The Family Secret (ARC) by Sheryl Browne

Author:Sheryl Browne [Browne, Sheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786818973
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

29

Claire

‘Hi, sleepyhead.’ Sophie smiled brightly as Claire wandered bleary-eyed into the kitchen the next morning.

‘God, what time is it?’ Claire blinked around, disorientated. Despite the lack of wine, she’d slept heavily, dreams of her mother haunting her as they always did. Normally she dreamed of her mother smiling and happy, crouching beside her as she pointed out the pretty birds in the garden – greenfinches, robins and fat wood pigeons – then immediately unsmiling and angry. This time, though, it had been different. Like a thin wisp of smoke on the air, it was already escaping her. She remembered one bit of it: her mother’s expression when she’d fallen. Her eyes had been pleading, her face ridden with guilt as she lay broken at the foot of the stairs. I’m sorry, my darling, she’d whispered. I tried to stop him. To stop him doing what? Claire tried to make sense of it.

‘Nine forty,’ Sophie supplied, snapping her from her reverie. ‘I take it you slept well?’

‘Like a log.’ Claire stifled a yawn. ‘I could have slept the clock round.’

‘That will be the shock catching up with you.’ Sophie glanced at her sympathetically from where she was sliding a baking tray into the oven. ‘You’ve had an awful lot to deal with. You’re bound to be exhausted.’

‘I must have been.’ Claire stretched and massaged the back of her neck. ‘Thanks for the bed for the night, Sophie, and for the shoulder. I think it did me good to talk about things.’

‘No problem,’ Sophie assured her, reaching for the kettle to pour water into two mugs. ‘That’s what sisters are for. Where’s Ella?’

Claire noted the sisters reference and decided she didn’t mind. She felt stronger having someone on her side. ‘In the lounge, snuggling Cinder. I’ve a feeling someone might be mithering me for a cat when we get back.’

‘Uh oh, sorry.’ Sophie winced apologetically.

‘Not your fault. She loves furry things. All the more so if they’re live furry things.’ Claire smiled. ‘I might consider getting her one once I know what I’m doing. It will be company for her, and better than a dog, which I suspect she was hankering after. That’s not really feasible now I’m on my own. I’ll probably have to go back to work sooner rather than later.’

‘I can see a dog would be a problem, having to leave it.’ Sophie’s eyes flicked downwards as she carried the coffee to the table. Placing the mugs down, she looked up again. ‘You do have me,’ she said with a hesitant smile. ‘If you need help with anything, I mean. I’d be more than happy to help out if I can.’

Claire studied her for second. She looked so hopeful, it was heart-rending. ‘I know you would,’ she said, giving her another small smile. ‘Something smells scrummy.’ Nodding towards the oven, she changed the subject.

‘Fresh croissants,’ Sophie said, now looking pleased. ‘I nipped out while you were sleeping. They’re warm, but they need another minute. Grab a seat and I’ll bring them over.

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