that? Why didn’t you speak to me first?’ She looked through the window as Reverend Humphries drove out of the car park, Dawn slouched in the passenger seat.

Just who was Dawn Humphries – and would Morgan ever see her again?

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER FIFTY

Ten Years Previously

Grace was under no illusions. Even at her tender age, she had grown sceptical. There was only one reason her mother was being nice to her today, and that was down to guilt. Susan wasn’t made of stone. Grace had heard her cry herself to sleep. Heard her praying every night to God to help her family get through what lay ahead. It was as if her mother didn’t know that she was the reason their family was falling apart.

It had started with the iPad. Grace had been so excited to get help. But the hope she carried came crashing down as she slipped her hand beneath the pillow and discovered that it was gone. Her mother denied all knowledge, but Grace had heard the jingle of games emanating from her room at night. Like everything that was meant for Grace, her mother had coveted it for herself.

Today, Daddy was home, which meant everything was better and Grace was allowed out of her room.

‘I’m making some cookies for Daddy. His favourites,’ Susan said, helping Grace into her wheelchair and fixing her hair. But her mother seemed unnaturally happy. She was high on more than life. Grace wasn’t the only person in the house taking drugs.

As Grace was wheeled into the kitchen, her heart lifted at the scene. There was music playing on the radio, the sun was shining through a crack in the kitchen curtains, and the floor lamps were on. It was the most light she had seen in months. Her daddy was unpacking in the bedroom, but his voice carried into the hall as she heard him speaking on the phone. The conversation took a turn as her daddy mentioned Lloyd’s name.

‘Yes,’ her father continued with what sounded like fake cheeriness. ‘Good to know that local law enforcement is keeping an eye on the place.’

‘Go into the living room and watch some cartoons,’ her mother said, her good mood evaporating. There was an edge to her voice that made Grace’s tummy feel all twisty. Grace had wanted to see Daddy now, but she didn’t have much choice as her mother wheeled her in front of the TV.

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