The Family Diamond. Moyra Tarling

tried to imagine what it had been like for Lucy growing up with their father. From the little she’d gleaned from the conversation at dinner, Lucy’s parents had spoiled her.

      Maura felt tears slowly trickle into her hair. It seemed so unfair. Being part of a family was all she’d ever wanted. Growing up without a father, she’d often been made to feel like an outsider.

      And even now that she’d located him, there was no guarantee he’d welcome her with open arms or want to have anything to do with her. He’d had a daughter, a daughter he’d loved and lost.

      Michael Carson had turned his back on Maura and her mother twenty-seven years ago. He could easily do it again.

      It was with these thoughts swirling in her head that Maura finally drifted off to sleep. When she awoke, the room was in darkness and for a moment she couldn’t remember where she was.

      Rolling onto her back, she stretched. A glance at the digital clock on the bedside table told her it was 4:55. She lay for several minutes enjoying the warmth and comfort of the queen-size bed.

      Pushing the covers aside, she rose and went to the sliding doors. Outside on the balcony she inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar and much-loved scent of horses and hay and the outdoors.

      The air was fresh and invigorating and not as chilly as it would have been had she been standing on her small front porch back in Bridlewood.

      The sun was still abed but the faint glow to the east told her it would soon be making an appearance. Restless and suddenly eager to begin work with the horse she’d come to help, she decided to take a walk outside and locate the stables.

      Slipping back into her room she indulged in a quick shower before dressing in her jeans and pale-blue cotton shirt. She braided her still-wet hair into one long ponytail. Out of habit Maura made up her bed and, with her riding boots in her hand, headed downstairs.

      When she reached the kitchen, she came to an abrupt halt at the sight of Spencer scooping ground coffee into the automatic coffeemaker.

      For a moment she was tempted to sneak away, but she wasn’t quick enough.

      “Good morning. Coffee will be ready in a few minutes. Would you care to join me?”

      “That would be lovely, thank you,” Maura replied politely, noting, as she came farther into the kitchen, the weary slant of his shoulders and the lines around his eyes.

      “I hope you slept well,” said Spencer.

      “Like a baby,” Maura replied as she crossed to the table, annoyed at the nervous flutter of her stomach. “What about you?”

      “I didn’t sleep at all,” he replied, tiredness seeping into his voice. He glanced up and met her gaze head-on. “I had a few things on my mind.”

      Maura felt her heart kick against her rib cage in alarm.

      “Really,” she said cautiously, unsure just how she should respond. “I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do, is there?” she asked out of politeness.

      Spencer switched on the coffeemaker and turned to give her his full attention.

      “Actually, there is,” he said, his gaze hard and unyielding, sending a quiver of alarm racing through her. “Perhaps you can explain to me why, after turning down my invitation two months ago to come to California, you suddenly called to say you’d changed your mind?”