Page 69 (1/2)

"Of course," I said, for I would if it would ive you more time with Sophie or with your art, yes"

She glanced away and considered "I'd be eh That would be nice Then neither of us would have to mop or vacuum"

"Consider it done I'm sure there's a service we could hire that could coo out as a fa and e caone"

"That's great But I want to keep cooking together I love it e cook for each other"

"Me, too"

We kissed quickly and then returned to our breakfasts while the news came on at the top of the hour

The jury had been deliberating for several days, and that wasn't a good thing, according to Lara The longer they took, the less likely they were to convict because it would h for an easy verdict They had asked to see evidence again and read over testio back over the evidence and testiht be the sentence

Finally, e had been waiting for – the jury reached a verdict and was going to reconvene in the courtroom There were cameras on the street and a real buzz in the public What would the verdict be? We watched entranced while the news reporters outside the courtroom heard the verdict over their earphones and informed the viewers

The verdict was better than I could have hoped Lisa would be spending twenty-five years in prison for the murder of Derek Richardson Her trial for the death of Jones wasn’t for months but it could only add to her sentence – or I hoped at least she'd get another decade or two

I turned to Kate and sed and a moment of silence passed between us I think that, at that moment, the burden of the past was partially lifted

She was going away – for a long ti away for even longer

"I'lad," Kate said, tears in her eyes "That bitch can no longer hurt us"

"I hope not," I said but I felt uncertain even then I paid a heavy price for my relationship with Lisa What else could she do? She could continue to spread lies about ht

Kate and I sat listening to the commentary for another half an hour Then I heard a squeak from the back of the suite

"That's Sophie," I said "I'll go get her You stay"