Darkest Before Dawn Read Online Free PDF

the short term I think the news of Liam’s death will affect him as badly as losing his leg.’
    ‘Yes. He’s beginning to think more clearly now they are reducing the medication, but he does have a lot of injuries, sweetheart. At least the drugs have given them a chance to heal. He was lucky the broken ribs didn’t pierce his lung as the doctors first feared.’
    ‘He is lucky to be alive at all,’ Rosemary said, shuddering. ‘One of the younger doctors said it helped the patient’s spirits if they could regain some sort of mobility as soon as possible after an amputation but the broken ribs and having his arm in plaster will delay any attempts at crutches. I’m not sure Billy fully realizes that he has lost his leg yet though.’
    ‘Time,’ Sam sighed, ‘that’s what we’re all going to need, time and patience. Jo Finkle has proved himself a friend in need yet again.’
    ‘Yes, he may be an old man but his eyes are as sharp as ever,’ Rosemary said.
    ‘My father always said he could rely on him through thick and thin.’
    Although in his eighties, Johan Finkle still walked up to Martinwold from his cottage every day to help with any odd jobs he could still manage to do. As soon as he heard about Billy’s accident he had takenit upon himself to count and check the young animals in the fields each day, relieving Sam of that responsibility . He had begun working for Sam’s parents when he was a young prisoner of war. He had known Sam and Alex, and their sister Tania, since they were born. They were all the family he had. He had offered his prayers when Rosemary was desperately ill before the twins were born, and he had rejoiced when Billy had arrived in the world eleven years later. Now he was as distressed by Billy’s accident as Billy’s own parents.

    It didn’t seem possible that more anguish was yet to come. Rosemary had known Jane Lennox since Liam was at nursery school and she knew Jane would be stricken with grief over his death. She couldn’t believe Mr Lennox had forbidden her to visit, or even speak to her on the telephone, but Jane managed to phone from her mobile while she was out in the garden early one morning.
    ‘Fenella is dreadfully upset,’ Jane said, her voice shaking as she struggled to control her own emotions. ‘She knows Derek was to blame but Syd is so bitter he is blaming anyone and everyone except Derek. I–I’m afraid he has convinced himself it was Billy’s fault.’
    ‘Surely not!’ Rosemary gasped. ‘How can he think that?’
    ‘I’m dreadfully sorry, Rosemary. You and Sam have always been such good neighbours but Sydney is blaming you for buying Billy a car of his own. He – he’s being completely unreasonable. He refuses to speak to Fenella. He says she must tell the police Derek was not to blame. She w–wanted to visit Billyin hospital but he is threatening to put both of us out of the house if we speak to any of you.’
    ‘Surely Syd must realize Fenella had to tell the truth to the police. She and Liam were so close. She must be full of grief, even without having to face questions and an enquiry,’ Rosemary said. ‘I heard her friend Amanda gave the same account to the police so Fenella couldn’t have lied, even if she had wanted to. Surely Syd must understand that?’
    ‘There’s no reasoning with him. I–I’m afraid of him, Rosemary. He – he’s going to need some kind of help to get over this. He refuses to speak to Doctor Jamieson, let alone accept any medication.’
    ‘I’m so sorry, Jane. I wish I knew what to do to help. Syd’s attitude must be making your own heartbreak over Liam even harder to bear.’
    ‘Yes, it is, but I wanted you to understand why I can’t keep in touch. Try to understand, Rosemary dear, it is not what I want, or what Fenella wants, but we’re doing our best not to aggravate him while he is in such a difficult frame of mind.’
    After Jane’s phone call, Rosemary knew she should have been prepared but instead