A Love To Last? by Julie Coffin

Author:Julie Coffin [Coffin, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471308413
Publisher: AudioGO

CHAPTER NINE

ELISE was surprised to discover when she awoke that she'd slept for the rest of the night. The gale had softened into a light breeze and the sky was a clear blue, all cloud swept away.

The weekend was over. Now it was back to London to continue the search for another job. Lynne was in charge of Ben now, but Elise couldn't prevent herself from looking in as she passed his open bedroom door.

The little boy was kneeling on a chair by the window, staring out, his chin resting on his hands. His thick fair hair grew down his neck to a peak just like Owen's, Elise noticed. In fact, he's a miniature edition of his father.

On the bed, a suitcase was packed with the clothes he'd brought with him. Next to it lay a teddy bear.

"Ben," she called softly.

He turned to look at her, and Elise was horrified by the sadness in his eyes. That a child so young could reveal such a depth of emotion frightened her. Climbing down from the chair, he ran across the room and buried his head into her denim skirt. Crouching down, she hugged him close, as his arms wound themselves tightly round her neck.

"I don't want to go with Lynne and Mummy. I want to stay here with you and my daddy."

The words were muffled against her cheek and his body shook with sobs.

"I'm not staying here, Ben. I'm going back to London to look after Chloe. Remember me telling you about her?"

He pulled away from her, his eyes brimming with tears.

"I don't want you to go back to London. I don't want you to look after that girl. I want you to look after me."

Elise stroked back his fringe.

"I can't, sweetheart. Lynne's going to do that."

Ben's small face flooded with colour.

"I don't want Lynne. I want you to look after me. My daddy said I could choose."

"Ben!" Helen Wendron called out as she came into the room. "Go downstairs and have your breakfast. Lynne's waiting."

"I don't want. . ."

"Do as you're told."

As the little boy went out of the door, Helen turned to Elise.

"All you do is stir up trouble in this house. Please leave my son alone. I suggest you pack and catch an early train. There's nothing to keep you hanging around now."

"May I have some breakfast first?" Elise asked coldly.

"There's a buffet car on the train. Ask Owen to find out the time."

Back in her room, Elise crammed everything into her bag, and then went to gaze out of the window. In just two days the rhododendrons had broken into colour, deep shades of pink and mauve. One, she could see, was a clear and perfect white.

The sea glinted, in the sunshine, slow waves rolling in across the sand. There hadn't been time to explore the beach, something she'd planned to do with Ben this morning, before Helen took him back to London. As she carried her bag down the wide staircase, Owen was walking through the hall into the dining-room.

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