Reprieve by Scarlett Scott

Author:Scarlett Scott [Scott, Scarlett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scarlett Scott
Published: 2016-09-25T05:00:00+00:00

Sophie was drifting on a plane of ethereal white clouds, gilded light shimmering down on her from some indefinable source. Laughter tinkled in her ear, happy laughter. Elizabeth’s laughter, she realized, that giggle she’d thought she’d never hear again. Matching happiness welled up inside her until she could no longer contain it. She felt light, airy, trouble free.

Laughter bubbled up inside and she let it go, her laughs mingling with Elizabeth’s in a delightful echo. Suddenly, inexplicably, Elizabeth’s sweet face rose before her, smiling and radiating such warm tenderness and love that Sophie’s heart filled with it. She reached out to her daughter, but her hands sank into empty air.

She awoke with a start.

It had only been a dream. Her hands were clutching the pillow where Trevor’s head should have been.

A cursory inventory of the room proved he was gone, leaving her alone to face the harsh light of day. Consequences. Oh God, what had she done? The condom had broken last night, and they’d only discovered it in the aftermath of their passion. Now a flood of worry hit her. How could she have been so reckless? Worse, how could she have been so selfish to forget her daughter for a whole day?

Reality hit her like a freight train.

It was Monday morning. For the past two years, Sophie had never missed her Sunday ritual of taking fresh flowers to Peter and Elizabeth’s graves. Except for yesterday. She had never, ever felt lower in her life.

What could she do?

She would have to face Trevor and his sister’s family at some point, she reasoned. May as well make it sooner rather than later. Even so, Danielle was an intelligent woman. She’d take one look at Sophie and instantly know what had happened. If the noise from last night hadn’t already alerted her to it, of course.

Sophie steeled herself and dressed before pulling open the bedroom door to reveal an empty house. Not a single person in sight. Feeling uncertain, Sophie hesitantly padded to the kitchen, where she found a warm pot of coffee and a note.

“Danielle and company at beach,” she read aloud. “Be back soon, Trevor.”

Sophie wasn’t sure if she should be relieved to find herself the recipient of some additional time to kill or if she should be worried.

“Good morning, Sophie.”

Trevor’s voice startled her. Carefully, she turned to face him and when she did, she wished she hadn’t. He was leaning indolently in the doorway, his long legs encased in khakis, his white shirt set off to perfection by his bronzed skin. His hair was damp and wavy from the sea air. The look in his eyes coupled with the warm, intimate smile on his lips struck a fire low in her belly.

It hit her.

If she spent one more day with him here, like this, she would be hopelessly in his thrall. One look at him and she forgot why she was so angry with herself. It was a mistake she couldn’t afford to make. Sophie had one choice.

“Can you take me home?” she asked him.

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