by Marian Phair
Ruth was due home, and in the rectory decorations were being hung, and Scott and Sally joined Father Patrick in singing their rendition of ‘welcome home.’
“Welcome home, welcome. Come on in and close the door. You’ve been gone too long, welcome, you’re home once more.” They sang as balloons were hung, and streamers draped across pictures hanging on the wall.
“I know where there’s a secret garden, and it’s full of weird plants, it’s got like magical things,” Sally whispered to Scott, as she helped him to hang the ‘welcome home’ banner.
“Really, where is this magic garden?” Scott smiled at her, although he knew she couldn’t see his face. “What book have you been reading now?”
“I didn’t read it in a book, anyway it’s a secret, and I have another secret, but I’m not telling it until mum gets home,” she told him.
“Well, I’m leaving to collect her now, so I guess we won’t have long to wait until we find out your little secrets.” Scott ruffled her hair playfully.
“Why are we whispering anyway?” he asked her.
“’Cus it’s our secret, silly,” she replied.
Scott left to collect Ruth from the hospital. She still wasn’t able to talk, the doctors told her to wait until her throat had healed, and the stitches has been removed before she tried speaking again. Ruth was signed out into Scotts care. He told her Sally was no longer with the Taylor’s, that she was waiting at the rectory with Father Patrick to welcome her home.
Ruth gripped his arm digging her nails into his flesh, a look of terror in her eyes, as she was shaking her head at him. He had seen this same look when Father Patrick had prayed at Ruth’s bedside in the hospital, and again when Father Patrick had taken her hand. He put it down to the fear of being touched, especially by a man, which after all she had been put through he could clearly understand.
“Its okay, honey, you’re going home, there’s nothing to be scared about, we’ll take care of you both, Father Patrick, and I.” Scott knew, as he helped Ruth into the waiting taxi, that it would require a lot of patience and tender loving care to give Ruth back her confidence again.
Father Patrick noticed the small dusty footprints leading from the bookcase, and wondered about them, as he took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped them away, before going to the kitchen. As they waited for Scott and Ruth to return, his mind quickly ran over things. He had to be sure his suspicions were right, and that Sally had regained her sight.
“Sally, would you do me a favour and fetch me my hammer from the tool box, there’s a lose nail holding this picture up, and I wouldn’t want it to fall and hurt anyone.”
Sally left to go and fetch the hammer, using her cane to guide her. When she returned, the priest wasn’t in the room and neither was Mali. The little Jack Russell had been fast asleep on the rug when she left to fetch the hammer. She heard the little dog yapping, and the sound came from behind the bookcase. Setting down the hammer and her cane, she crossed the room and pressed the fleur-de-lis.
Without a backward glance she slipped through the opening into the passageway.
With a heavy heart, Father Patrick stepped from his hiding place behind the curtain. He went across to the bookcase, and stepped through the opening. His eyes filled with tears as he realised. He must cut his last white rose…for Sally!
Note from the Author.
I hope you enjoyed my latest book: ‘The Devil Came to Abbeville.’
If you need another to keep it company. Why not pop on line and have a ‘look-in’ on my novel ‘SHATTERED LIVES.’ (Read the five star reviews) ‘Shattered Lives’… Follows the story of tragic eighteen year old orphan, Amie Richardson. Betrayed by her lover, and left pregnant and homeless. Amie secures the position as nanny to actress, Melissa Proctor’s, three year old son Peter. Melissa’s sordid past gradually comes to light, and so does her involvement with the evil, Dr Samuel Morrison, who has his own devious plans for Amie and her unborn child. Forced to leave Spain before her child is born, Amie returns to Northern Ireland. She enters the Magdalene Convent, home for fallen women. Here, Amie’s life is made unbearable by the cruel, Sister Mary, and she flees from the convent. The people Amie meets along the way face their own demons. Their paths cross, and their lives intertwine with disastrous consequences.
Adult Fiction: Contains Sex and Violence.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shattered-Lives-Marian-Phair/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shattered-lives-marian-phair/
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/Products/Shattered-Lives
http://www.waterstones.com/
This eBook is published by
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd
28-30 High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3EL.
www.grosvenorhousepublishing.co.uk
All rights reserved
Copyright © Marian Phair, 2013
The right of Marian Phair to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with Section 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The book cover image is copyright to Marian Phair
ISBN 978-1-78148-247-6 in electronic format
ISBN 978-1-78148-660-3 in printed format
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
