Part 31 (1/2)

'I' about so You don't trust me'

'Perceptive'

'If it wasn't for the sarcas to build a little trust with you, before we see each other A gesture of goodwill Otherwise I fear we'll both walk away from our conversation unfulfilled First, a confession: I haven't always ht choices There, I've said it Some of the choices I've made have been bad, a few of them have been terrible A lot of mistakes, but all of them in the past Some made orthy intentions, soet to collect a lot of mistakes I won't make excuses for all of mine, but I will tell you my story, when I see you Soh to see that But I' that after we talk you'll at least understand a fraction of what I've lost, what I've suffered, what I've sacrificed' He hesitated, and she heard his breathing quicken 'Look out of the , Hannah I' you your father back'

The line crackled and died

Nate raised his eyebrows 'What did he say?'

Hannah took the phone away fro at it

'Hon?'

Moving to the , she looked outside Dawn had coloured the sky with a wash of pink that seeped around dishwater clouds In the distance, a black Ford pickup rolled over the stone bridge It reached the side nearest Llyn Gwyr and slowed to a halt As she watched, the driver's side door opened

Her father climbed out

'Oh, my God'

'What is it?' Sebastien joined her at the , and hissed out a breath

Nate put out a hand to Hannah She helped him to his feet

Charles Meredith shut the door of the truck and raised both hands above his head He looked towards the farmhouse Then he walked to the front of the vehicle, knelt down and laced his fingers behind his head

Hannah stared, unable to move, unable to think It couldn't be possible Could it?

It's clear I need to do so to build a little trust with you, before we see each other A gesture of goodwill

Could she even begin to believe that her father was out there, that he was really still alive?

'I don't like this,' Sebastien muttered

Her father looked tired, ill, but he seemed uninjured She wished she could talk to hi this surprise on her Why?

She couldn't afford to take him at his word

Could she?

When you've lived for a long tiet to collect a lot ofyou your father back

'Mummy, look'

Leah's words finally reached Hannah and she switched her attention to the dog Moses had trotted to the dining-room door, and now he sat an inch away frolanced back at the road The truck was still parked by the bridge Her father still knelt in front of it

Moses began to keen softly

She looked at Sebastien 'What is it?'

He put his hand into his coat pocket and when he re rose up on all fours Lifted his nose to the door jamb Growled

From the kitchen, a soft thump

'Mummy?'

'Go stand behind Daddy, scaun from Nate Took a step towards Moses Towards the door

A click, somewhere in the hallway Footsteps? Then, the squeal of a door hinge Living room Had to be The door froh the back door of the far rooue and the animal fell silent If Hannah were to surprise their intruder, the best tiet into the hallway before he ca for him

She reached out a hand to the door handle, touched its ripped it in her pal metal parts wouldn't betray her, and pulled the door open, towards her, ready to let go of the handle and hold the shotgun in both hands the moment she saw movement

The hallas empty

Hannah planted a foot on to a floorboard she kneas solid She swung the gun to the right, advanced fully into the hall, blinking, itching, wanting to rub the graininess out of her eyes, wanting to rub her face and loosen the tension there, knowing that she should do nothing but brace the stock of the weapon into theroom

He turned towards her and raised his eyebrohen he saw her ai both barrels at his head 'Have I corinned, the expression didn't reach his eyes His cobalt staredetach the sight hovering between his eyes When she had given herself enough space between hi-rooo with a flick of the gun 'In there Now'

Gabriel shrugged 'You really don't need to point that thing at nore whatever I say'

'Get inside'

Hands raised, he obeyed

Hannah followed, keeping the sight of the gun inches from the back of his head 'Take the chair furthest froure out just how still you need to sit to avoidthis into your face'

As Gabriel slid around the dining table, Moses backed away fro in front of Sebastien, lips pulled back fro

Gabriel sat down on the chair Hannah had indicated He gazed about the room Finally he returned his attention to Hannah 'Quite the welcoe Her father still knelt in front of the pickup He wore a woollen winter jacket, but only a light pair of trousers It was cold outside Damp

'Little ht there with those shotgun rounds' He looked back up at Hannah 'Nothing sinister about that at all'

'Don't talk to her'

'You, by the ,' Gabriel continued 'Youto meet you, shake your hand and tell you what a lucky man you are You've a fine wife'