Page 96 of Lipstick Kiss

“All right, let’s get you comfortable. I remember how painful this bit is,” Cynthia said.

She moved to where Imelda stood, seemingly holding her breath as she’d stopped puffing out her cheeks.

“What’s the matter?” Cynthia asked.

“You remember what this is like?”

Just then, before Cynthia could come up with a lie to cover what she’d just revealed, another contraction caused Imelda’s legs to buckle. From two different doors, people came through.

“What are you doing?” Freddie bellowed at her.

“I’m helping her,” Cynthia said, alarmed at the accusation. “I can’t be held responsible for the contractions crippling Imelda.”

Freddie gave her a stare that said he felt differently. She’d long since despised her brother for the freedom he had, but that didn’t mean she would hurt a pregnant woman.

Cynthia stood back while Freddie, the doctor, and several other staff helped Imelda into one of the morning rooms.

Jennifer came down the stairs at a swift pace and hurtled towards where Cynthia stood. She was too dazed to hear what her lifelong friend was saying. It wasn’t until she felt a pinch on the fleshy part of her elbow that she snapped out of the horror of what she’d said.

“What’s wrong?” Jennifer asked.

“I’ve made a grave error,” Cynthia said.

“Can we fix it?”

“I think the only way I’m going to fix this is if Imelda leaves Copper Island.”

“That’s what your father wants.”

“It’s now whatIwant too. Did you check the warehouse?”

“Yes. I can’t find the tin anywhere. Your father must have had the men discard anything they thought wasn’t worth boxing. He’s on a mission to pack away your mother’s and his father’s things, so they are out of sight.”

“Unless he went there himself and found it,” Cynthia said.

“But I have the key. He can’t get into it.”

“I’m sure a sledgehammer would do the job. He’ll bide his time if he has the tin. My father will wait for the best opportunity to humiliate me.”

“There is nothing to be ashamed about, Cyn,” Jennifer said, stroking her arm.

“Jonathan still won’t marry me without Father’s blessing. If he lives as long as his father, I’ll be doomed to love a man I can’t spend my life with and be separated from my only child.”

“We’ll find a way,” Jennifer assured her.

Cynthia resisted scoffing at her friend’s statement. Jennifer had been good to her, stuck by her through all the drama of working for the Turners. She wasn’t about to alienate her now.

Jennifer was the only person on her side.

Not even Jonathan wanted to be by her side.

Chapter Thirty

Six Months later

Freddie

Three long weeks on the rig, and the last thing he wanted to do was travel back to Copper Island. He wanted to meet his wife and four children on a different remote island and relax in the sun.

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