In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes Read Free Book Online Page A

it. He always made me feel special.
    Susan takes a swipe of my credit card, giving Hannah another glance.
    ‘Look,’ I say, knowing I have to mention it eventually. ‘I’m really sorry not to have let you know about the slight change of plan. I do hope it’s OK that I brought my daughter along instead of my husband.’
    ‘Of
course
,’ she replies, folding up the booking form and sliding it into an envelope with a key card. She leans forward on the desk, making a pained face. ‘Actually, I still feel terrible about giving away the secret when I called. And now I’m wondering if you’re here with your daughter because . . . God, I hope I didn’t cause trouble between you and your—’
    ‘Oh, no,’ I say before she gets the wrong idea. ‘Not at all.’ My eyes grow wide. I feel my cheeks flush with blood.
    ‘Dad couldn’t make it,’ Hannah chips in, when I haven’t even thought she’s been listening. I want to hug her. ‘He was busy with work stuff, so Mum said I should come along instead.’ She goes back to her phone.
    The lie sounds so easy, though I know it won’t have been. Her voice wobbled at the end, and even though I doubt Susan has noticed, I have. I slip my arm around Hannah’s waist, but she pulls away.
    ‘We’re going to have a lovely time here,’ I say, keen to change the subject. ‘You have a gorgeous hotel. Have you owned it long?’
    ‘As long as I can remember,’ Susan replies, coming out again from behind the desk and taking the handle of my pull-along case. ‘Damned place has been in the family for generations.’ She rolls her eyes playfully, her broad white smile flashing fondness. ‘Come on, I’ll show you to your room.’
    We go upstairs, following Susan as she leads us down a beamy corridor, the floor of which is uneven, making me feel giddy. At the end, she turns left and we have toduck our heads as we go through into what feels like the oldest part of the building. There’s another smaller landing with an ancient-looking fireplace, a round oak table with fresh flowers and fruit on it, and three doors leading off the area. The thick carpet dulls the creaky floorboards beneath.
    ‘This is your room,’ Susan says, opening the door with the modern card reader. She allows us to enter first, Cooper pressing close to my side. I catch my breath – it’s beautiful and luxurious, but without being ostentatious. Mainly decorated in neutral shades with soft greys here and there, it’s light and airy yet still feels ancient with beams cross-hatching the walls.
    Susan takes a moment to show us where things are, but without being intrusive. ‘Please call reception if there’s anything you need,’ she says, about to close the door behind her. But she opens it again briefly. ‘And feel free to join us for drinks at seven in the bar, won’t you? Guests tend to congregate around then. It’s sort of a tradition.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I say tentatively, even though it’s the last thing I actually feel like doing.
    Susan leaves and I can’t help wondering that if Rick were here with me, I’d leap at the chance to be sociable. Now it seems like a chore. As if everything in life will always feel off-kilter. About a hundred miles away from normal.
    ‘It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?’ I say, but Hannah has gone into the bathroom. Whatever else happens, I don’t want to waste Rick’s good intentions. It must have cost him afortune. Cooper sniffs around a bit, before instinctively going to the dog bed in the corner. More sniffing, then he lies down on the fresh bedding, groaning, his chin resting on his paws.
    Hannah comes out of the bathroom. ‘Yes, it’s great,’ she agrees. ‘But Mum . . . ?’
    ‘What, love?’ I sit down on a grey-and-white-painted chair, prising off my shoes. I think I’ll have a bath before we do anything else. But then I’m imagining being in the bathroom with Rick, him wrapping me in his arms, pulling me into the tub with him.
    ‘I don’t get it,’