Free Yesterday's Sins by Shirley Wine Page B

scarlet at his astringent rebuke.
"As I said, Korda did you no favours pandering to your every whim."
For once she had no ready answer.
Did she have more responsibility for that accident than Alex?
"Kate, Alex wronged you, there's no argument about that. But you have to be fair. He's done everything possible to redress his actions."
"He told me that when I met him in New Zealand." She brushed away the weak tears brimming over onto her cheeks.
"No one's blaming you for being confused and upset and at times far too temperamental." Jeff picked up one of her hands holding it. "The man deserved horsewhipping, at the very least. You were, and still are, quite within your rights to lay criminal charges against him. And believe me Alex knows this. But if you do so, the press will crucify you and Sarah."
The very thought was enough to make Kate shudder.
For years she'd lived with the fear of exposure.
Whatever Alexandros Korda did made news.
Her involvement with him was just the sort of juicy scandal the gutter press thrived on.
"Your father had a heart attack at the wheel. He was dead before he crashed."
"Oh my God." Kate buried her face in her hands, her whole body shaking with distress.
Every savage word she'd flung at Alex returned to haunt her. And never once, had he attempted to tell her the truth.
Then he had to tell you they were dead. Have you any idea what that did to him?
Alex should have told her. But would I have listened or believed him?
"Alex wasn't at fault, my dear. The cardiologist and I both told Fraser not drive. Had he obeyed that directive, Chris would still be alive today." Jeff paused, giving her time to absorb this further blow. "Fraser made a new will after he'd had his first heart attack."
Kate glanced at the doctor, full of questions. "He did?"
"You father knew Korda would always have an impact in your life, whatever the outcome after Sarah's birth. Fraser trusted him to look after not only your affairs, but Chris's as well. No one could have foreseen that tragic accident, or your grief stricken reaction."
Kate leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes as she grappled with this version of the hideous events.
Alex had shielded her from the brutal truth.
Would she have run away, had she known all this? It was too late, eight years too late to answer that question.
"Kate," Jeff said very softly, and again she sensed he was measuring each word carefully. "No court would entertain an application for either custody or access to Sarah after this length of time. It would do her irreparable harm to have a public wrangle. And with Korda as her father, rest assured it would be very public. You don't want her hurt, do you?"
She shook her head, eyes closed. She had never wanted Sarah to get hurt. She was an innocent in a messy situation.
"The only way you could gain access would be by private arrangement."
His words closely echoed her own wretched thoughts and she nodded, sniffing inelegantly. He reached for a wad of tissues and handed them to her. When she had mopped up he recaptured her hand.
"You need time to rest and recuperate." He patted her hand and stood up preparing to take his leave. "Emily Harder is here to keep you company. Take all the time you need. When you're up to it, go and see Doug Carmichael and your cousin."
Kate watched him walk to the door.
He paused a moment, looking back at her. "You know where I am if you ever need to talk."
 
*****
 
Kate stood at the cemetery gates, breathing deeply in a futile effort to remain calm.
It was time she visited her father's and her twin's grave.
If she was ever to move forward with her life, she had to lay the ghosts of the past to rest, a realization that had slowly crystallized over the past weeks. Paula had known this when she suggested Kate return home, and Emily had reinforced it.
And to do this, she needed to come here to say a final goodbye.
Hours after their deaths, she'd gone into premature labour and gave birth to Sarah. Afterwards, she'd been