“You were right about the color choice,” Ray said with a chuckle. “It looks fantastic, brightened the whole place up. I should have known better than to question your impeccable judgment.”
Sonia had spent the past several weekends helping Ray redecorate and stage Celia’s house after he’d gone through and tossed out all the junk that couldn’t be donated. In fact, it had inspired her to do the same. She’d even gone so far as to empty out the storage tubs in the attic that hadn’t been opened since Finn left. Apart from a small box of items she was saving for Jessica to go through at some future date, she had gotten rid of every other memory of Finn, including her “fairytale” wedding dress and album.
It had been hard to incinerate the dream, but the truth was it had only ever been a dream. Finn was never the man she thought she’d married. She had sat down with his superior officer and an FBI agent only last week and been shocked to learn there had been rumors of several previous incidents of sexual harassment before the alleged assault that cost Finn his military career. The first incident had taken place only six months into their marriage. A shudder ran across her shoulders as she set the glasses on the table. At one point, she’d been afraid the stranger next door might be a serial killer—turns out she’d been married to one.
“Are you okay?” Ray inquired, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table for her.
She shrugged as she sank down in it. “As well as can be expected. I’m still in shock over all the additional assault allegations the FBI told me about last week. I mean, I always knew Finn was a bully, but even after we divorced, I tried to focus on the good. I wanted Jessica to be proud of her father. She thought he was a war hero—serving his country on covert missions. Turns out even that was a lie.” She gave a hollow laugh. ”You know, Tom was the real hero. He died fighting a war worth fighting—he saved a child.”
Ray gave a pensive nod. “I like that. It’s a good way to remember him. It’s been hard not being able to hold a service for him.”
“At least you can be proud of him,” Sonia said, pouring them each a lemonade. “I have only shame over who Finn was—not to mention over what I did to him. I keep second-guessing my actions.”
“You did the right thing, Sonia. You have nothing to regret,” Ray assured her. “The shock of it all is only just beginning to sink in. You need to be patient with yourself. Isn’t that what you told me after my accident? It’s going to take time to process everything.”
Sonia took a sip of her lemonade. “You sound like my therapist. He keeps telling me I need to compartmentalize what I did. Accept that I acted in self-defense.”
“He’s right. What you did was every bit as heroic as what Tom did.”
“And what you’re doing is noble,” Sonia said, fixing a steady gaze on him. “Taking on Finn’s child.”
“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been given a gift. Henry’s given me a whole new lease on life,” Ray said, his voice laden with emotion. “It’s a chance to see the world through the eyes of a child—something I never had. And it helps that I understand the pain of neglect and abuse. I think I can be the dad Henry needs.”
“I know you can,” Sonia said, smiling at him. ”He’s a great kid. Jessica is really going to miss him.”
And I’m going to miss you.
She couldn’t bring herself to say it. They were both too damaged. Too hurt. Too wounded. And two broken people don’t make a whole.
But brokenness didn’t have to be their final destination.
True north lay in the hope of a new tomorrow.
And the sun always rises.
Ready for another thrilling read with shocking twists and a mind-blowing murder plot? Check out my psychological thriller Right Behind You on Amazon! Releasing December 2021.
The truth commands a devastating price. She’s kept it a secret. Until now.
When Lauren’s parents die in a small plane crash, she inherits the fortune they made with the sale of their software business. Determined to follow in their footsteps, she moves her young family to Austin and launches her own successful company.
But her charmed life begins to fray at the edges when an idle threat made eighteen years earlier comes back to haunt her. Someone with a grudge is willing to stop at nothing to destroy her. Someone with time on their hands and murder in mind. Someone who knows her secret.
Can she save herself from a dangerous past before a killer comes calling?
- A riveting guessing game of a thriller that will leave you gasping in shock! -
Do you enjoy reading across genres? I also write young adult science fiction and fantasy thrillers. You can find out more about those titles at www.normahinkens.com.
A QUICK FAVOR …
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed reading Never Tell Them as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for taking the time to check out my books and I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart if you would leave a review, long or short, here on Amazon as it makes a HUGE difference in helping new readers find the series. Thank you!
To be the first to hear about my upcoming book releases, sales, and fun giveaways, sign up for my Newsletter here. You can find me on the web at www.normahinkens.com and follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with any feedback or comments. I LOVE hearing from readers. YOU are the reason I keep going through the tough times.
All my best,
Norma
Biography
NYT and USA
