A Country Life by Veronica Henry

Author:Veronica Henry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Ltd

14

Suzanna waited until the time was right before confessing the truth to Patrick. She’d given what Caroline had said to her a lot of thought and decided she had a point. She and Patrick had put so much trust in each other over the last couple of weeks, it wasn’t fair to pull the wool over his eyes any longer.

They’d gone to an auction just outside Birmingham, which was selling off kitchen equipment from several bankrupt restaurants and pubs. Patrick tried to ignore the hidden warning implicit in this. They bid successfully for several essential items: a heavy-duty gas burner, a coldroom, a glasswasher and a dishwasher. It was barely used, all in gleaming condition, and they paid well under half what they would have paid normally. They arranged to have the items delivered, then went into the rather grotty bar adjoining the auction rooms for a celebratory drink They sat down at a round-topped table with an egg sandwich and a gin and tonic each. Suzanna took a deep breath.

‘I’ve got something to tell you.’

Patrick looked alarmed. It was obviously something big.

‘You’re not pregnant?’

‘No.’ She gave a little ironic laugh. ‘Far from it. We . . . had a baby. Oliver. He died. It was a cot death; about two years ago. That’s why we came here. To start again.’

Patrick looked away, shaken, totally at a loss for words. After all he’d confided in her. He’d trusted Suzanna; told her things he’d never told anyone else. And she’d kept a bigger secret than any of that from him.

He was abrupt at first, hurt that she obviously hadn’t trusted him.

‘Why didn’t you tell us? Right from the beginning?’

Suzanna managed to hold his accusing glare.

‘There wasn’t any space on the application form,’ she said lightly.

‘Don’t be flippant. And there was.’ He quoted directly. ‘Are there any personal circumstances we should know about?’

‘I thought that meant like bankruptcy or contagious diseases.’

‘No! It meant is there anything that we should take into consideration.’

She tipped her chin up defiantly.

‘If you think we’ve come here under false pretences, we can fuck off.’

‘Don’t be so defensive. All I mean is we’re a small family business, who would like to think we cared about our employees. You should have told us.’

‘I don’t think it’s any of your business. Or relevant to how well we do our job.’

Patrick sighed.

‘Suzanna — I don’t want a fight. I’m only asking about it because I care. About you. Fuck the pub . . .’

She pulled one of his cigarettes roughly out of the packet and put it to her mouth with shaking hands. He flicked his Zippo and she held his wrist to steady the flame; the smell of paraffin made her stomach flip. She inhaled deeply, praying the cigarette would calm her, that her voice wouldn’t shake.

‘The whole point of coming here was to forget. I don’t want to be reminded. I don’t want sympathy and understanding. It’s history. Over. Finished. So forget I told you. I just thought you should know.

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