All My Secrets Read Online Free PDF

even find the words.
    ‘I don’t know how to explain what Lightsea offers in a way that will make it appealing to you,’ Uncle Gavin says. ‘But the man who runs the place – David Lomax
– is the son of some old family friends.’
    ‘
Our
family?’ I ask. ‘Yours and mine?’
    ‘Yes,’ Gavin says. ‘David Lomax’s parents knew mine and Irina’s – your grandparents. They knew us too, when we were children.’
    ‘Oh.’ I’m thrown. ‘What about David Lomax?’ I ask. ‘Did you spend any time together when you were a kid? Did Irina?’
    ‘I don’t remember meeting him, but he’s a few years older so he may well remember better.’ Gavin smiles. ‘It’s not just that connection. He’s the real
deal, Evie. I’ve followed his career. He used to be a therapist, then he spent ten years on an ashram in India. Now he’s running his own residential development courses. He’s a
good guy. And he specialises in helping . . . er, young people. You’ve had a lot to process recently and I really think this might help.’
    ‘I don’t know.’ I’m torn. On the one hand, I’m intrigued by the sound of this man with his family connection to Irina. On the other, it’s still basically just
a jumped-up boot camp.
    ‘Evie.’ Andrew runs his hand over his head. ‘I don’t want to force you, but your mother and I are at our wits’ end. We don’t know how to help you and Gavin
has come up with this idea and he’s generously offering to split the costs . . .’
    I stare at him, then at Uncle Gavin who looks away. ‘Where is this Lightsea place?’ I demand.
    ‘It’s off the west coast of Scotland. I spoke to David Lomax earlier. He’s very happy for you to come for the August course.’
    ‘The whole of August?’ Is he serious?
    ‘At the end of which time you’ll come into your inheritance and you’ll be free to make future decisions for yourself,’ Gavin says with a smile. ‘Lightsea
isn’t like any other institution for teens. It’s supposed to be a great place.’ He pauses. ‘I think it’s what Irina would have wanted for you.’
    ‘Really?’ I gaze up at him.
    ‘Definitely, darling.’
    I doubt very much if Lightsea will help me feel any better about Andrew and Janet lying to me all my life, but it’s a connection to my real mother and, because of that, I want to find out
more.
    ‘OK.’ I turn to Andrew. ‘OK,’ I say. ‘I’ll go.’

Lightsea

Five
    It’s a long journey to Lightsea from Hertfordshire and Andrew hates being late for anything so is furious when our car breaks down on the motorway. As a result, we miss
the boat sent to pick everybody up from the mainland and take us to the island. David Lomax, the head of the Lightsea YA Development Programme, organises a local fisherman to bring us over. The
man, whose name I don’t catch, settles himself at the back of the little motorboat, his gnarled hand on the tiller. He looks like a walking cliché of a salty seadog with white hair and
weather-beaten skin. Andrew tries to talk to him when we set off, but the guy just grunts so Andrew gives up and the two of us sit at the front in total silence, the spray misting in our faces.
    My chest tightens as we draw closer to Lightsea Island. All the other teenagers will have met each other by now. I’ll be the one coming in late . . . last . . . an outsider. This was
such
a bad idea. Why on earth did I ever agree to come here? I close my eyes, trying to focus on the fact that David Lomax must have met Irina when they were children, that he may have
memories, stories to share with me. And Gavin thought I would like being here . . . that it might help me come to terms with finding out about my real mother – and the fact that it was kept a
secret from me.
    ‘OK, Evie?’ Andrew asks.
    Ignoring him, I lean back against the rough wooden hull and take out my mobile. Now that we’ve left the mainland there’s no signal at all.
    No phone and no internet for a month. I can’t