SHADOW OF A RECLUSE 

By Tessa Harvey


    Ed, the boxing club owner, did not like Tarrant. The feeling was mutual, but Tarrant was desperate to keep this job.  Anneke and Johan were not his own children, but he loved them as though they were. His own son, Robin, was dark-haired also with beautiful dark eyes like his dad.
    Sylvie was ashamed. Her father had been an overbearing bully. Outside the home, he was charming. Most people loved him, others saw his cold grey eyes and wondered. The older children's father had been a good time guy. He loved Sylvie and, at first, the children. So proud of them, he walked like a king. 
    But then he saw other women, single and lonely and he forgot his place in the book of life and drifted.
    She never saw him again. Aware that Tarrant was trying so hard to provide for them all, Sylvie decided to visit him at the Boxing Club - and caught Ed's eye. Tarrant was astounded to see Ed smiling and turned around from cleaning up sweaty gloves. Sylvie had bought him a surprise salad roll and was balancing Robin on her hip, but her whole attention was on Ed.

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