Conflicted Innocence by Netta Newbound Read Free Book Online Page A

street.”
    “Strange. But it’s not a major—so long as he didn’t upset you again.” He paused. “Oh, my mobile’s ringing. It’s Lee. I’ll call you back in a sec.”
    I ran to the bathroom and then filled the kettle before the phone rang again.
    “Hey,” I said.
    “His phone had died, you were right.”
    “Is he okay?”
    “Yes. He’s coming back tomorrow night. He has to pick Lydia up in London on Wednesday morning. I thought he’d go over on Tuesday night and stay in a B&B, but he plans to leave early Wednesday morning instead. It should only take around two and a half hours to get there, so long as there’s no traffic.”
    “What did he say about the house?”
    “He hasn’t had much luck with any contractors, and he thinks he’ll have no choice but to bring her back here. I told him we would give it a once over before then and he’s grateful.”
    I shuddered at the thought of going in Lee’s house, but I knew I was being silly. It was just a house.
    “Okay, what’s the plan?”
    “I’ll be home early and we can go and have a look at what needs doing if you like? Knowing Lee, it won’t be much, he’s pretty tidy.”
    The rest of the day flew by. I called the local nursery and made an appointment for tomorrow morning, then busied myself unpacking some more of my boxes. When James got home, Grace was playing with her toys in her playpen—I was knee deep in photographs and bawling my eyes out.
    “Hey, what’s brought all this on?” James said, sliding to the floor beside me.
    I handed him a photograph of my beautiful mum and dad, taken a couple of years ago at some posh dinner they’d been to. Mum looked stunning in a cream sequined top, and full-length brown silk skirt and Dad wore his tuxedo. They were gazing into each other’s eyes and the photo had captured just how much in love they were.
    “They look so happy,” he said.
    “They were. And now she’s gone—just like that.” I clicked my fingers, as tears poured down my cheeks. “It’s as though she never even existed. A few photos are all we have left.”
    “That isn’t true. She lives on in you—her beautiful, spirited and amazing daughter. Not forgetting her gorgeous little namesake, Grace.”
    “Do you think so?”
    “I know so, you silly thing. You’re just like she was.” He pulled me into his arms, and I sobbed some more.
    Half an hour later, I began putting the photographs back in the box.
    “We’ll just have this and then go and check out next door, shall we?” he said, placing a cup of tea in front of me.
    “Yes. Although it will seem odd going through someone else’s stuff.”
    “You don’t have to, if you don’t want. I’ll do it.”
    “Don’t be silly. I’ll not leave you to do it alone. Did he say if he’s definitely bringing her back here?”
    “No. He said he’d give her the choice. The cottage is far from finished, but he’s been staying there at the weekend with no trouble. But who knows, she may insist on coming back here.”
    We finished our drinks and I got to my feet. “Come on, then. Let’s go.” I walked through to the kitchen to rinse the cups under the tap. When I got back, James had Grace in his arms and was waiting for me by the front door.
    I don’t know why, but I felt jittery, just like I had when I realised mad Thomas was behind me earlier. We walked down our path and out onto the street, just to come all the way back down Lee’s path, not two feet from our front door.
    “We always said we should make a gate in the fence,” James said, “but we never got around to it.”
    “Makes sense if you’re in and out a lot.”
    James pulled out a bunch of keys from his pocket.
    “I feel like a burglar,” I said, glancing around.
    James laughed. “You look as guilty as sin. Come on in. We’re doing nothing wrong.”
    I followed him inside. The layout was the same as next door except the opposite way around. As James had predicted, the house was clean and tidy.
    “I