I’m discovering that even in the midst of grief, life can offer new joy and hope. I still grieve for the daughter who was never mine, and no one can replace my beautiful boy, Sam, but I’ve been given a second chance with Harry. Even though they’re non-identical twins, it’s like having a part of Sam back. Harry is my salvation. My reason to get up in the morning.
‘Ben!’ Harry cries, launching himself off the bench and flying across the playground towards the approaching figure. Ben scoops him up into his arms and swings him around before depositing him back down on the tarmac with a grin.
Those two get on like a house on fire. Ben and I are taking things slowly, but I couldn’t have got through the past few months without him. I raise my hand in greeting.
‘So how are my two favourite people in the world?’ Ben asks as he comes closer, dipping to kiss me, his eyes shining.
‘Good,’ Harry and I say in unison, as children’s laughter from the playground drifts across on the late summer breeze.
‘Fancy coming over for pizza this evening?’ Ben asks. ‘I thought you might like to help me make it, Harry. Nothing quite like home-made pizza.’
‘Can we, Mummy?’
‘Mm, pizza. Yes, we’ll be there.’
Ben takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. Then he stands and holds both his hands behind his back. ‘Pick a hand, Harry.’
Harry stands and looks at Ben, considering his choice carefully.
‘Come on, left or right, which is it to be?’
‘Right!’
‘Well, that’s amazing,’ Ben says, feigning astonishment. ‘How did you know? You must be a magician.’ He brings his right hand around to reveal a Thomas the Tank Engine bouncy ball. ‘Want a game of catch?’
Harry nods vigorously, his curls bouncing around his face. The two of them jog over to a grassy area just beyond the playground, and I watch them tossing the ball to one another. Ben goofs around, pretending to drop it every time, making Harry roar with laughter.
I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a perfect life. Shit happens, as they say. And I’ve had more than my fair share of that. I don’t believe in happy-ever-afters either. But right here, right now, watching my little fledgling family, I realise I’ve got something back that I thought was lost forever. A door I thought permanently shut is now wide open. Is that a happy ending? Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s a good place to start.
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THE END
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If you were gripped by The Secret Mother, you can discover more about Shalini Boland’s books here.
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Also by Shalini Boland
The Millionaire’s Wife
The Best Friend
The Girl from the Sea
A Letter from Shalini
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Secret Mother. I really enjoyed writing it and I do hope you enjoyed reading Tessa’s story.
In many ways it was a hard book to write as it deals with a mother’s worst nightmare – losing a child – or in Tessa’s case, both her children. I’m not sure I could have stayed as strong as Tess did. My heart goes out to all those families who have had to deal with such tragedy.
I am a compulsive writer and always have a book on the go. Even when I’m not actually writing I’m thinking about writing. Ideas for twisty new plots and sinister characters constantly swirling around in my head. They nearly all make it on to paper (and ereader) sooner or later, in some form or another. So if you would like to keep up-to-date with all my latest releases, just sign up here and I’ll let you know when I have a new book coming out.
I’m always thrilled to get feedback about my books. Hearing your thoughts helps me to become a better writer, so it’s very important to me. If you have the time, I’d be really grateful if you’d be kind enough to post a short review online or tell your friends about it. It also helps new readers to discover one of my books for the first time.
I adore chatting with my readers, so please feel free to connect online. We can get together on my Facebook page, through Twitter, Goodreads or my website.
Thanks so much!
Shalini Boland x
www.shaliniboland.co.uk
Acknowledgements
As always, I want to thank my fantastic husband Pete Boland who makes me cups of tea and smooths away my doubts while I write. You’re always there to help when I’m on a deadline or there’s a tricky bit of plot to be worked through. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Having previously been self-published, this is my first novel to be written and released with the help of a publisher. I want to thank Bookouture for making the transition so enjoyable and seamless. Massive thanks to Natasha Harding, my brand new, talented and supportive publisher who is fast becoming one of my favourite people ever. Thank you for your belief in my books and for your help in making them shine.
Thanks also to the rest of the Bookouture gang. I hope to get to know you all better and I’m honoured to be part of your incredible family. PR gurus Kim Nash and Noelle Holten, you both rock. I don’t know how you manage to cram so much into twenty-four hours. Thank you for being amazing!
I consider myself very lucky to have had the expert advice of police officer Sammy H.K. Smith for all the police procedural aspects of my book. Thank you for your time and patience. Any mistakes are my own. Just a heads up – you know I’m going to be firing off emails to you for my next book.
Thanks a million to Terry Harden, Julie Carey and Amara Gillo for beta reading and proofreading. Thanks also to Tracy Fenton and Helen Boyce at TBC on Facebook and to David Gilchrist, Sarah Mackins and Caroline Maston at UK Crime Book Club – your unstoppable enthusiasm for all authors astounds me.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to my readers who take the time to read, review or recommend my books. I’m overwhelmed some days by your tremendous support. It means the world.
Published by Bookouture
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Shalini Boland 2017
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Shalini Boland has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-78681-317-6
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