by Chris Taylor
“Is Dad all right?” Dimitri asked, his eyes shadowed.
Shelby assured him their father was going to be fine. Dimitri gave her a weak smile.
“I’m glad. He didn’t deserve to go like that.”
“No one does,” Samuel said quietly. “It’s a shame your mother didn’t tell anyone how she was feeling. She could have gotten some help.”
Both Shelby and Dimitri remained silent, each lost in their thoughts. As far as Shelby was concerned, the grudge their mother had borne against gay men went back decades. She wasn’t sure any amount of therapy would have helped. It saddened her to think it, but she felt it deep in her bones. As if sensing her thoughts, Samuel tightened his arm about her shoulders.
“We might leave Dimitri to rest, honey,” he said.
With a murmur of agreement, Shelby leaned over and kissed her brother on the cheek. “I’m so glad you’re going to be all right, Dimi. And don’t worry about Momma and Daddy. It will all work out one way or the other. Just think, now that you’ve come out, you can live your life however you want.”
A frown marked his face. “What will all the others think?”
Shelby didn’t pretend to misunderstand him. “Our brothers and sisters will get used to the idea and they’ll love you just as much as ever. Just see how they’ve rallied around you now? The nurses had to restrict their visits to two at a time. They’ve been so worried. You’re our big brother, Dimi. Nothing changes that.”
Dimitri’s eyes shone bright with tears and he hurriedly waved them off. “Go, the pair of you, before I turn into a blubbering mess.”
With a fond smile and a wave of good-bye, they left the room, hand in hand.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
The first sounds of the wedding march being played by the strings and piano reached Shelby’s ears. She turned to her father and reached for his arm, not feeling the slightest bit nervous. It was like she’d been waiting for this day her whole life and she was going to enjoy every minute. She guessed her calmness had a lot to do with the man who waited for her at the altar.
When someone was as sure as she was that she’d met her soul mate and was about to join with him as one, nerves didn’t come into the equation. If anything, she was impatient to see it done. They’d waited as long as they had out of respect for the family and their mother. Her trial had come and gone and she’d been brought before the courts for sentencing.
In the end, she’d pleaded guilty by reason of insanity and it was probably the best outcome for all. She’d spend the next twenty years behind the high walls of a secure psychiatric facility. Still, knowing that her mother wasn’t here at her wedding filled her with sadness. Momma would never attend a family gathering again—at least, not for a very long time.
“Are you all right, Shelby?” her father asked, peering at her with concern.
“Yes, Daddy. I was just thinking about Momma. I’m sorry it turned out this way.”
“Me, too. I just wish she’d said something years ago, before her hate became all-consuming. I can’t help but wonder if there was anything I could have done. I blame myself for not knowing how much our secrets were affecting her. I lived with her for more than three decades. If anyone could have known about it, I was the one.”
“You can’t blame yourself, Daddy. She was good at keeping secrets.”
He looked at her sadly. “We both were.”
As the music coming from inside the church began to swell, Shelby leaned over and kissed her dad against his cheek.
“Let’s not think about it now, Daddy. Today is all about love and laughter and new beginnings. I love Samuel more than I ever thought possible and we’ve promised each other we’ll never keep secrets.”
“I’m glad you found someone special, Shelby. Samuel’s a good man. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You’ve done well for yourself and you’ve done your aunts and uncle proud. They’re seated in the front row beside Dimitri and his partner. Cornelius has been keeping them occupied with amusing anecdotes of his life working as a male stripper. Last time I checked, your aunts had grins stretching from ear to ear.”
Shelby smiled. “I’m so glad Dimitri found someone to make him happy and that the family have accepted his way of life.”
Her father gave her an embarrassed smile. “I think the aunts and uncles were more shocked about me than your brother. I think it made it easier on him.”
Shelby kissed him on the cheek. “Well, I’m just glad we can put all of that behind us and get on living our lives.”
Her father nodded and held out his arm. “I agree. Let’s get on with it, then.”
As she entered the church to the strains of Pachabel’s beautiful Canon in D, she gazed down the aisle to where Samuel stood. Paul and his other brothers stood beside him. In a few minutes, Samuel Munro would be her husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, from this day forward. She couldn’t wait.
NOTE TO READERS
I do hope you have enjoyed reading Shelby and Samuel’s story. If you’ve enjoyed this book, please feel free to leave a review for The Cliff-top Killer at Goodreads and your favorite digital retailer. Every review is very much appreciated.
Click here to receive a free book when you sign up for my newsletter. You will also receive news on upcoming stories, release dates, book launches and other snippets. I love to receive feedback from my readers. Please feel free to contact me at chris@ christaylorauthor.com.au
The Likeable Fraudster is the next book in the Sydney Harbour Hospital Series.
Here’s a sneak peek:
Jake Alexander has it all. Young, single and good-looking, he’s living the high life as a successful doctor running a Sydney Harbour Hospital medical practice with Shane Kirkbride and Kevin Johnson, his two best friends from college.
But then, Shane is found murdered in the back room of the clinic and the police are insistent the murder was an inside job. It’s ludicrous to think that Jake or Kevin might be responsible, but the police have the two of them in their sights.
Kevin is let off the hook when he produces an alibi—he was out to dinner with his girlfriend and there are plenty of witnesses to back him up. Jake isn’t so lucky. He has no one who can come forward and vouch for his whereabouts. The police turn up the heat.
Jake isn’t surprised to discover Katrina West is Kevin’s alibi. As Kevin’s long term girlfriend, the pair are as good as joined at the hip. It pains Jake to admit it, but the two of them make a great couple and will no doubt one day marry. The thought depresses the hell out of him, but there’s nothing he can do. His only hope is to get over his feelings for Kat and find a woman as perfect as she.
But as the police investigation becomes more pointed, Jake is flat out just trying to survive. Why won’t they believe his protestations of innocence? Why is he the only one who believes they’re wasting their time? Meanwhile, the person who did it might very well get away with murder…
The Likeable Fraudster will be released on 28 February, 2017 and is AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon.
Other Books by Chris Taylor
Find all of Chris Taylor’s books on Amazon
The Munro Family Series
(in order)
The Profiler
The Investigator
The Predator
The Betrayal
The Deception
The Negotiator
The Christmas Vigil (a novella)
The Ransom
The Defendant
The Shooting
The Maker
The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series
(in order)
The Perfect Husband
The Body Thief
The Baby Snatchers
The Final Bullet
The Debt Collector
The Lab Test
The Stolen Identity
The Cliff-top Killer
The Likeable Fraudster
The Sydney Legal Series
(in order)
>
An Accidental Murderer
At the Hand of her Father
A Woman Scorned
Lies and Deception
Ordinary Evil
The Perfect Crime
Malicious Love
Toxic Inheritance
The Craigdon Family Series
(in order)
Callum
Joel
Isabella
Nicholas
Sophia
Flynn
Noah
Logan
Elizabeth
The Barrington Family Series
(in order)
Broken Lives
Broken Promises
Broken Bonds
Broken Spirits
Broken Vows
Broken Minds
Broken Dreams
Broken Hearts
Broken Homes
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
As usual, no book comes into being without a lot of help and support by my friends and family. A world of thanks must go to my wonderful editor, Pat Thomas. Thank you for everything that you do to make my stories even more amazing than I could ever dare to dream. To Detective Superintendent Michael Kilfoyle, thank you for lending my story credibility. Any mistakes are wholly my own.
To Alisha Moore and all of the staff at damonza.com, thank you for yet another fantastic cover. To my sister, Nicole Guihot and to my friend, Ally Thomson, thank you for your excellent editorial comments, proof reading skills and suggestions. I hope you like the final result.
To Amy Atwell and her dedicated staff at Author EMS who are so much more than book formatters. Amy, once again, thank you for your magic.
To the fantastic writer organizations such as Romance Writers of Australia, Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of New Zealand for all the help, support and encouragement they offer new and aspiring writers, including me.
To my readers, thank you for your support and love for my stories. Your encouragement and enjoyment make this journey all worthwhile.
And lastly, to my friends and family, especially my husband and children. Thank you for putting up with late dinners and even later conversations as I’ve emerged day after day from the sometimes scary but always enthralling world I’ve created on my computer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Taylor grew up on a farm in north-west New South Wales, Australia. She always had a thirst for stories and recalls writing her first book at the ripe old age of eight. Always a lover of romance and happily-ever-afters, a career in criminal law sparked her interest in intrigue and suspense. For Chris to be able to combine romance with suspense in her books is a dream come true.
Chris is married to Linden and is the mother of five children. If not behind her computer, you can find her doing the school run, taxiing children to swimming lessons, football, ballet and cricket. In her spare time, Chris loves to read her favorite authors who include Richard North Patterson, Sandra Brown, Kathleen E Woodiwiss and Jude Devereaux.
You can find out more about Chris and get a free book when you sign up for her newsletter at her website:
http://www.christaylorauthor.com.au
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2016 by Chris Taylor
(All Rights Reserved)
LCT Productions Pty Ltd
18364 Kamilaroi Highway, Narrabri NSW 2390
ISBN. 978-1-925119-38-1 (Ebook)
ISBN. 978-1-925119-39-8 (Paperback)
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
The Cliff-top Killer is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
THE CLIFF-TOP KILLER
Table of Contents
Dedication
Other Books by Chris Taylor
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Note to Readers
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Copyright