Lies Behind the Ruin: A twisty psychological suspense pageturner by Helen Matthews

Author:Helen Matthews [Matthews, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: York House Press
Published: 2023-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

Emma

August 2016

Summer slips by in a blur as I pound the treadmill of passing days. Holidaymakers flood into the area, the bar and restaurant are at full stretch, but at night I’m too exhausted to sleep.

I’m counting the days until Owen’s visit, but what sort of a holiday will it be for him when I’m tethered to the bar? I’ve found a childminder for Mollie and the cost is crippling, but, some days, Sylvie, the mother of one of her school friends, looks after her and refuses to let me pay, so I swap money worries for guilt.

“Can you get next week off?” I ask Paul over the phone, half-expecting him to refuse, but he promises to speak to his client and juggle the project schedule so he can come to France. With Paul running the bar and Lilianne in the kitchen, I make plans for seven precious days with my son.

“What time does his flight arrive in Limoges?” I ask Zak in an awkward phone call.

“Change of plan,” he informs me brusquely.

“What?” My chest constricts. “You can’t cancel his visit.”

“No. It’s not that. He’s coming by Eurotunnel – with Carlene.” Somehow, I can’t imagine Carlene dropping in for a visit. She hasn’t said a word to me since Zak and I split up and, if she happens to pick up the landline when I ring, she hands the phone straight to Owen or Zak.

“Carlene’s coming to France to visit a friend from the States, who’s over in La Rochelle on holiday. She’ll ring you and arrange a place for you to pick up Owen.”

“Fine. I’ll drive over and collect him from La Rochelle. Bye.”

“Emma. ”

“Yes?”

“Don’t push the boy. He’s finding it hard with so much change in his life.”

And I’m not? I want to snap back, but I don’t. I hold my tongue and politely say goodbye.

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