If a marriage is based on secrets and lies - can love survive?

Doctor Tristan Ainsworth has returned to his beloved Cornwall with his family. The past has taught him some hard lessons, some of which he's keeping to himself, but he's hoping to put it all behind him and make a fresh start with his wife Karen. He longs to see her happy, as she's been struggling with her mental health.

However, Karen Ainsworth isn't telling Tristan the whole story, because she has a past that she'd rather leave behind her too. Apart from her family, Karen's big passion is singing and a chance to use her extraordinary voice would mean the world to her, so why shouldn't she take it? Surely her past can't hurt her now?

As a tide of blackmail and betrayal threatens the foundations of their marriage, Karen and Tristan face a hard question. Is their love strong enough to face the truth when the truth might cost them everything.

               Tristan picked up his son and pulled his tongue out at him. Sebastian’s solemn little face lit up and he returned the gesture, pointing a finger at his father’s mouth as if to say ‘do it again, Daddy’.

‘I do understand, Karen, it’s just that you seemed a lot better a few weeks ago. You even came off the medication … but now you’ve gone back to where you were a few months ago. And I don’t really understand why. I mean, what’s happened to set you back?’    

               Karen pushed her honey-blonde hair out of her eyes and lifted their daughter Bella from her highchair. ‘There doesn’t have to be anything in particular, it just happens,’ she snapped, balancing Bella on her hip and busying herself collecting the breakfast dishes.

Tristan noticed that she avoided looking at him. She always did this when she felt unsure. Perhaps she wasn’t telling him what was really on her mind. He knew better than to push it though and he was late for surgery. He walked over to her and Sebastian, put his tongue out at Bella and then the children started to pull at each other’s curly chestnut hair. ‘There normally is a trigger, sweetheart,’ Tristan said softly and stroked her cheek. ‘But if you don’t want to say, then let’s just leave it.’

Karen moved her head away impatiently and set Bella down. ‘Yes, let’s just leave it. You go to work and leave me to get on. The only thing that would help is for us to go back to Swindon, but that won’t be happening will it? No, as long as Doctor Ainsworth is happy, that’s all that matters.’

               That last comment had really hurt. Everything he ever did, he did for her and the children. And it wasn’t like Karen to be quite so nasty. Yes, she was always on edge lately, and often snapping at him, but that comment had been the worst yet. If being in St Kevel was damaging her that much, perhaps it was time to throw in the towel and go back to the city.

Tristan turned into a narrow street and the welcome shade. The surgery was only a few yards away so he needed to get his orderly head on, as he called his professional persona. Then a picture of Karen’s anguished eyes surfaced in his mind. Perhaps he was as selfish as she’d indicated, ploughing ahead regardless, imagining he knew what was best for all of them. His past had taught him some hard lessons – never give up and never rely on others. But was this both a strength and a weakness?

Author Bio

Amanda James has written since she was a child, and as an eight-year-old, she asked her parents for a typewriter for Christmas. She never imagined her words would ever be published however. Then in 2010, after many twists and turns, the dream of becoming a writer came true when she had her first short story published for a Born Free anthology. She left teaching in 2013 to pursue her dream full-time.

 Originally from Sheffield, Amanda now lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the wild and beautiful coastline near her home. Amanda writes more suspenseful novels also set in Cornwall, under the name A.K. James, but her last few books have been uplifting in nature with a twist of magic. She loves writing feel-good reads, as she thinks the world needs more joy in it right now. Amanda can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.

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