The Hidden Women: An inspirational novel of sisterhood and strength

For Petrova Fossil, the original Attagirl

Prologue (#ulink_5a78cbef-95f1-5893-b6f6-6ecd252eaa85)

Helena

April 2015

‘I thought you’d be pleased,’ I said, watching Greg’s stony face for any sign of happiness.

‘Well I’m not.’ His expression softened, just a bit, and he sat down next to me on the sofa and took my hand.

‘It’s just too soon,’ he said.

‘We’ve been together for five years, Greg,’ I snapped. ‘It’s not like we just met.’

He had the grace to look at least slightly ashamed.

‘I meant for me, not us,’ he said. ‘It’s too soon for me. And you. We’re still young. We should be out having fun, not at home with a squawking baby.’

‘We’re in our thirties; we’re not kids,’ I said, resting my head against the sofa cushions. I felt sick and I didn’t think it was just because of my unexpected pregnancy.

I’d done the test that morning, and showed Greg the unmistakeable dark line as he brushed his teeth.

‘It’s positive,’ I’d said, feeling a tiny shiver of excitement mixed with fear. ‘I’m pregnant.’

Greg had glanced at the plastic stick and then kissed me, his breath minty fresh.

‘I need to run,’ he’d simply said. ‘We’ll chat tonight.’

And now we were chatting and it wasn’t going the way I’d thought it would.

‘I thought we were set,’ I said. ‘I thought we were a team.’

‘We are a team,’ Greg said. ‘You and me.’

‘You and me and our baby,’ I said.

Greg winced. He tried to cover it up by pretending to cough, but I’d seen it.

‘I don’t want to have a baby, Helena,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, but that’s just how I feel.’

I couldn’t speak.

‘There’s a clinic,’ Greg said. ‘Max at work told me about it. His girlfriend went there a while back. He gave me the card, hang on …’

He dug about in his pocket while I let my fingers drift down to rest on my stomach.

‘I need some air,’ I said, ignoring his outstretched hand clutching a business card. ‘I’m going for a walk.’

I grabbed my jacket from the arm of the sofa, and stumbled my way out of the front door.

‘H,’ Greg said. ‘Don’t be like this. It’s hormones; you’re not thinking straight.’

I didn’t answer. I walked a little way down the road and then I sat at a bus stop and took my phone out.

‘Miranda?’ I said, when my sister answered. ‘I need your help. I’m having a baby and I think I’ve just left Greg.’

Chapter 1 (#ulink_4205170b-0fbf-575e-a627-4211b00fe6b5)

Helena

May 2018

‘Here?’ I said, staring at my boss Fliss in astonishment. ‘Jack Jones is coming here?’

‘Yes, here,’ she said, resting her hand on her computer keyboard as though to warn me I was about to lose her attention. ‘Apparently he’s very interested in social history and he wants to know how you work. It’s no biggie.’

‘But I’ve got a system,’ I said, knowing it was no good protesting when Fliss had decided something. ‘I don’t want him to mess it up.’

‘He’s not taking over, Helena, he just wants to know how you’re getting on.’ Fliss sounded impatient. ‘He’ll be here after lunch.’

I forced a smile. ‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I’ll get some stuff together.’

I wandered back to my desk feeling wrong-footed.

‘What’s with the face?’ asked my colleague Elly as I sat down. ‘Did Fliss tell you off?’

I wiggled my mouse to wake up my screen. ‘No,’ I said gloomily. ‘She told me Jack bloody Jones is coming in this afternoon to see how I’m getting on with my research.’

‘Shut. Up,’ said Elly, spinning round in her chair to face me. ‘Shut. Up.’

I blinked at her. Did she really mean me to be quiet?

‘Jack Jones is coming here? THE Jack Jones? We never get to meet the celebs,’ Elly was beginning to babble. ‘I’ve worked on this show for five years and I’ve never met one single person whose family history I’ve researched. Have you met anyone?’

‘No,’ I said. She was right. I’d not worked on Where Did You Come From? as long as Elly had, but I’d researched the family trees of lots of celebrities and not been so much as introduced to anyone.

‘And it’s Jack Jones?’ Elly went on. ‘Jack. Jones.’

I nodded. ‘It’s an interesting one, actually. His great-grandfather was at the Somme …’

I trailed off as Elly waved her hand to shush me.

‘He’s gorgeous,’ she said. ‘Properly handsome. And I’ve heard he’s going to be in that new superhero film soon so he’ll be a massive Hollywood star.’

I nodded again. I knew who Jack Jones was of course – star of the latest Sunday night detective drama that was wowing audiences, and tipped for superstardom – and Elly was right, he was gorgeous. In any other circumstances I’d love to meet him. But I had a certain way of working, and a system, and a process, and I didn’t appreciate interference or anyone checking up on me, however handsome they were.

‘Will you come with me?’ I asked Elly. ‘To the meeting?’