Authors: Sibel Hodge

Where the Memories Lie (38 page)

Charlotte who is dry-eyed but pale. I wonder how long it will be

before her hair begins falling out. Nadia has already bought her a

selection of wigs.

I don’t even hear the vicar’s words as he speaks about Tom. I’m

too busy wondering if I’m going to regret my decision. When I hear

him call my name to give one of Tom’s eulogies, I jump with a start.

I look at Ethan over the top of Anna’s head. He looks back, eyes

glistening. Finally, he gives me an encouraging half smile. I stand up and walk towards the lectern at the front of the room. I have it all written down on a folded-up piece of paper in my pocket, but in the end I don’t need it. I’ve been over this so many times in my head that I know off by heart what I have to say

I take a calming breath, trying to release the flutters in my

chest. Then I begin.

‘Tom was an amazing man. He would do anything for

anybody. Nothing was ever too much trouble. Even if he was rushed

off his feet, he’d make time for you. He was compassionate and

kind-hearted and lived to see us all happy and contented. He was

loyal to a fault. If you told him a secret, it would never be repeated.’

My gaze strays to Nadia. She fidgets with the neck of her black

dress. ‘He single-handedly raised his family with dedication and

devotion. He was driven and focused but still knew how to have

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Sibel Hodge

fun. Family meant everything to Tom. Like any parent, he would

always do what was necessary to protect them from harm.’

Anna sniffs loudly. Ethan hands her a tissue.

‘If he had to make a choice, he would even die for his own

family.’

Nadia wipes her eyes with a soggy, balled-up tissue.

‘Today we say goodbye to a loving, generous and kind man.

A man who is probably looking down on us now and making sure

we’re taking care of each other. A man who takes his secrets to his grave.’ I look up and meet Nadia’s eyes. The message to her is clear.

Her lips curve slightly in a strained, grateful smile as her hand

flutters towards her mouth.

‘Goodbye, Tom. We love you, and you’ll always be in our

hearts.’ I step down and take my place next to Anna and Ethan.

I will keep the secret Tom desperately wanted to hang on to.

The one he thought would protect his family forever, until the

Alzheimer’s made it impossible to stay hidden. It’s my final gift to him. My goodbye. I will hide the truth to save Nadia, and in turn

save all of us. Some mistakes you just can’t take back.

I have no idea if it’s right or wrong. Tom’s plan was flawed,

just like all of us. I’ve learned that some people should have second chances and some secrets should be kept. I’ve also learned that I’m something I never wanted to be − a liar and a hypocrite.

But how far would
you
go to protect the ones you love?

290

Author’s Note

Firstly, I’d like to say a huge thanks to my readers. Thank you so

much from the bottom of my heart for buying my books, and

I hope you enjoy them!

A massive thanks to my husband Brad for supporting me,

being my chief beta reader, and fleshing out ideas with me. Also

for giving me the premise for
Where the Memories Lie
from a dream he had about a guy with Alzheimer’s who confessed to killing

somebody. I love working with characters who are unreliable, and

I knew immediately there were so many places to go with that idea.

Without you, this book would never have been written!

Big hugs and thanks to my fabulous nieces Chantelle and

Annice for all their advice on school lesson plans and inspiration

for the character of Anna. It’s been a long time since I was twelve, so your input was fantastic!

Thanks so much to D. P. Lyle, MD, for his advice and informa-

tion on DNA in skeletal remains.

And finally, a huge thanks to Jenny Parrott for all her invalu-

able editing suggestions. And also to Emilie Marneur for her

ongoing support and belief in me, along with all the rest of the

Thomas & Mercer team.

About the Author

Sibel Hodge is the author of the #1 best-

seller
Look Behind You
. Her Amber Fox

Mysteries and romantic comedies,
Fourteen

Days Later
and
The Baby Trap
, are inter-

national bestsellers on Amazon, Barnes &

Noble and iBooks. She writes in an eclectic

mix of genres, and she’s a passionate human

and animal rights advocate.

Her work has been nominated and shortlisted for numerous

prizes, including the Harry Bowling Prize, the Yeovil Literary Prize, the Chapter One Promotions Novel Competition,
The Romance

Reviews
’ prize for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, and Indie Book Bargains’ Best Indie Books of 2012. She was the winner of

Best Children’s Book by eFestival of Words 2013, and winner

of Crime, Thrillers & Mystery | Book from a Series in the SpaSpa Book Awards 2013. Her novella
Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave
has been listed as one of the top 40 books about human rights by

Accredited Online Colleges.

For Sibel’s latest book releases, giveaways and gossip, sign up to

her newsletter at: www.sibelhodge.com/contact-followme.php

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