Free Christmas at Candlebark Farm by Michelle Douglas

studied casualness. ‘We’re here now. I’m figuring it won’t take long?’
    â€˜No time at all. I just want to grab some things for dinner.’
    Â 
    When they entered the supermarket, Luke scanned the crowd. Keira watched and waited. After a moment his shoulders unhitched a notch, and he insisted on pushing the shopping trolley for her. She let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d held, and handed the trolley over wordlessly.
    She sped through the shop as quickly as she could, aware that Luke probably had a million things to do and not wanting to hold him up longer than she had to.
    She dropped the last thing in the trolley. ‘There—that’s it. Now we can make for the checkouts.’ And home.
    But when she turned she found her path blocked. ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
    She moved to one side, to let the woman pass, but the woman followed her. And then she pushed her face in closeto Keira’s. ‘I hope you know what it is you’re doing!’ she hissed.
    Keira backed up, but the trolley behind brought her up short. The woman was probably in her mid-sixties, and she was grey, drawn, thin. Everything about her was faded except her eyes, which flashed with sparks of bitter green fury.
    â€˜That man you’re with—you know he’s a monster? That he’s a heartless murderer!’

CHAPTER FOUR
    â€˜G RAN, don’t.’
    Keira blinked. ‘Jason!’
    Jason stood beside the woman, his eyes downcast. Keira tried to pick her jaw up. This was…Tammy’s mother? And she blamed Luke for Tammy’s death? Bile rose in her throat. Luke was no murderer. She knew that as surely as she knew her own name.
    â€˜Gran, this is Keira. She’s renting our room.’
    The pleading in Jason’s voice caught at Keira’s heart. He might as well have saved himself the bother, though. His grandmother’s venom had already moved from Keira to the man standing behind her.
    â€˜Hello, Brenda,’ Luke said quietly. Those grooves either side of his mouth deepened. His skin had turned grey.
    â€˜How on earth can you bear to show your face in this town? I spit on you, Luke Hillier!’
    Thankfully she didn’t literally put the threat into action, but her words made Luke pale even further. His jaw had set so hard Keira feared for it. She remembered what John had told her about the viciousness of small-town gossip and acid burned her stomach.
    â€˜C’mon, love…’
    A man—Jason’s grandfather, Keira guessed—sent Luke a glare of loathing before leading his wife away. Jason stared from them to his father in anguish. Keira’s heart broke forhim. She touched his arm and tried to smile. ‘Would you like a ride home?’
    He glanced up at his father. ‘Uh…yeah.’
    â€˜I’ll wait for you both in the car. You’ll carry the groceries for Keira?’ Luke said. ‘Yeah, sure.’
    Keira’s heart broke for Luke as he strode away too.
    She turned back to Jason, took in his school uniform. ‘It’s a bit early for school to be out, isn’t it?’
    â€˜Last day of term,’ he mumbled. ‘There was an assembly.’
    â€˜Right.’ She didn’t need to ask why Luke hadn’t attended. That reason had become startlingly and horrifyingly clear.
    â€˜I’m sorry…’ he shuffled his feet ‘…’bout all that.’
    â€˜Oh, Jason, it’s not your fault.’
    His face twisted. ‘Then whose fault is it? Dad’s? Gran’s and Grandad’s?’
    â€˜I’m not sure it’s anyone’s fault.’
    She manoeuvred the trolley to a nearby checkout. Jason started unloading the groceries. Keira didn’t try to help. She didn’t remonstrate at his rough handling of the vegetables or eggs. She sensed he needed something to do with his hands. Though he did his best to hide it his agitation was evident,