The Happy Family by Jackie Kabler (electric book reader txt) 📕

threats that did it, but they’ve gone, and that’s all that matters really.

Alison Allen died last month. I found out in a most unexpected voice message from Liv.

‘Thank you, Beth,’ she said. ‘For not telling the police about all the things she … we … did to you. It meant we could spend her final days together. You won’t hear from me again. Goodbye.’

And so now I’m looking forwards. I don’t know yet where my mother will live when she comes out of prison; she says she wants somewhere small and snug of her own – maybe a bedsit somewhere close to me and the children. The streets have lost their appeal now. She gave me a letter for Dad and he cried. Maybe she’ll even move in there, to Holly Tree, if we can make the finances work. Maybe they can be friends again. Maybe.

Dad took it amazingly well when I told him the remarkable story of Nadia and who she really was. He was astounded of course, as everyone was, but they’ve all taken their turn at visiting her in prison, and I’ve never felt more blessed, more grateful. Never felt happier, really. And so one long chapter of my life ends, and a new one begins.

I think about that now, as I finish the last of the Christmas cards and put my pen down. I’ll never forget Lucy; her face still haunts my dreams sometimes. But I’ll always be so thankful that I’ve been given this second chance, and I’m going to use it wisely – as wisely as I can.

I stand up slowly, turning to look out of the window, and my eyes widen. It rained heavily earlier, but now there’s watery sunshine and, suddenly, a rainbow splitting the steel-grey sky with its arc of glorious colour. I stand there for a minute, drinking it in, all its impossibly brilliant, shimmering glory. In a minute I’ll call Finley and Eloise and tell them to look outside so they don’t miss this.

Because it’s important isn’t it, I think, to know that there’ll always be rainbows? There will be more rain, more darkness, of course there will. But there will always be rainbows. You just have to weather the storm, and then lift your face up and look for them.

I smile, and head downstairs to find my children.

Keep Reading …

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The Happy Family?

Make sure you’ve read Jackie Kabler’s previous psychological thrillers!

A devoted wife …

A year ago, Gemma met the love of her life, Danny. Since then, their relationship has been perfect. But one evening, Danny doesn’t return home.

A missing husband …

Gemma turns to the police. She is horrified by what she discovers – a serial killer is on the loose in Bristol. When she sees photos of the victims she is even more stunned … they all look just like Danny.

Who would you believe?

But the police are suspicious. Why has no one apart from Gemma heard from Danny in weeks? Why is there barely a trace of him in their flat? Is she telling them the truth, or is this marriage hiding some very dark secrets?

Click here to order a copy of The Perfect Couple

I never thought it would happen to me …

One moment I had it all – a gorgeous husband, a beautiful home, a fulfilling career and two adorable children. The next, everything came crashing down around me.

They said it was my fault. They said I’m the worst mother in the world. And even though I can’t remember what happened that day, they wouldn’t lie to me. These are my friends, my family, people I trust.

But then why do I have this creeping sensation that something is wrong? Why do I feel like people are keeping secrets? Am I really as guilty as they say? And if I’m not, what will happen when the truth comes out …?

Click here to order a copy of Am I Guilty?

Acknowledgements

There are, as always, so many people to thank when you finally reach the point of releasing another novel into the world. This time, I’ll begin with my friend and colleague Anne Dawson, one of the funniest women I know, who provided me with the “cheese in the dishwasher” story in Chapter 1. She didn’t know I was going to put it in a book, so I hope she doesn’t mind; and yes, it really happened to her, and it still makes me laugh so much every time I think about it. Thank you, Anne!

So many dreams came true for me in the year I spent writing The Happy Family. My 2020 novel (my fifth book overall) The Perfect Couple somehow became an international bestseller, something I’m still trying to process with joy and amazement. All the people who contributed to that success are still with me for The Happy Family, so here is a list of just some of them.

My incredible agent, Clare Hulton – you have genuinely changed my life, and I will be forever grateful. The lovely, committed, hard-working, super-talented bunch at HarperCollins One More Chapter, especially my wonderful editor Kathryn Cheshire (I could NOT write my books without you!), marketing geniuses Melanie Price and Claire Fenby, and Lucy Bennett who designs my gorgeous covers. Ladies – what a team. You ROCK, as do Kimberley Young, Charlotte Ledger, Fionnuala Barrett, Kelly Webster and my copy editor Lydia Mason. Huge thanks also to the HarperCollins teams in the USA, Canada and Australia. You’re all amazing, as are Nicki Kennedy, Jenny Robson, Katherine West, May Wall and all of the team at ILA, who handle my foreign rights – I’m so excited to see the translated versions of my novels popping up around the world! And as always, so much love and gratitude to everyone who buys, reads and listens to my books, and to all the bloggers and reviewers who spend so much of their time supporting authors. We appreciate you more than we can ever say –