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Chapter 368
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TRUST ME Chapter 369
“Fine, I’m sorry,” she grumbled then looked down to the table and under her breath added, “bitch.”“I apologize for my daughter’s behavior these past days,” William told the nun. “She used to be respectful and considerate. Despite her ill temperament, you are a guest in our home, and we appreciate all your hard work.”“Thank you, Mr. Ashford,” the nun said gently, making her appear much younger than her aging features would seem. The group watched as the woman turned and left the room, going back up the stairs. They all knew she was on a strict diet and kept protein drinks in her luggage for breakfast and lunches. They were also certain she was leaving as an attempt to gain a little peace before starting Irena’s afternoon exercises.“Would you like to see the dress?” Sabrina asked in a soft voice, as if afraid to break the tension of the room.“No,” Irena snapped, then pushed the bowl her mother set in front of her aside. “I said I’m not ready to get married. I don’t know what I have
TRUST ME Chapter 370
“You know, we’re going to have to tell the family our news sooner rather than later,” Creighton told Sandra as she moved through the aisles of the clothing store, her hand held to the stroller as she looked through the many items of baby clothes.They arrived in Northallerton shortly after lunch, deciding to take in a quick stop at the clothing store Sandra liked to visit. So far, they had chosen several dresses for Grace, a few pairs of pants for Brandon, along with a new doll and a set of building blocks. With a new maternity dress and a pair of flat shoes, they decided it was time to find something for their growing family. It had been Creighton’s insistence that their children did not wear hand-me-down clothes, as he and his brothers had to do growing up. He wanted his children to have their own identity and style, which was why they had a cart full of jeans and dresses. Brandon was a tough kid who hated getting dressed for church and Grace would wear dresses when feeding the ho
TRUST ME Chapter 371
Creighton held the seat out for Sandra then glanced to the waiter who stood nearby. The reservations had caused the usual degree of excitement as he told the maître d’ his name and watched those close by turn in his direction. It was a reaction that had long since stopped bothering him, but one that Sandra still found embarrassing.“We’ll have a bottle of Dom Perignon 98,” he told the man, then glanced to his wife with a half grin. “And a sweet tea.”“Thank you,” Sandra told him once the waiter left. “I know we drank a lot before we found out I was pregnant with Brandon, and I think we were fortunate that he was born normal, but I don’t want to keep the habit going.”“I’ll do everything in my power to help our baby’s health, as long as it doesn’t prohibit my worshiping their mother’s body.”“You’re such a deviant,” she smiled then looked up to see a second waiter escorting Sabrina and Giovanni toward them.“You know it,” Creighton assured her with a wicked grin that told her he planne
TRUST ME Chapter 372
Peter sat in his car across the street from the restaurant staring at his phone. He had felt guilty for leaving Irena alone for the night and tried to call her three times, without success. He knew she was there, having called the house and spoken to her father, she just refused to answer her phone. William told him about the argument with Sabrina, and though he said it didn’t seem to make a difference to Irena at the time, she had been solemn the rest of the day. She had not said a word to Sister Carmella Catherine during her final two exercise sessions and had retired to her bed shortly after supper.A part of Peter was hoping the argument made the girl start thinking, but another part of him was worried that it may have set her back even further. Her doctor in France said her depression could take on several symptoms, making her appear almost schizophrenic in nature. The type he believed she was suffering from was a combination of victim and survivor trauma. He warned Peter that s
TRUST ME Chapter 373
Creighton sat at his desk, a deep frown creasing his brow. He had heard back from his solicitors about the factory in France and was less than pleased. The owner was insisting that it was worth three times the amount he was offering, despite the books saying otherwise. It looked like he would have to go to them to discuss this deal in person, which meant leaving his family for several days to a few weeks. With Brandon starting school next month and Nana and Papa planning a trip to Florida, he knew he couldn’t ask Sandra to go along. She would never leave their children that long and would never allow anyone to take their son to his first day of school. Creighton would not ask her to, even though it would be the first time they had been separated since their marriage, and he wasn’t happy about the idea.He briefly considered asking Giovanni to go in his stead, since they had agreed to work on this project together, but he did not want to take the man away from his daughter again, and
TRUST ME Chapter 374
The caterers arrived promptly at five thirty. Sandra and Creighton returned home shortly after the tables were assembled and the food moved out of the vans and into the single covered tent. They had purchased enough school supplies to help all of Brandon’s classmates, as well as enough to replenish a year’s worth of Grace’s crayons, markers, papers and bubblegum. With their father’s insistence, the children managed to pick up a strange kit of caterpillars with the promise that they would turn into butterflies. Sandra was not crazy about having bugs in her house, but couldn’t refuse, after the children practically begged her to allow them to get the kits.“Peter is here,” Creighton said after they unloaded the car and put everything away. “I just hope Irena will be more receptive to him,” Sandra added as they once again left the house and headed across the property to his parents’ home. “She hasn’t been in a very good mood the past couple of days.”“I haven’t had the privilege of see
TRUST ME Chapter 375
Twilight had fallen by the time the family was finished eating, allowing the caterers to clean up. Creighton paid each member in turn as they cleared away the food and assembled the leftovers in the fridge. Emma insisted that Irena and Peter take it back to the flat with them so they would not have to fend for themselves for a few days, then the evening games began. The children played an old game Sandra and Cathy taught them called Statue Maker, while three full rounds of Red Rover sang out across the setting sun. Giovanni laid a warm hand on top of Sabrina’s, knowing she was starting to doubt telling her family about the baby. With a deep sigh, Creighton cleared his throat, bringing the attention of the adults to stare at him.“Sister Carmella Catherine,” he began, addressing the nun who was sitting comfortably in the chair, a third glass of wine in her hands. “From all of us, we would like to thank you once again for your dedication in helping Irena. I think I speak for the whole
TRUST ME Chapter 376
“She needs motivation to encourage her to start doing more, but nothing I’ve said makes a difference,” Sister Carmella Catherine told Creighton and Sandra as they walked her to her car later that evening. “Then maybe the family can help,” Sandra said, handing the woman’s suitcase to her husband who placed it in the trunk.“She’s a much stronger woman than she’s pretending to be. If she would channel that anger into her recovery, she’d be hopping down those stairs.”“Let’s just hope she can find her gumption once she’s back with Peter and forced to fend for herself. She’s going to be alone all day without help, so if she wants to eat or go to the toilet, she’ll have to do it on her own.”“She will never admit it to anyone,” the nun said, glancing across her shoulder to the woman as Peter helped her back into the house. “I’ve heard her up at night using the loo, and I’ve seen drink glasses on her dresser that wasn’t there when she went to bed. I’m a light sleeper, and I know it hasn’t
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Sandra hung up the phone with a slam, then glanced to her grandparents who were sitting at the kitchen table. She was starting to get angry with all the rejections and dead-end avenues. She called Davies and told him she wanted him to get the plane ready to go to France, only to be told the police had restricted his flying. They were concerned that whomever it was that had killed her husband would try and sabotage the jet.She was getting frustrated and felt like she was being held back. If she didn’t know better, she would think she was being placed under lockdown. She could understand the police’s concern, but she had more men around her then they had at Fort Knox, and she would be willing to take all of them with her if she needed to.“I can’t leave the house, I can’t go to France, I can’t even gather eggs,” she grumbled as she joined the older couple. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t sit here and wait until doomsday to find out what happened to my husband.”“Honey, you’re going
TRUST ME Chapter 419
The room was warm as the setting sun shone through the blinds. Two detectives sat on the sofa, watching as the man continued to pace the floor. Trying to keep him calm was growing increasingly harder with each hour.Creighton could only assume the horror his family was going through, not to mention Sandra. They had been having difficulties, but this made all of that seem trivial. He had to call her, he had to contact her somehow and let her know he was alive, but the police were refusing to allow him the chance. They had to keep him concealed for the time being, though it was steadily becoming impossible. The man was acting like a caged animal, anxiously trying to find a means of escape.“How much longer do we have to sit here?” he growled, looking to those gathered around.“We need you to remain patient for a little longer,” a bald-headed man told him. “Monsieur Ashford, we understand what you’re going through…”“Like hell you do,” Creighton snapped. “I have a pregnant wife at home w
TRUST ME Chapter 418
“I know she’ll be happy when it’s over,” Emma said, returning to the room, her eyes red from the tears she’d been wiping away. “She can’t let Brandon go to school, and she has to keep the children inside instead of letting them go out to play.”“I’m sure they are going stir crazy,” Cathy said with a frown. “Especially Grace. That little girl is used to having the freedom of the farm to run and play.”“The only good thing is the weather,” William told them. “It’s been really wet, and she doesn’t like getting her dresses dirty.”“Sounds like her aunt,” Andrew said with a soft chuckle.“Maybe we should take this meeting over to my sister’s,” Cathy suggested with a sideways grin.“Let me call Derek and Kristin,” William said, standing and walking to the phone on the wall. “They wanted to know what you found out.”“Just have them meet us at Sandra’s,” Andrew told him. “We can discuss this all there.”“I thought Sabrina and Irena would be here,” Cathy said, looking at Emma who was wrapping
TRUST ME Chapter 417
Parker and Harvey held off the reporters for as long as they could alone, then eventually had to call NHT’s security. Within a few short hours, there were enough burly looking men to scare off anyone trying to get near the house. Sandra kept her children inside, though it really wasn’t difficult. The rain had eased by supper, but just like the past several days, it picked up again this morning.Max growled as he laid of the entry. The noise of cameras clicking, and the soft hum of voices mingled among the breezes of the day. She had tried to watch television, but every station was reporting on the accident. Eventually, she had no choice but to surrender and put on Grace’s favorite princess movie. At least it kept them from listening to those who insisted that there was no hope in finding any answers this soon.Sandra drew a deep breath as she wiped the moisture from her forehead. She had decided to keep herself busy and baked two apple pies, along with nearly a hundred sugar cookies.
TRUST ME Chapter 416
“No, it’s about assuming you knew what I would want. You did this, claiming it was for us when it was for you. You can’t stand the idea that your little sister has something you never would. It was bad enough when I felt like I was competing with Creighton for your attention, but now I’m watching you compete with Sandra for the mother of the year award.”“Stop comparing me to Sandra!” Cathy screamed. “It’s not my fault she’s perfect. She’s always been everyone’s favorite. I can’t tell you how many boyfriends I’ve dumped after I found out they were using me to get close to her. I didn’t want Creighton, but after he chose her over me, it made me angry. I was competing with her again, and she was too stupid to realize it. He chose that simple, no makeup, no fuss girl over me. She shares his bed, when I’m a better lover then she would ever be. She has his money, his admiration, your parents’ admiration, even my grandparents enjoy spending time with her over me. She even has a perfect body
TRUST ME Chapter 415
“Maybe Michelle heard from him,” the boy said hopefully.“I haven’t spoken with her, but I want to call in the morning. She may know something more than the police do.”The two were silent for a long time as they considered their own thoughts, until Sandra realized the tea was gone. She looked to Brandon who looked like he was finally able to fall asleep, then stood and took the cups to the sink.“Come on, son,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s see if we can get some sleep.”“Mum, can I come sleep with you?” Brandon asked once they reached the second floor of their house.Sandra smiled and hugged the boy, nodding as he looked up to her.“You can sleep on your daddy’s side,” she told him. “Just don’t tell him I let you in our bed. He may get jealous.”Brandon smiled as he walked with her into the bedroom. Sandra helped him between the covers and tucked him in, then left to check on Grace. The house was silent and soft snores of her little girl could be heard
TRUST ME Chapter 414
Sandra paced her bedroom trying to stop her mind from racing through the events of the day. Derek had come home after his mother called him, insisting on picking up Brandon from school. Sabrina called to say the reporters were going crazy with the news of the Tornado’s fire and that she and Giovanni would be home as soon as they could get there.Irena spoke with her parents and insisted on calling in a prescription for Sandra’s nerves, though she refused to use it. She needed to stay alert and concentrate in order to determine what was going on. The last thing she needed was to surrender to the effects of a drug.After speaking with Andrew, William informed the rest of the family about Cathy’s surgery, though he wouldn’t go into detail. He assured them he would check into the reports from his end and stay abreast of the investigation. Once Cathy felt like traveling, they would drive out to Yorkshire to be with the family.Nana tried to get Sandra to let her stay overnight, but she was
TRUST ME Chapter 413
Sandra opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her bedroom, yet she couldn’t remember laying down. The house was silent and the soft pattering of rain outside reminded her that the dog had made a muddy mess of the entry. Then she remembered her grandfather and William coming over, and slowly began to piece together the last thing she remembered.There had been an accident on the Tornado and three bodies were found. She knew in her heart it wasn’t Creighton. She couldn’t even begin to guess who would have been on their ship, or how it ended up at sea, but she knew her husband wasn’t the one killed. Now all she had to do, was convince the others into believing her.Sandra stepped down the stairs to hear Grace talking to her great-grandfather, the dog running from one room to another as he chased his rope and the smells of food drifting out of the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and saw Papa sitting beside Grace, one of her own books open in front of him as he listened to
TRUST ME Chapter 412
Sandra stared at the two men for a long moment as their words began to sink in. When she spoke with her husband earlier that morning, he was still at the hotel. He didn’t mention having plans of returning to the yacht. Why would he go back there when he told her he was packing to come home?Then she thought about the bodies found. One was female. Who was it? Did Creighton lie to her about not being involved with Garcon’s assistant? Had he gone there to meet with her, perhaps a final rendezvous before coming home to his family?“Did you hear what we said?” Papa asked her.“It’s impossible,” she began, her anger taking over her words. Sandra looked down at Grace who was trying to wipe the muddy water from her little dress. She hadn’t understood what her grandparents were saying. All she cared about was her soiled outfit.“Sweetheart, go upstairs and find a clean dress,” Sandra told the little girl. “Put that one in the hamper and warsh your hands. We’ll make lunch when you’ve finished.
