Forgotten Child
Will she ever find a home where she can belong?The dramatic novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of LOST ANGEL.ALONE…Jennifer Lavender was a lonely child. She always felt like second best and desperately craved her parents love.ADOPTED…When Jenny learns she was adopted everything falls into place. But her dream of finding her real family can never be fulfilled - her mother died alone giving birth.ABANDONED… Now a grown woman, she attempts to fill her void by marrying Marcos. For a while she feels loved, but when the police show up at their door Jenny realises that her marriage is not what it seemed. Destitute, she is forced to move away and start again.ASTOUNDED… While adjusting to her new life by the sea, Jenny meets a young woman who will change her life forever. Together they search for the truth, but what they discover may be more than they can bear.
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KITTY NEALE
Forgotten Child
Published by Avon an imprint of
HarperCollinsPublishers
1 London Bridge Street,
London SE1 9GF
This ebook edition published by HarperCollins Publishers 2016
First published in paperback by HarperCollinsPublishers, 2010
Copyright © Kitty Neale 2010
Cover design © Debbie Clement 2016
Cover photographs: Getty
Kitty Neale asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9781847563545
Ebook Edition © May 2016 ISBN 9780007399420
Version: 2016-04-12
In memory of William (Bill) Goodbody, a dear friend who is sorely missed.
Contents
The argument had raged for two days, but the man couldn’t give in – wouldn’t give in. His wife had to agree, and once again he urged, ‘We’ve got to do something. All right, I know they were distant relatives, but it was still a shock to hear they died.’
‘You’ve never mentioned them before.’
He sighed – he’d been through this, told her all this, but nevertheless he tried to remain calm. ‘I told you, I haven’t seen them since my childhood; lost touch with them when my parents died, but nevertheless we’re the only family she has left now.’
‘You’re her only family,’ his wife snapped.
‘Like it or not, by marrying me they became your relatives. If this was someone in your family, I wouldn’t think twice.’
‘That’s easy for you to say, but something like this wouldn’t have happened in my family.’
‘There’s no need for the high and mighty attitude. We’ve no idea what happened to her – how she came to be in such a dreadful place, and I for one am not going to judge her.’
‘I don’t care. I can’t do it. I’ve been unwell and you’re asking too much of me.’
‘And if you expect me to just walk away, you’re asking too much of me. I’d never be able to forgive myself – or you.’
‘Now you’re using emotional blackmail.’
‘If you had an ounce of compassion I wouldn’t need to.’
‘That isn’t fair. I do feel sorry for what happened to her, really I do, but…but…’
The man saw the strain on his wife’s face, but couldn’t stop now. He had to convince her. His voice softened, trying honey this time. ‘I’m sorry, darling, that was cruel of me. Of course you’re compassionate, in fact it’s one of the things I love about you. I think that’s why I’ve been taken aback by your attitude. I somehow thought that, like me, you wouldn’t be able to just walk away.’
‘Please, please, we’ve been arguing about this for so long and my head is splitting. Let me think. I need time to think.’
He could tell she was weakening and felt a surge of triumph – sure that at last, one final push would do it. He stood up, bent to kiss her and before leaving the room said, ‘All right, darling, I’ll leave you to think. You’re a wonderful woman, a kind, caring woman, and I feel sure you’ll come to the right decision.’
It was another two hours before he got his answer. His wife had agreed, but only in part. She’d been adamant, and he’d been unable to bend her any further.
There was only one thing he could do now, but he dreaded it.
Wimbledon, South London, June 1971
It was home, a redbrick facade draped with wisteria, bay windows and an oak front door that appeared welcoming; yet as Jennifer Lavender pulled out her key, she knew there’d be no welcome inside. If her father was at home things would be different, but he was away again, his job often involving long periods of absence.
