I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist PATRICIA MACDONALD (read 50 shades of grey txt) 📖

‘The minute they call,’ he said. ‘Get me on speed dial. I’m there.’

‘Marjorie might call you first,’ said Hannah.

‘Either way,’ he said.

Hannah sighed.

‘If you want me to stay here with you . . .’ he said quickly.

‘No,’ said Hannah. ‘We’ll be fine.’ She leaned toward Sydney and shook her head, smiling. ‘We’ll be fine, won’t we?’

Sydney began to giggle and tried to feed cereal to her grandmother. Hannah gently declined.

‘We’ll have a walk in the park,’ she said to Sydney.

‘Hopefully,’ said Adam, ‘we won’t have long to wait.’

Hannah looked up at him and their worried eyes met. ‘I don’t know what to hope for.’

‘Marjorie said that they won’t take long if they’re going to acquit,’ Adam said.

‘Then I’ll hope for quick,’ Hannah said.

‘Me too,’ he said, gathering up his laptop case and kissing Sydney on the top of her head. ‘Love you.’ He smiled warily at Hannah.

She smiled back. ‘Love you too.’

She was almost afraid to leave the house but Sydney was eager to go out into the sunny day, and Hannah knew it was the best thing. A picnic, she thought. A day of grace. She made them sandwiches and drinks, and packed the thermal lunch bag in the back of Sydney’s stroller. She checked twice to make sure her cellphone was charged before she slipped it into her pocket and followed Sydney out into the driveway. Sydney was big enough to walk, and once they got to the park Hannah planned to get her out of the stroller, but right now she felt the need to hurry, so as to avoid having to answer a million questions from people on their street. She settled the toddler comfortably in the stroller and began to push her down the driveway and along the neat sidewalks to the park at the end of the block. In the park there were wide, winding pathways, which flanked a meandering stream. The clear stream burbled over rocks under a leafy canopy of low-hanging branches. Once they reached the pathways, Hannah lifted Sydney out of her stroller, and let her explore the periphery of the paths, collecting little stones to toss into the water.

So intent were they on their mission that they didn’t notice the rolling wheelchair until it had almost reached them. Hannah glanced up and then her face broke into a smile. ‘Chet! Rayanne!’ She straightened up and hugged both her neighbors, leaning down to embrace Chet in the wheelchair. Chet’s skin was still a pale, grayish color, and there were deep circles under his eyes, but he smiled broadly and his eyes lit up. ‘You are a sight for sore eyes,’ Hannah said sincerely to Chet.

‘I’m a mess,’ he said. ‘But I’m getting there. Good to see you two.’

In truth, Rayanne didn’t look much healthier than her husband, but she, too, seemed delighted to see Hannah and Sydney.

They both admired Sydney’s collection of pebbles, and Chet expressed encouragement at Sydney’s pitching arm as the toddler tossed them into the stream.

‘It’s so good to see you out and about,’ said Hannah sincerely. ‘I wish I could have been a better friend to you through all this.’

Rayanne squeezed Hannah’s hand. ‘Don’t be silly. You’ve had your own problems. Where do things stand? I admit I haven’t been paying attention to the news.’

‘The case has gone to the jury,’ said Hannah. ‘This morning.’

Rayanne looked sympathetically at Hannah. ‘I’ll pray for you.’

‘You better,’ said Hannah.

‘Did Jamie go back?’ Hannah asked.

‘Not yet. It’s been great having him here. He’s been such a help to me.’

‘I’ll bet.’

‘His girlfriend has to go back tomorrow. Jamie’s here for a few more days.’

‘I’m sure you’re glad of that. Keep him here as long as you can,’ said Hannah.

Rayanne nodded. ‘Listen, if you get the call from the courthouse, you just drop that little one off with us.’

‘Oh, Ray, I couldn’t,’ said Hannah. ‘You’ve got enough to worry about.’

‘I insist,’ said Rayanne. ‘She feels at home at our house. I don’t want that child suffering any more upheaval than she’s already had. I mean it, Hannah. You just leave her with me.’

Hannah sighed. ‘I am so grateful to you. That would really be a load off my mind. Of course, this jury could take a week to decide.’

‘Whenever it comes,’ said Rayanne. ‘Day or night. You hear me?’

‘Thank you,’ said Hannah.

Chet looked up from the game he was playing with Sydney. ‘That’s what friends are for,’ he said.

Chet and Rayanne continued on their perambulation through the park while Hannah and Sydney loitered by the stream. Sydney wanted to take her flip-flops off and step into the water, so Hannah took off her own sandals and joined her at the edge of the shallow, rocky brook. The water which ran over her feet was icy cold, and felt wonderful. The autumn leaves were golden and they fell in spirals from the rustling branches and landed on the surface of the sun-dappled water. The shining gray stones formed a timeless pattern in the bed of the stream as the water tumbled over and past them. Hannah felt somehow relieved of her constant burdens, just standing there, letting Sydney splash around as they enjoyed the early autumn day. She remembered bringing Lisa here when she was a toddler. Nothing had ever been peaceful with her. Still, Hannah was grateful then for this oasis from the heat and the noise of life, and she was grateful now.

Finally, Sydney tired of her explorations and said she was hungry. They sat at a little picnic table under a tree, and had their lunch. Then Sydney chased a few birds, trying unsuccessfully to wrap them in her pudgy arms. Finally weary, she raised her arms to Hannah, indicating that she wanted to be picked up. Hannah