RELUCTANT WIFE 36

Alexis sat her down on the striped chaise longue and took hold of both her shaking hands. He shrugged his broad, strong shoulders. And she noticed now just how tired and drained he did look, and her heart went unselfishly out to him.

‘Where do I start?’ he asked, his hands tightly clinging to hers. He was shaking too, as nervous as she was.

Swallowing convulsively, Carrie suggested quietly, ‘From the clinic, with Helena.’

Alexis smiled. ‘Helena has been very, very naughty. I’m afraid she felt the lash of my temper the other morning. You only heard half the conversation, before you ran out.’

Half the conversation, she thought tiredly. She looked into his eyes; as in most of their exchanges there was nothing to read in them. He was well and truly locked in his shell. Confirming what she’d heard Helena say was easy. ‘I know she manipulated us. She bought me for you.’

‘You could say that, yes. But she had her reasons.

My mother has lied about it all these years.’ Alexis halted her outburs