The Adams File by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-14T22:00:00+00:00

My subconscious may have been too aware of that, she thought, when her internal alarm woke her at half five the next morning. As she showered, she thought it was highly unlikely that Andrew would be ready for a walk at six. Before she got dressed, she took a moment to pat on the rose-scented dusting powder that reminded her of Matthew. When they’d first started seeing one another, he’d bought her a bouquet of roses, and the scent always took her back, just momentarily, to the giddy early days of the romance.

The shop in Ramsey that sold the powder had warned her recently that they were no longer going to be carrying it. Apparently dusting powder was no longer in demand. Bessie had purchased three containers of it, all that they’d had in stock, when she’d heard the news, and she was doing her best to use the powder more sparingly. They’d promised to make one more order on her behalf, but no one had rung Bessie to let her know that additional containers had arrived. She’d have to make a point of checking with the shop the next time she was in Ramsey.

Still worried that Andrew might join her, Bessie decided to leave breakfast until after her walk. She let herself out of her cottage as quietly as she could, immediately feeling foolish for trying to sneak out without being seen. Andrew was only on the island for a short while, and she did enjoy his company. Telling herself that she was far too set in her ways, she walked down to the water’s edge and turned right. It wasn’t until she was past half of the cottages that she realised that she’d been holding her breath.

“For goodness’ sake,” she exclaimed in a whisper. “You are being ridiculous today.”

She walked rapidly past the stairs to Thie yn Traie, heading for the new houses that had been built right on the beach some distance past the holiday cottages. As she approached the row of houses, she saw an odd sight.

Behind one of the properties, a large plastic sheet had been laid across the sand. Bessie watched as Grace Watterson, Hugh’s wife, put baby Aalish down near the edge of the sheet. Then Grace ran around it, calling to the baby as she went.

“Come catch Mummy,” she said in an odd half-whisper.

Aalish giggled and happily set off after her mother, crawling as fast as she could across the sheet.

Grace stopped at the bottom edge, waiting for her daughter to reach her. Then she laughed and scooped the baby up off the sand. “Good girl,” she cooed.

Aalish wiggled in her arms, babbling excitedly.

“Again?” Grace asked. She walked back up to the top of the sheet and set Aalish down.

“Catch Mummy,” she called as she dashed around the edge of the plastic.

Aalish gurgled and then set off. When she was about halfway across the sheet, she seemed to catch sight of Bessie. Aalish froze and then stopped and sat down abruptly.

Grace looked surprised and then glanced around the beach.

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