Page 3

A couple of weeks? And go where in the meantime? I couldn’t risk going to a hotel. Only a private home would suit me. I cleared my throat. ‘No need, I’ll take it as it is.’

She nodded. ‘I understand, pet.’ The kindness had spread to her eyes as she leaned forward, perhaps to pat my hand. But I was quicker, moving out of the reach of her sympathy. I didn’t need it. I couldn’t afford to depend on it. From now on, I was completely on my own and needed to toughen up. Maybe one day, I’d make some friends. But for now, I could only count on myself.

‘I have the first and last months’ rent here,’ I said as I pulled some pound notes out of my pocket in the hope I’d convince her if she was still on the fence.

She looked at my outstretched hand and chuckled. ‘Oh, my grandson deals with that stuff. I’ll have him come round with the contract tomorrow morning and you can talk to him; how does that sound?’

‘Tomorrow morning sounds good,’ I replied, disappointed that I couldn’t tick my first hurdle off the list completely and get the tricky legalities over with, but at the same time relieved to be able to just close the door on the world and finally sleep, knowing I was safe.

‘Right then, I’d best be off,’ she said and gripped the edge of the table to haul her tiny frame up. ‘Goodnight, then.’

‘Thank you, goodnight,’ I replied as she took forever to get to the door, poor dear. My desperation to be alone now was like waiting for a starting gun to go off.

And then she turned and planted her eyes on me once more. ‘Just one thing, Miss Graham. This is a tiny village in the middle of nowhere where nothing ever happens. Newcomers are always the centre of interest.’

Ah. Here it was: the runaway/dubious/shifty/loose woman/single girl advice.

‘Mrs Nankivell, I can assure you that I am going to stay out of the village spotlight. I conduct a very simple lifestyle and intend to keep very much to myself.’ Which reminded me. I’d have to cut my hair and change the way I looked somehow.

‘I didn’t mean it that way, pet,’ she replied swiftly. ‘All I meant was that if you’re hiding, he’ll be unlikely to find you here in Starry Cove. We look out for each other. ’

A cold shiver swept up my legs and nestled into the pit of my stomach. If an elderly lady could see through me, surely everyone else in the village would, too. If Will and the police turned up, they could single me out in no time.

The better part of a day had passed since I’d fled. He would have certainly called my mobile.Good luck with that.

‘Okay, then,’ she said as I was looking for an appropriate answer, her papery hand clutching the chain of her glasses. ‘I’ll be off. You have my number if you need anything.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Nankivell. I’ll be okay.’

‘Now you take care of yourself. And welcome to Starry Cove.’

‘Thank you,’ I said as I followed her to the door and waited until she passed the cottage across the way. For good measure, I checked the row of terraced houses as she gingerly tottered down the hill. The one next door to mine seemed empty, and so did a couple of other ones. Excellent. Fewer neighbours, fewer questions.

And now there was no turning back. To my boss and the police, I was a criminal. But I had done nothing wrong. Yes, I had stolen Sophie Graham’s ID and clothes. But only because I hadn’t had the time to run home and get my own before disappearing.

Suddenly, all the adrenaline drained from my body and the weight of the day came crashing down on me. But at least now I had a roof over my head. I let out my breath slowly, trying not tofall apart. This was a fresh start. A new life. There was just one thing I had to do.

4

Three minutes is a long time when you’re waiting for a home pregnancy test.

Will had no idea of my suspicions, and it was just as well.

‘When we become a family,’ he’d promised me once, ‘everything will be different. I’ll be less stressed. We’ll start to enjoy ourselves more. I’ll spend more time with you. And together, we can start our own dynasty. The Compton dynasty!’

That had been years ago. Four, to be exact. In the following years, everything had changed. Will was no longer nice or even indifferent. He had become impossible to be with. He was always angry; sometimes more than angry. So instead of challenging him, I stayed out of his way. But then he’d charge into my office and start berating me for something I’d done or hadn’t done, it didn’t matter to him. He took any chance he had to put me down. And now the ultimate betrayal. How could he do this to me, accuse me of theft and blackmail? Had heevertruly cared about me?

The three minutes were up.

I took a deep, deep breath and closed my eyes tight. I could handle this. I could handle whatever came my way. When I’d gone to his house to break up with him, I knew there was a chance I could be pregnant. But even for a child’s sake, I couldn’t let Will stay in my life. And now I had no choice but to keep my big-girl trousers on, just like I had done all my life.

With my heart hammering against my aching ribs, I forced myself to open my eyes and stared at the stick.Pregnant. I knew it. I was going to have a baby. Bloody Will’s baby.

So finally, at the end of the worst day of my entire life, I let go and cried again. I cried in anguish for this baby who was one day going to ask me where Daddy was. What could I possibly say? I cried for all the years I’d stayed in the hope that things would get better. I cried because I’d been so weak, as if paralysed by the fear of loneliness and the dread of change. I cried because it had been the first time in my life that I’d ever been afraid of anything. I was afraid of letting my baby down, of not being brave and smart enough to give it the best I could. But I’d give it my all.

With unsteady arms, I braced myself against the sink and looked at my reflection. My normally bright-green eyes were now spent, and my once glossy hair looked matted and dull. But what completed the dismal ensemble were the scratches on my face. I was a mess and Mrs Nankivell had been right to doubt me.

Too late to cry over spilled milk. Just bloody get on with it now.There was only one thing I could do. Soldier on. Make the best of what I had and try to create a new life for myself here in Cornwall.