I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📕

‘I am completely wrung out,’ said Adam. ‘That was exhausting.’

‘I’m sure you are,’ said Chet solemnly.

‘In a couple of weeks, when we’ve both got our legs back under us, let’s go out and play nine holes,’ said Adam.

‘You’re on,’ said Chet.

Rayanne and Hannah exchanged a fond glance. You never realized, Hannah thought, how precious your everyday routine was, until you were in danger of losing it. Both of their families had skated close to the edge. But they were all going to be OK.

‘Well, I don’t know about anybody else,’ said Adam, ‘but I’m going to make it an early night.’

There were murmurs of agreement all around.

‘Rayanne said you’re leaving tomorrow, Greta?’ Hannah asked.

Greta nodded, and Jamie tightened his grip around her waist and tilted his head to smile into her eyes.

‘Well, I wish you could stay longer,’ said Hannah. ‘We didn’t get to spend enough time with you.’

‘Next time,’ said Greta.

Next time. It had such a positive, optimistic sound to it. Greta was already planning to return to Jamie’s hometown. Hannah thought to herself what a nice girl Jamie had found. ‘Jamie, this one’s a keeper.’

Jamie beamed at the compliment. ‘I think so!’

Hannah felt a little pang at the sight of him, obviously happy and deliriously in love. Jamie and Lisa had been devoted chums as children. Hannah had always secretly hoped that it would turn into something more. But once they were teenagers, the differences between them became more pronounced. Jamie avoided books and his grades were average. He much preferred playing sports to studying. Lisa, with her glasses and her unruly hair, was young for her class and a brain, as kids said so condescendingly. As if being a brain should be viewed as a handicap, Hannah thought. Now, all the judgments of school days were behind them. Jamie had grown into a fine young man with a steady, if unexciting profession. Lisa, now that this trial was over, had a future of unlimited possibilities in medicine. The last shall be first, she thought.

‘Well, Adam’s right. We need to get home and get this little one into bed. Thank you all for standing by us.’

They all took their leave with repeated thanks and congratulations and kisses. Adam and Hannah crossed the short distance to their house, Hannah carrying Sydney, and they went inside and closed the door. Their world felt safe and sensible again. Everyone went to bed early, and peace reigned in the two houses.

Hannah was awakened from a restless sleep the next morning by the sound of a car pulling out of Chet and Rayanne’s driveway. Jamie, she thought, taking Greta to the airport. She glanced out the window. It was too early to tell if the day had not fully dawned or if it was going to be overcast. She thought about getting up, even though there was still no sound from Sydney. And then, even as she considered arising, she fell back to sleep.

She awoke again to Adam nuzzling her neck, and she rolled into his arms and into lovemaking in their delicious, familiar way. Before long, they were asleep again, and only awoke when Sydney toddled into the room and climbed up into the bed with them.

‘What time is it?’ Hannah asked, as she absently wrapped one of Sydney’s soft blonde curls around her finger.

‘It’s after nine,’ said Adam.

‘We really slept,’ Hannah observed.

‘We needed it.’

‘Let’s go out to breakfast,’ said Hannah. ‘Somewhere where nobody knows us.’

‘You’re on,’ said Adam. ‘But we’ll bring two cars. I want to go to work.’

‘I think I’ll play hooky one more day,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m so beat. And I want to spend the time with Sydney. And go see Lisa this afternoon.’

They murmured agreement, and Hannah thought how lovely it was to have their normal life back. Of course, things weren’t normal for Lisa. She was still in the county jail, and might be facing consequences for that larceny conviction at medical school. But considering what they might have been facing, it seemed slight.

They drove out of Nashville, halfway to Shelbyville, and had breakfast at a cafe that served sausage, biscuits and eggs all day. The cafe was in a ranch-style log house, and the owner’s grandchildren were playing on the porch. Sydney entered cheerfully into the game while Hannah and Adam finished their coffee and watched them right outside their window table.

Adam and Hannah kissed before getting into their separate cars and then Adam kissed the top of Sydney’s head. ‘Come home early,’ Hannah said. ‘I’ll make something you like for dinner.’

‘What?’ he asked.

‘I’ll figure something out.’

‘I know you will.’ He smiled and got into his car, and waved as he pulled away. Hannah buckled Sydney into her car seat and headed for home.

The phone rang right after lunch, and it was Lisa. ‘Do you believe that crappy jury convicted me?’ she protested.

‘Darling, all things considered, we were lucky,’ said Hannah, pained by her daughter’s attitude. ‘You should be grateful.’

‘That’s easy for you to say,’ Lisa sniffed. ‘I’m stuck here for two months and God only knows what will happen to my scholarships.’

‘We’ll figure it out,’ said Hannah soothingly. ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure we can reason with them about your scholarships. Right now, I’m just so relieved.’

‘Mother, I don’t understand what you’re so happy about. Here I was, accused of some crime that was really just an accident. And now I have to spend two more months in this place!’

Hannah tried to see it from Lisa’s point of view. She told herself that she too would be upset if she faced jail time for something she didn’t do. But in light of what the outcome could have been, it was difficult to feel unhappy. She changed the subject. ‘I was thinking of