Page 8 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

Sahir remained in his car, in no mood to make small talk with the bridesmaid, who was now peering through the glass door. Clearly the bride and groom weren’t in sight, for she fired off a message on her phone.

But then, as the taxi drove away, her demeanour rapidly changed.

When most women might be checking their appearance in a hand mirror, or perhaps pacing a little, instead those straight shoulders slumped and she leant against the wall and closed her eyes.

Formerly bright and breezy, she now cut a solitary figure in her gorgeous gown. A sad figure, even, because she’d placed a hand on her stomach, as if calming herself, and was muttering like an actress rehearsing her lines, getting ready to step into her role...

Sahir was suddenly on high alert. Possibly his staff were right...perhaps Violet Lewis was in fact a threat...

Though not the usual kind.

Sahir found that he wanted to go over to her and engage in some of that hated small talk.

For he sensed that he was glimpsing the true Violet Lewis.

CHAPTER TWO

VIOLETWASVERYgood at giving herself pep talks.

Oblivious of the luxurious silver car and its driver, she was focussed on psyching herself up for the happy event.

You’ve got this, she told herself.Just smile and get through today, for Grace’s sake...

It had been a very tricky week.

She should be used to them by now.

Once a social worker had described Violet’s life as a rollercoaster ride.

Violet had begged to differ.

Oh, it was more than a rollercoaster. There were waltzers and ghost trains, halls of mirrors... It felt as if she’d been handed life entry to a theme park the moment she’d arrived on planet earth. A social worker had been present in the delivery room, waiting to whisk her away. Then her childhood had been a mixture of chaotic parents interspersed with foster homes.

She’d ached for peace.

For a home...

For a normal family...

Her one glimpse of that had been Grace and her mother, whom Violet had grown up calling Mrs Andrews. Both had been so very kind. There had been cake or a biscuit after school, sometimes help with her homework. At times Mrs Andrews would be putting on some washing and had offered to add her uniform, giving Violet a dressing gown to put on. Sometimes she’d trim her hair. Mrs Andrews had been the one to help with her first period, and had always had plenty to spare when it came to products.

‘I bought far too many,’ she’d say. Or, ‘They were in the sale.’

Josephine Andrews had been more of a mother than her own.

At sixteen, Violet had torn up her theme park ticket.

With the help of a new and wonderful social worker, as well as encouragement from Grace and Mrs Andrews, she had been offered a full time job at the local library and had moved to semi-independent living. She’d had her own room, kitchen and bathroom, and had been responsible for all the bills. Without the chaos of her parents her little home had been tidy, and her bills, even if it had meant living on a lot of soup, had always been paid on time.

She’d soon become fully independent, moving into a flat of her own choice, and though her flatmates had changed over the years—Grace being the latest—she remained there to this day.

Her parents, though they had long since moved away, had left her quite a reputation to contend with.

Now, at twenty-five, Violet was pretty much unbreakable—or at least she appeared that way.

She was cheeky and fun...and everyone thought her a little ‘out there’. Thanks to her quick wit and voracious nature, some considered her bold, and even a bit of a flirt.

In truth, it was all a façade. Violet had learnt long ago never to show weakness, let alone fear. Her upbringing meant she was suspicious of men, and had barely been kissed, but lately she was doing her level best to get over all that, and had even joined a dating site.

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