Fresh Wounds

Lyn Bradley

Description

The bonds of Liz and Paul Grayson's close-knit family are dramatically changed - yet further strengthened - by an illness and a plea for help from a surprising source. However, despite everything thrown at them, Liz and Paul have finally reached a happy and settled point in their lives, and their children have grown into strong, independent adults, reaching new chapters in their lives. Unfortunately though, the past is never too far behind...

Sujets

• Romance

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 24 février 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781782345749
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
Fresh Wounds
The past is never too far behind
Lyn Bradley




Publisher Information
Fresh Wounds published in 2013 by Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The characters and situations in this book are entirely imaginary
and bear no relation to any real person or actual happening.
Copyright © Lyn Bradley 2013
The right of Lyn Bradley to be identified as author of this book has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyrights Designs and Patents Act 1988.



Chapter 1
Six thirty in the morning. Mug of coffee in hand, Liz sat on the veranda looking across the yard, to the corral and the fields beyond. She loved this time of day with the stillness around her, the spring sky already bright above her. She’d spent the last thirty minutes listening to her three eldest children chatter over breakfast. It was difficult for her to believe they would be ten years old on their next birthday in August. She remembered their birth like it was yesterday and remembered what Patti had said about popping babies like spring peas.
Smiling she looked to the barn where she could hear the horses as they were walked out by their riders. Lilly, the image of her mother with her father’s temperament, was first as usual. Closely followed by Paul Jacob Junior, or PJ as he now liked to be called. Then Mikey the fearless adventurer and finally Paul, the six feet five inch Texan cowboy she’d fallen in love with twelve years ago. Lilly and Mikey waved.
PJ trotted his horse towards her. “We’ll be back in time for dinner, Mom!” He called.
“Have fun!” she replied, touched that he felt the need to reassure her.
PJ turned the horse back towards the others and quickly caught up.
Looking at her devastatingly good looking husband, the smile lit her face. He took off his Stetson and waved it in her direction. She waved back. The four set off through the corral and north across the fields. Her heart swelled at the sight.
She was so lucky all the trauma in her life, before she came here, were distant memories that only surfaced in extreme circumstances. She used to get stressed easily, worried about what others thought of her and kept her feelings buried inside her. When she’d woken in the hospital in Newcastle, England, fourteen years ago, to Patti’s smiling face, all she could remember was pain and fear. She was told her spine and skull were fractured and she may not be able to walk. Devastation engulfed her and she withdrew into a black depression that she didn’t think she’d get out of. Patti had other ideas. She loved her like a sister and nursed her back to health.
Liz and Patti met at university. They both studied chemistry and biology and both received first class honours degrees. Then they were extremely lucky to get research fellows positions at Newcastle University. Liz had a house near Newcastle and Patti rented a flat nearby.
Liz had married when she was nineteen, but her husband was a violent bully. She endured three years of marriage, before finally divorcing James. He had tried to win her back, saying he had changed. He’d raped her and beat her, causing the fractures that put her life in danger. Thankfully by that point, Patti was sharing her house and saved her life.
Patti wanted to remove Liz from danger and the lonely existence she was facing. They’d spoken for hours about Liz never getting involved with another man, as long as she lived. Patti returned from a trip to her family home in Texas, with a plan. A plan to get Liz and her eldest brother together.
Paul was also hurting. He’d been left humiliated by his fiancée, who had been having affairs throughout their relationship. The final straw was when Paul returned home to find Rachel in bed with his brother Carl. Carl had been still drunk when Paul dragged him from the bed. Furious and hurt, Paul had broken his brother’s jaw and several ribs, before their father had managed to stop him hitting Carl.
Angry and bitter, Paul had vowed never to get into another relationship. Women swooned at his feet, so it would never be a problem to have one share his bed, when he needed release. The men who worked at the ranch tread carefully and gave him a wide berth, rather than suffering his wrath. The smallest error sent Paul into a rage that lasted for weeks at a time.
It was months before Paul and Carl started talking again. There was no choice, their father died and they had been left to look after the businesses. Paul the ranch and Carl the oil and construction.
Carl had explained that he’d had a row with his girlfriend Beth. He hadn’t known that Rachel was home, thinking she was still visiting her mother. He was shocked and confused when he was woken and dragged from Paul’s bed. Rachel had got him drunk.
He had married Beth, but they’d had problems, they couldn’t overcome and were divorced several months ago.
Sipping the coffee Liz twisted her face in disgust at the cold liquid. She realised she’d watched her husband and children ride out, over the ridge, until they disappeared, forgetting the coffee. She stood, stretched and went into the house.
Maria, their new housekeeper, was away visiting her son, daughter in law and new granddaughter, near Austin. Liz went into the kitchen to clear the breakfast plates into the dishwasher. They’d had breakfast in the kitchen and she smiled at the excitement of her children, going off to spend the day with their father. She picked up the ringing phone.
“Hi Mom! It’s me Dave! Good morning, how are ya?” The little boy said brightly.
“Good morning Davie. I’m good, sweetheart. Are you having a good time?” she smiled at his voice.
“It’s great! Aunt Liv is going to take us to Fort Worth to get Uncle Alan’s birthday gifts.”
“Okay. You help look after your sisters and tell Suzy to behave herself.”
“Sure thing Mom. Did you need anything in Forth Worth?”
“No thank you sweetheart.”
“Gotta go! Love you Mom!” the phone clicked off.
Replacing the receiver, Liz smiled.
Twins David and Suzanne were six years old and their little sister Angel three. They were staying with Liz’s cousin Olivia, who adored all the children. Unable to have her own children, Liv lavished love onto her cousins kids. She also spoiled them, unashamedly, taking care of them when Liz was unable to. She had become nanny to the children when Angel was six months old and Liz’s original nanny, Eva had left to get married. Liv and Alan lived in a seven bedroom house a mile from the Ranch house. But they would often spend the night at the main house, when the children were ill or when Paul and Liz had to be in Dallas.
Switching the dishwasher on, Liz again smiled. This time at the thought of the box of chocolates that would land in her lap, when her younger children returned from Forth Worth. They always brought her chocolates. Spoilt they may be, thoughtful they definitely were.
She went down the hall into the office and switched on the computer. She worked for a few hours, recording sales and purchases in the various ledgers. Eleven thirty and she had the idea of making a cup of tea. She stretched and walked towards the kitchen. The doorbell rang.
“Hello Liz. I need to speak with you please.” Rachel Fairchild looked anxious.
Liz stared at her. Why on earth would she come here, when there could be a chance Paul would be home. “I don’t think this is a good idea, do you?” Liz asked.
“I’m sorry, but I’m desperate.”
“Come into the kitchen.” Liz turned and walked away.
Rachel’s heals clicked on the marble floor.
Switching on the kettle, Liz turned to where Rachel was standing. “Sit down. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Yes please.” Rachel looked nervous and on the point of tears.
Liz put two tea-bags into the pot and filled it with boiling water. She took a jug of milk from the fridge and put the sugar bowl on the island counter.
Rachel stared at her hands. Once the tea was poured, she took a tentative sip. “This is different.”
“It’s Earl Grey. It’s my favourite, Paul has it imported from London for me.” Liz was wondering what all this was about.
“He always was the sweetest man.” Rachel said.
The two women’s paths had crossed at various points over the years. They were both heavily involved in charity work and often met at fundraisers and functions. There had been an incident, several years earlier, when Paul refused to sell Rachel a horse. He had been angry that she had turned up at the Ranch. Liz had balled him out and told him his behaviour was appalling. Since then, he had been civil to Rachel, but never friendly.
“What can I do for you Rachel?” Liz asked, stirring sugar into her tea.
“I need your help.” Rachel looked at her.
Liz was shocked by the look of distress in her eyes. “With which charity?”
“It’s not charity work. It’s my Son, Jacob. He has leukaemia. I need to find a bone marrow donor, before it’s too late.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But I don’t understand where I can help.”
“The doctor said his biological father would probably be the best match. I’m not.”
Liz was even more confused. “I still don’t see where I would fit in.”
Rachel took a drink from her tea, placing the cup back on the saucer, she chewed her bottom lip and looked, anxiously, at Liz. She swallowed hard. “I need you to talk to Paul.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because he’s Jacob and Stephen’s father.”
Liz gasped and stared at Rache