Her Hero by Helen McNeil Read Free Book Online

loneliness. Tucking closer into his side they sat in silence as joggers passed on the other side of their sanctuary. Dogs rambled and children's screeches could be heard in the distance.
                  “What about your mum?” She wasn’t sure why she was pushing it but Stacy felt she needed to know him completely.
                  “Took off when I was two. Guess she couldn’t stand...” He left the last for Stacy to guess. Couldn’t stand his father, him? She couldn’t imagine a situation that would lead a woman to leave her child but then she only had her parents as an example.
                  Reading her thoughts Horatius said “I’m sorry for your loss.”
                  Stacy didn’t even question how he knew but just squeezed his hand in answer because she didn’t trust her voice.
                  “I take it, it was an accident? The report simply said they had died, on the same day.”
                  “Car Crash.” She wasn’t going to say more but she found herself wanting to tell him.
                  “Drunk driver. He died too. I think if he hadn’t, I would have killed him.” It felt like a release to say those words. Stacy hadn’t talked to anyone about it, ever, and she wondered why.
                  “My dad was in the MOD so we moved around a lot. I sat my GCSE’s in two locations. It never really bothered me, ‘coz I had my mum and dad. Sad, I know, but they were my best friends. I made some friends over the years but either they or I lost touch. Too much moving around, not enough effort or just plain old, growing apart. When my parents died I just carried on living that life. The life of a nomad.” She smiled, shrugging her shoulders, hoping he wouldn’t make too much out of her confession.
                  A flash of light blistered through the bushes distracting Horatius from his reply. Standing quickly he pulled Stacy with him as she glimpsed two figures cloaked in black running through the thick trees.
                  Horatius was on his feet in an instant pulling Stacy behind him as they moved to run in the opposite direction.
                  “Damn Paparazzi!” Stacy wondered if Horatius was right. She had rather thought the press had moved on due to the dwindling numbers of camera’s camped outside the house.
                  Just as abruptly Horatius stopped and turned as Stacy collided with him. His form rigid he was squinting through the greenery. He took a step towards the retreating figures but hesitated looking down at were Stacy’s hand lay in his. She felt a pang of fear. Not entirely sure that feeling was all her own, she clung closer to his body and his eyes found hers.
                  “The press normally give chase.” He said as his confusion and suspicion raised goose bumps on her neck.

Chapter 6
     
                  They cut their trip to the park short by Horatius's insistence. As soon as they returned home the intimacy of the morning blown away. Horatius was back on the phone barking orders to the security firm while Stacy doodled in her pad. Although he joined her on the sofa in the evening Stacy felt his distraction, observing him absently watching the film while messaging on his phone.
                  The next morning she awoke to the smell of french toast and syrup.
                  “I thought I would make up for yesterday, by making you breakfast.” He said bringing over a glass of orange juice.
                  “Yesterday was a first for me.” Stacy knew she didn’t need to tell him, she hadn’t spoken of her parents with anyone else. His eyes spoke his understanding and relating.
                  “Until we were interrupted.” Momentarily he looked like he would get lost in his worries again but then he seemed to shake himself from