Stolen Kisses Read Free

Daddy?”
     
                 
He thought for a while. “Actually, there was,” he said. “Another young hoodlum
from the housing estate nearly killed a child last night. Some fool redneck, by
the name of Geoff something or other.”
     
                 
Jenny felt the blood drain from her face. “Oh, what happened?” she asked. But
she knew. Her worst fears were being realized.
     
                 
“I have yet to see the full police report, but I am going to throw the book at
this one if he is proven guilty. Geoff Hamlin that was his name. I’ll make him
an example to all the others who think they can flout the law.”
     
                 
“But it could have just been an accident,” Jenny said.
     
                 
He could see that Jenny was upset. She always saw the good in people and
couldn’t understand that some people were a menace to society. He came round
the table and put his arms round her. “Jenny, don’t waste sympathy on him, or
on others like him. Decent people like you don’t understand such idiots in the
first place.”
     
                 
Jenny shuddered at her own guilt. ‘Decent youngsters,’ she thought. What would
her father say and do to her if he knew the truth, and what would his blind
prejudice do to Geoff?
     
                 
     
     
                  
“Now let’s hear no more about it. Finish your dinner, Jenny, you’ve hardly
touched it.”
     
                 
“I’m not hungry. If you’ll excuse me I’ll go to my room. I have some studying
to do.”
     
                 
He looked at her and her plate. “Is there anything wrong? It’s not like you to
leave your food. Are you worried about something?”
     
              
   “No, I had a big lunch and I’ve got an important exam in a few days and I
want to study for it”
     
                 
She was not hungry, not happy - just numb. The feeling of desperation and
desolation gripped at her heart and paralyzed her soul. She couldn’t even ask
her father for help. All she could do was wait – wait until Geoff hated her forever.
Now she felt even more alone than before.

Chapter 5
     
     
     
                  THE NEXT TWO WEEKS were a living hell. Jenny had no contact from Geoff
and the only news she heard about him was from her father and what was written
in the local papers. Her father was obviously biased and the reporters that
were covering the case seemed to have decided that Geoff was a guilty and
reckless delinquent. The only sign she received was a single red rose that had
been delivered two days previously accompanied with a card that just bore a
heart and the initial G. She hoped it was a message from Geoff confirming his
love for her, but it could have been a final goodbye note.
     
                 
It was the day of his trial and she had made her mind up that she would go and
support Geoff in spite of the fact that he wouldn’t know she was there. More
than anything she had to see him even if it was from a distance. She had
initially decided not to attend court, but the desperation had gotten too much
for her and she had weakened now that the time had arrived.
     
                 
The day was supposed to be a formality. Geoff had pleaded guilty, still
protecting her. Jenny had taken some solace from that, feeling that he was
still thinking about her. Perhaps he did still love her. He would be sentenced
today and the mood her father was in it would be the maximum sentence that he
could hand out – maybe even a prison term. He was determined to make an example
of him, even though the character witnesses had spoken of his exemplary
behavior in all things that he did.
     
                 
There was throng outside the courthouse when Jenny arrived and she found it
difficult to struggle her way in. The case had captured the imagination