I Am Watching You(82)

‘It would be my privilege. I would be more than happy to do this for you.’

Our eyes lock one final time.

‘I am quite happy to pay, of course, whatever . . .’

She leaves her email address, and I tell her I will send my design to make sure it is right. But already I have decided there will be no charge. Already my mind is racing ahead as we part. Already I am sketching it in my head. And planning. And thinking how I can weave all the greenery through some kind of mesh to make the folds for the base. Like a meadow – yes. And primroses? I know a supplier who has forced primroses. Greenhouse-grown. I will order scores. All he has.

I am making notes in my book, tears on my own cheeks now, knowing this must be truly special. Like nothing I have created before.

I can see it exactly. How it needs to cover the sadness that will be the oak and the brass handles – with the scent and the wonder of the meadows near their home.

Primroses and bluebells. Wild garlic and campion. Pink and lemon and soft white petals. For a beautiful girl. Gone too soon.

For a girl – yes.

Much too young for a wreath.





AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading I Am Watching You. It is very special for me to see this book published, as the original idea came to me quite a while back.

I was travelling to London one day, when two young men really did get on with black plastic bin bags. When I found out why, I was both slightly unsettled and deeply intrigued, and so of course my author brain kicked right in. Nothing special happened on that real journey but my imagination was soon working overtime. What if this happened; what if that happened . . .

I was snowed under with a range of writing projects at the time, so I originally wrote up the idea as a short story. But Anna came to me quite strongly and it was like being haunted by her. I knew I had more to say and that it needed to be a book.

I worked as a journalist for many years and was always deeply affected by the impact of crime on so many ordinary lives – not just innocent victims but also witnesses. So many ripples. I think that’s why this particular idea kept niggling at me. And when I finally came back to it and Ella also stepped forward as my character, I knew that I wanted to shine a light not just on Anna’s family but on Ella’s, too.

So you will understand now how special it is to see that germ of an idea all grown up. Thank you again for reading – and if you enjoyed the story, I would greatly appreciate a review on Amazon. They really do help other readers to discover my writing.

I also love to hear from readers, so feel free to get in touch. You can find my website at www.teresadriscoll.com and also say hello on Twitter @TeresaDriscoll or via my Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/TeresaDriscollAuthor.

Warm wishes to you all,

Teresa





ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


Writing can be a lonely business, and so I must thank my wonderful family and all my friends for their support, their belief and their tolerance when I have disappeared – holed up in the office, wondering if I would ever type THE END.

Special thanks, too, to my talented and patient editors Jane Snelgrove and Sophie Missing, who have nurtured this book with such care and insight– steadying my nerve with great sensitivity when I was flagging! Thank you both so much.

Three cheers for all the readers and bloggers who have so kindly supported my writing. Your feedback and support mean the world.

And finally – a loud herogram to my wonderful agent Madeleine Milburn, who championed this departure from the very beginning. I owe you so much.