Second to Cry by Carys Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

see, it’s not going to be easy to get her on board with the paternity test.’
    ‘She’s spirited,’ Aiden offered kindly.
    ‘She’s spoilt,’ Sam immediately corrected him. ‘I know I’m partly to blame but still…’ his voice broke off and he stared off into the distance, momentarily lost to his own thoughts.
    Aiden felt that it was time to leave. He’d had enough dramatics for one day.
    ‘Well it’s been lovely meeting you,’ he began making the required motions for his exit.
    ‘Yes, you too,’ Sam said, smiling at him, but the smile didn’t extend to his eyes which remained hard and cold. Both men stood up and shook hands.
    ‘My secretary will show you out,’ Sam said, sitting back down as Aiden made to leave. ‘I’m sure you understand that I want to stay out here for a while longer. Give things a chance to cool down inside.’
    ‘No problem, see you again, Mr Fern.’
    ‘You too, Mr Connelly.’
    Leaving the heat of the terrace, Aiden entered the pleasant cool of the kitchen which was eerily quiet. He glanced around for any signs of anyone but the entire room was empty. Relying on memory as Sam’s secretary hadn’t materialized, he made his way back to the foyer.
    He could now hear distant sounds coming from the upper level which must have been Deena and the boys.
    His footsteps clipped as he briskly walked along the marble floor, eager to leave.
    When at last he was within the sanctuary of his own car, Aiden allowed himself to relax and shake off the stiffness of being in an uncomfortable situation.
    He began to drive home, the large gates automatically granting him leave as he approached, asking no questions as if the fortress knew that all he wanted was release.
    On the radio a country sang twanged out, this time about two men being in love with the same, unobtainable woman. Aiden mused over what had occurred at Samuel Fern’s home and what he dwelled upon, what he found most troubling, was how distressed Deena Fern had been upon learning he was Sam’s lawyer. She had gone from sassy and confident to meek and fearful in the blink of an eye. He wondered if she did have something to hide. Maybe Sam Fern’s instincts were right.
    Looking up, Aiden noticed that the sky was no longer open and blue. Clouds had formed on the horizon and seemed to be closing in. As beautiful as the sunshine was, it couldn’t last forever. You need a rainstorm to wash everything away so that the next time the sun shines,the slate has been cleared.

Chapter Three
    Down Will Come Baby
    After putting Meegan down for a nap, Isla lingered near her bedroom window, her gaze fixated on her mailbox. Several days had passed since she’d received the last ominous note. As much as she tried to tell herself that there was nothing in it, that someone was just playing childish games with her, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease which followed her throughout the day.
    As she looked out, she saw a car approaching. There was something peculiar about the car and as Isla watched she realized that it was driving extremely slowly, almost crawling along the street.
    She took a sharp intake of breath when the car came completely in to view and that it was a patrol car belonging to the County Sheriff’s Office. Isla quickly moved away from the window and hid by the wall. She listened as the car’s engine grew louder as it crept by her own house and after a few elongated minutes the sound became more distant as the vehicle pulled away.
    Isla was satisfied that the car was gone and so she carefully peered back out of the window. Immediately she looked down at the mailbox but the arm was still down.
    ‘Mommy!’ Meegan’s shrill voice suddenly howled, splitting through the air with the sharp precision of a knife.
    ‘I’m coming!’ Isla shouted and left her vigil by the window to check on her daughter.
    Meegan had been rattled by a spider and so refused to get back in to her crib until a thorough search of her bedroom had been