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Back Violet Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. VIOLET
  3. VIOLET
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Contents
  7. Prologue
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. Epilogue
  48. Acknowledgements
  49. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  50. Copyright

‘You’re right, there,’ I say. ‘I love your dress, by the way.’

‘Oh, thank you!’ She grins and her whole face lights up. She’s younger than I first thought. Her English is perfect, but with the hint of an accent. Not German; Swedish maybe. I see a lock of white-blonde hair poking out from under her hat and think that I’m probably right. I keep looking at her dress.

‘I’m Daisy,’ I say, reaching out a hand, ‘like your dress.’

‘That is so cool! I love floral names. I’m Annie.’

‘Like the orphan.’

She laughs.

‘My mother wanted to call me Violet,’ I say. ‘But my father thought it was too dark.’

She laughs again. ‘They are a bit sinister, aren’t they? Daisies are beautiful though. Sunny and bright and perfect.’ She grins, and then she turns away at the sound of her name being called from another table.

‘Nice to meet you,’ she says, gathering up her sunglasses and her bag. ‘My colleagues are over there. I didn’t even see them.’

I swallow back my disappointment.

‘Have a lovely evening,’ I say. I hear her laughing when she reaches her friends, and I want to run over there and grab her and shake her and scream.

But I don’t.

I glance around, at the groups of people, at the couples, looking for someone else who might be more promising. Someone else alone. I see a woman with long dark hair poking out from a cowboy hat. Sitting with her denim-jacketed back to me a few tables away. I pause, glancing around, but she’s the best candidate. The only candidate.

Then I pick up my things.

I’m going to go to the toilet, and then I’ll get myself another drink … and if she’s still alone when I return, I will go over and join her.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Chill

Laura! Don’t panic! Really … I told you, I’m not with her – it doesn’t matter who she is or what she’s done. Well, it does, matter – but really, I am fine! I promise! I’m trying to decide where to go next. I know you want me to come home, but I’m not ready. Honestly … I am having a ball. I’ve made loads of new friends. I wish you could meet them! Maybe when you’re all healed you can come out and meet me for a holiday?

To be honest, I don’t think I’m coming back…

Love you, Loz.

Carrie xx

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: The Eagle Has Landed

She’s here. She hasn’t spotted me yet, but it’s only a matter of time. I’ve got everything set up. Talk to you later, when it’s done. C.

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