“I can’t talk about it yet, Michael.”
“I told you once I’d wait for you forever. Nothing will change my mind.”
“How is Killian?”
“Strong. He’s responding to physiotherapy. But he’s a long way to go yet. Thank you for the painting.”
She nodded, rejoined Emily. Time was at a standstill. It would move forward again but for now she could only live in the moment.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
The Donaldson brothers dropped in on their spare time to finish small jobs. She started work on the garden. After the overgrowth had been removed she had a clear perception of the space she had to manage. Sometimes, Emily worked beside her. Her friends called regularly, cycling down the lane, their noise and exuberant good humour drawing her out of her silence, returning colour to her cheeks, light to her eyes.
Old Celia used to have lilies in her front garden, tall and stately as church candles, and so it was lilies that preoccupied Lorraine one evening when she heard Hobbs barking. She would plant the lilies in the turned earth near the front of the house and fill the air with their scent. A car braked outside the gate and she knew, without turning, that he had arrived. Emily came to the front door and stood waiting. Hobbs’ barking abruptly stopped when Noeleen’s commanding voice rang out and, for an instant, when the engine switched off, the only sound to break the silence was the faint pulse of the sea.
Michael Carmody helped his son from the passenger seat. The young man’s legs looked too slender to support his weight. His face twisted from the effort of standing upright but he was able to place one foot before the other, and, leaning heavily on his father’s arm, step forward to greet Lorraine. The sun hovered above the headland, as if drifting on smoke, before disappearing into a dark rim beyond the brow.
Rain would fall before dawn. She could taste it, smell it, feel it on her skin, hear it falling softly from clouds scudding dark across the sky. So much to do, a desk diary filled with appointments, breakfast meetings, receptions to organise, phone calls to return. Virginia pulled open the balcony doors and stepped outside. Across the bay, a mosaic of flickering lights crowned the skyline, spiralled upwards towards the summit of Howth Head. The balcony rail was cold against her hand. A door slammed in a neighbouring apartment and, in the courtyard below, she saw him dance. He moved forward into fluorescent pools, spun and fell and rose again to bow before her. She pressed her hands against the rail and allowed the fear to consume her, acknowledging its source, knowing it would take time to pass. And it would pass. It always did. Everything passed. The courtyard lamps continued to burn between the high anonymous spires. A string of jewels surrounding the secrets of the night.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’d like to extend my thanks to the many people who helped me throughout the process of e-publishing Deceptions.
To the Considine bright sparks: Tony, Ciara and Michelle for their advice and encouragement, to author Patricia O’Reilly for her unfailing enthusiasm and wisdom, to my cover designer Claire McVeigh for her imaginative interpretation of Deceptions, to Sarah Eddie of Palimpsest Book Production Limited for her patience and courtesy.
To my extended family and my friends, those who write and are always available at the end of a telephone line – and those who order me to press Log Off and go for coffee – thank you. Writing is a solitary occupation. The value of such friendships prevents it becoming a lonely one.
To Roderick Flynn, Fran Power and Tony Considine who have shown an unfailing tolerance, no matter how often I lead them towards my computer and say, “What’s gone wrong this time?”
To my daughter-in-law, Louise, who is always ready to listen and console when the day could have been better.
A special thank you to my husband Sean. His love, loyalty and support has been constant throughout my career and is much appreciated.
A special welcome into the world to Jonah McQueen.
Finally, I’d like to honour the memory of my beautiful niece, Linda Mullally. She was much-loved and precious.
About Laura Elliot
Laura Elliot is also the author of The Prodigal Sister and Stolen Child, published by Avon-HarperCollins. Under her own name, June Considine, she has written twelve book for children and young adults. These include the fantasy Zentyre trilogy and the popular Beachwood series of books for pre-teens Her young adult novels include View from a Blind Bridge (short-listed for a Bisto Award) and The Glass Triangle. Her short stories have been broadcast on RTE’s Fiction 15 series and have appeared in a number of teenage anthologies, including The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror Annual Collection. She gives regular workshops on creative writing and is secretary of the board of the Irish Writers’ Centre. She has also worked as a freelance journalist and magazine editor.
Website: juneconsidine.com
Twitter Elliot_Laura
STOLEN CHILD
Two families torn apart by an act that will shape their futures forever …
When Carla Kelly and Robert Gardner marry, they seem destined for happiness. But tragedy strikes when their four-day-old baby, Isobel is stolen. Distraught, they must cope with the media frenzy that follows at the same time as searching for their precious child.
As the years pass, hope dwindles – but for the stolen child, secrets long hidden will be uncovered and brought into the light.
A compelling and poignant novel that will captivate readers of Anita Shreve and Rosie Thomas.
Published by Avon HarperCollins.
THE PRODIGAL SISTER
When 15-year-old Cathy Lambert runs away from home, she is scared and pregnant. Settled in New Zealand with her son Conor she believes the secret she carries will never be revealed …
Rebecca Lambert was eighteen when her parents died and she took responsibility for her younger sisters. Years later, she is haunted by fears she hoped she’d conquered. Freed from family duties, mother of three Julie Chambers is determined to recapture the dreams of her youth.
Married to a possessive older man, Lauren Moran embarks on a frantic love affair that threatens to destabilise her fragile world.
Anxious to make peace with her three sisters, Cathy invites them to her wedding.
As the women journey towards their reunion, they are forced to confront the past as the secret shared histories of the Lambert sisters are revealed.
Accompany the Lambert sisters on their unforgettable journey – fans of Anita Shreve and Rosie Thomas will be spellbound.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
About the Book
Dedication
Contents
Prologue
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Part Two
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Part Three
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
; Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Part Four
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Books by Laura Elliot