“You’re wasting your time with him; he has family issues and a stressful career . . .”
“I know, I know, but I still think we could make a go of it, if only he’d call. Maybe the new year will see us getting closer. Yes, I’m sure of it.”
Wednesday sighed and poured herself another mulled wine. Reaching into her bag to retrieve her packet of cigarettes, she found an envelope addressed to her. It was a Christmas card from Alex Green. He wrote that he hoped they would have the opportunity to see more of one another in the new year, and not just over dead bodies and microscopes. She smiled. Perhaps that was why he looked crestfallen when she said she was not attending the Christmas party.
She knew the female contingency of the station were disappointed that Jacob Lennox would also be absent. Undeterred, Jones organised a night at the local curry house in the new year.
She lit the cigarette that was trapped between her pursed lips. Blowing out the smoke, she found herself thinking about her mother and Scarlett, and wondered how long it might be before the monster crept insidiously into her sanitized life.
The Christmas card slipped from her lap turning her thoughts to work and inevitably Lennox. He had turned out to be a reliable colleague. Her only source of concern was his dalliance with Scarlett and where that might lead.
She stubbed out her cigarette and moved to sit by her mother. Nestling into her she allowed herself to be encapsulated by her mother’s unconditional love. The only type of love she was capable of accepting. For now.
Acknowledgements
To James Logan and Jessica Kristie for being continually supportive and encouraging. I treasure you both.
About the Author
Hemmie Martin spent most of her professional life as a Community Nurse for people with learning disabilities, a Family Planning Nurse, and a Forensic Nurse working with young offenders. She spent six years living in the south of France, and currently lives in Essex with her husband, one teenage daughter, Rosie, one house rabbit, and two guinea pigs. Her eldest daughter, Jessica, is studying veterinary medicine.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Acknowledgements
About the Author
In the Light of Madness Page 29