Eternal Hearts (Incurable Hearts 2) by Ellie R Hunter Read Free Book Online

was tired when we got back, she asked if she could go straight to bed, I think she had been through enough tonight and wanted to be alone. I settled her into one of the spare bedrooms and left her in peace although I wanted to ask so many questions but I refrained. God knows how?
    “She seems fine. How about you? You have had quite a shock tonight” I said sitting on the sofa. Finally taking the weight of tonight’s revelations off my feet.
    “I’m fine, she just took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting her to look so much like Jasmine,” he said sitting beside me. The way he said it triggered my suspicions.
    “Hang on, did you know about Ava before tonight?”
    “Not exactly. After Jasmine’s death when Rose and I were going through her things, we came across a photograph of her holding a baby in a pink blanket on a hospital bed…she looked around sixteen or seventeen years old” he admitted.
    “Why didn’t you say something?”
    I felt angry but I had no right to be angry with Henry, how could he have known?
    “What would I have said? We didn’t know for sure she was Jasmine’s, let alone Chris’s, we could only assume what happened. You know how Jasmine was, she wasn’t one for telling her secrets even to those she loved,” he said.
    “I suppose” I said dejectedly, “How can this be happening? Chris is only now getting himself back on some sort of level he can live day to day, what happens if she isn’t his daughter, actually what happens when it is confirmed she is his daughter?” I asked, hoping Henry had the answers.
    “I don’t know darling, we were there for each other then and we will be now. We will get through this together,” he said , putting his arms around me.
    I love him so much. All the years I thought I was happy because I had a man in my life, I didn’t realise how different it was to actually have a man by my side, I know Henry loves me as much as I love him. When he proposed it took me less than a nanosecond to say yes.
    All the heartbreak and grief we all have endured after Jasmine’s death, I understood Chris’s need to be a part of her life regardless of the pain he knew he was going to face, for me, meeting Jas and welcoming her into our family bought me Henry. It’s true, we all helped each other through the grief and whatever we face now regarding Ava, we will be there for one another again.
    “Of course we will, it’s strange though, all that time she was with us and she never said anything, not even on her death bed”
    “Don’t, whatever Jasmine should have said or done can never be fixed, so let’s get on with it”
    Three years on and he still couldn’t speak freely about Jasmine, he was like a father to her and he grieved for her as he was.
    It’s what linked him and Chris now, they both understand each other because the focus woman in their life was her, but obviously in different ways. I have never known before for someone to be so alive three years after their death.
    “Why don’t we get some sleep, be ready for the next few days?” I suggested.
    “You go on up, and I’ll join you in a few moments” he said, making his way to the drinks cabinet.
    I knew this was his ritual whenever Jasmine was bought up, he needed to gather his thoughts by himself. I didn’t like seeing him hurt like this, knowing I can’t do anything to make him feel better, but I gave him the time and privacy he needed.
    It wasn’t long before he joined me and wrapped his arms around me.  
    “I miss her,” he whispered.
    “I know, we all do”
     
    Neither of us were ones to sleep late into the morning. For a brief amount of time I forgot what happened last night and that maybe I have a granddaughter sleeping in the next bedroom. Nothing my boys have done over the years has ever made me feel like I don’t want the day to begin. I believed Jasmine when she told Ava Chris is her father but with bombshells Jas drops, destruction normally follows. Destruction everyone but