The Girls by Bella Osborne

Author:Bella Osborne [Osborne, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781801100496
Publisher: Head of Zeus

45

VAL

Val was so cross she had to go out. She’d tried occupying her mind but there was no remaining space. Her head was full of the conversation she’d had with Zara. Jackie had gone shopping, Pauline was giving Brian a lengthy talk on reasons why he wasn’t to stray far from the villa and she couldn’t even look at Zara. Val had grabbed her sun hat and stormed out – although she wasn’t even sure it was storming out if nobody noticed.

What she’d intended to be a stroll had turned into a power walk. When she noticed people flinch as she marched by she decided she needed to calm down. It was rare for her to let anger take over like this and she admonished herself for it. Usually she maintained an outward composed exterior but not today. That’s how far Zara had pushed her. But entwined with the anger was also a mass of emotions she’d been suppressing for too long and more than anything she feared them breaking the surface. The anger helped to keep those at bay. Because once they’d breached her defences she would once again be vulnerable and she couldn’t have that.

Val made for a bench up ahead and sat down. She took a moment to calm her breathing. She’d exerted herself but still hadn’t managed to burn off her temper. She took some deep breaths and placed her shaking palms on her knees. She replayed her conversation with Zara. The one that was on a constant loop in her brain. Zara had found Wendy. Pictures of her baby girl swam in her mind. Her chubby little cherub. Her cheeky toddler taking her first steps. And then she was gone. She swallowed hard. These were hard memories to be reacquainted with. They stabbed at her heart as they had always done but now there was new hope. Wendy was alive and Zara knew where she was.

However, there was a huge price to pay for getting hold of that information. How could Zara even ask her to do such a thing? Her a lawyer, for goodness’ sake. It was beyond ridiculous. Val took a moment to think. Was Zara really that desperate? She seemed to be coping okay, although she knew her variety of ailments were only going to make her deteriorate. It wasn’t a nice prospect. Val could sympathise with how she must be feeling.

She couldn’t, however, understand why anyone would try to blackmail someone and use their estranged daughter as bait. The temper started to bubble again. This was completely unacceptable. Zara had information and Val wanted it and she wasn’t going to be coerced into a crime to get hold of it. With renewed energy, Val got up and strode back towards the villa, oblivious to the people recoiling as she passed.

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