Blood Loss by Kerena Swan (good beach reads .txt) 📕

instructor come to her own paddock or been driven to a riding school in a warm, comfortable car.

‘Thanks for staying with me, Grace.’ Jenna reaches for my hand.

I let her take it and give her a big, false smile.

The nurse leaves the cubicle, promising to bring the doctor back to organise Jenna’s discharge home. As soon as she’s gone Jenna’s smile fades and she turns to me.

‘It was Lucy,’ she whispers, glancing at the curtain. ‘She must have put something in the pâté. She’s trying to kill me.’ Her eyes are wide and her grip on me is painful.

I twist my hand to relieve the pressure and she lets go. ‘Sorry,’ she says.

I lean forward, deciding to maintain the image of me as a peacemaker. ‘Lucy doesn’t want to hurt you. She’s your sister and she loves you. The pâté could have been contaminated in the factory.’ I’m the one who wants to hurt you, moron.

‘It was Lucy. I’m scared, Grace. Do you think I should tell the police?’

‘No,’ I say sharply. ‘You have no proof, and it would upset your mother.’

‘But I don’t know what she might do next. She wants me gone. She wants to inherit everything.’ Jenna leans back against her pillows and closes her eyes again, exhausted by her outburst of emotion.

Moments later the nurse returns with the doctor who studies the notes on the tray table and asks Jenna questions. ‘What might you have eaten to cause this episode?’

I tense, waiting for her to mention the pâté, but when she doesn’t I relax again. I need to dispose of it before she asks to have it tested.

‘Nothing I shouldn’t have done,’ she says.

The doctor scribbles on a pad. ‘What did you eat for l ―’ The doctor’s pager interrupts him and he glances at it. ‘Sorry, I have to go. Here’s a prescription for some more EpiPens. Make sure you have two with you at all times.’

He mutters to the nurse that the patient can be discharged, then he nods at Jenna and leaves. Jenna looks perplexed and opens her mouth as though to speak.

‘I’ll bring the car to the entrance,’ I tell her to distract her.

She nods and swings her legs over the side of the bed then slowly gathers her clothes together.

I pay an hour’s wage for the car park, which Jenna won’t think to reimburse, and drive to where she stands waiting. I see her nose wrinkle in disgust at the smell in my car. It’s not my fault the previous owner was careless with his shopping.

‘Sorry, it smells like a dead body in here,’ I say.

‘Have you murdered someone?’ Jenna laughs then her smile slides away as she considers her own fears.

‘Spilt milk,’ I say quickly, thinking how right she is to be afraid. ‘Do you want me to stop anywhere on the way home?’

‘The pharmacy, please.’ She waves her prescription in the air. ‘Then let’s get back to Mum. She’s been on her own too long.’

We walk into the lounge together and Fiona looks up. I study her beloved face to follow the direction of her gaze. It lingers on Jenna with a warm smile before I even get a glance.

‘Jenna! You look so much better.’ Fiona gets off the sofa and wraps Jenna in a tight embrace. ‘Come and sit with me. Perhaps you could read to me.’

They’re so wrapped up in each other that, after a brief thank you, they’ve forgotten about me. It hurts. I’ve been more than patient these past four months, trying to gradually build a relationship with my real mother. Trying to earn her trust and respect. I’ve worked hard to become indispensable to this family so that when I finally reveal who I am they won’t reject me.

I should have told Fiona that she’s my birth mother before, but the right moment never seemed to present itself. We got interrupted or I lost my courage at the last minute. What if I don’t match her expectations as a daughter? Jenna is prettier, more outgoing, confident, bright and funny, but who wouldn’t be after the gilded life she’s led? It’s so bloody unfair.

Jenna sits with my mother’s arm around her. I clench my hands and dig my nails into my palms to stop myself from dragging Jenna off the sofa. When I next get Fiona on my own I’m going to find the courage to tell her the truth. Her illness is stealing our future and time is running out for us. Next time, I promise myself. Next time I’ll do it.

Chapter 56

The Previous May | DI Paton

‘Can I come with you, Dad? I promise I’ll be good. I’ll stay in the hotel room and watch TV while I wait for you to come back.’ Tommy crossed his heart, tilted his head to one side and gave his dad a cheeky grin. ‘I can help you solve the clues. I helped before, didn’t I?’

‘You certainly did, lad and I’d love you to come, but I wouldn’t be allowed to take you.’ Tommy had given Paton some crucial information during his two weeks’ work experience placement that had been pivotal in the case he was investigating. Paton folded a shirt and added it to his small suitcase. ‘The police are paying for the room and you’re not an employee so you’d be trespassing.’

Tommy’s eyes widened and Paton chuckled. Tommy would never break the law. Wanting to be a detective like his dad and Granddad one day meant he had to stick to the rules.

‘I’ll only be gone two nights so I haven’t got much time to track the suspect down. I’ll be out driving or walking around all day and evening so you wouldn’t see much of me anyway.’ Paton added his toiletry bag to the case then zipped it up. ‘Besides, I need you here to do my duties. Have you still got the list I gave you?’

Tommy pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and carefully read the simplified