He nods and wipes away the tears that are appearing at the corner of his eyes, tears of mixed emotions, sadness, relief, joy.
'Put the mask back on, Hugh, save your energy. I'll stay for a while until you're ready to sleep.'
I watch him as he closes his eyes and drifts off into a peaceful slumber. Hugh's troubles started before I was even born. Dorothy brought him years of anguish, but if he had never met her he wouldn't have Raymond. Good things coming from bad. He has waited half a lifetime to meet his son. We have just a few months before we meet our precious child. I lay my hands on my midriff and enjoy the sensation of Bean moving around inside me.
About the Janie Juke mysteries
The setting for the Janie Juke mystery series is based on the area where Isabella was born and lived most of her life. When she thinks of Tamarisk Bay she pictures her birthplace in St Leonards-on-sea, East Sussex and its surroundings.
Lost Property is the second in the series of Janie Juke mysteries. The first in the series, The Tapestry Bag, was inspired by one of the short stories from Isabella's anthology, Ivory Vellum.
Thank you
As part of my research for the book I contacted The Keep, which provides a wonderful archive of East Sussex records: www.thekeep.info/collections/ They helped to ensure the details about Janie's library van was as accurate as possible. Sussex Police were able to confirm Phillip Juke's back story all made sense.
In Lost Property it was vital that the information relating to the Second World War and the Special Operations Executive was authentic and for this I am enormously grateful for the advice I received from Tangmere Military Aviation Museum:
www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/
I was able to immerse myself in wartime anecdotes by reading through the BBC World War Two archives - The People's War:
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/
Most authors will agree that writing can be a lonely pursuit. So I consider myself very fortunate to have the encouragement and support of some wonderful people. Janie might have withered along the way if it were not for them. My brilliant writing buddies, Chris and Sarah, and my brother, David, continue to offer me not only invaluable critiques, but inspiration to keep going. Heartfelt thanks also go to family and friends too numerous to list here. I am grateful to you all.
And, in the words of one of my favourite songs, my love and thanks go to my husband Al, who is 'the wind beneath my wings'.
About the author
Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing with Falmouth University.
Aside from her love of words, Isabel has a love of all things caravan-like. She has enjoyed several years travelling in the UK and abroad and in recent times has been running a small campsite in West Sussex, with her husband.
Her faithful companion, Scottish terrier Hamish, is never far from her side.
Find out more about Isabella, her published books, as well as her forthcoming titles at: www.isabellamuir.com
and follow Isabella on Twitter: @nofixedabode123
Lost Property: A shocking tale of wartime secrets and romance (A Janie Juke mystery Book 2) Page 19