Her Previous Self by Anne Allen

Author:Anne Allen [Allen, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Sarnia Press via Indie Author Project
Published: 2021-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

When Lucy woke the next morning she struggled to push down unwelcome feelings of grief. Amber. Hamish. Mary’s pregnancy. Too many buttons had been pressed in only a few hours and, admitting defeat, she phoned Molly to make an appointment. Molly wasn’t free until the following afternoon, but hearing her calming voice helped Lucy feel more composed. Molly reminded her to try some self-hypnosis and after her shower she had a go and it worked well. She imagined herself lying on a warm, sandy beach listening to the gentle lapping of the surf as her toes curled into the soft sand. If it had been later in the year, Lucy would have gone to one of the west coast bays for the true ambience, but had to settle with lying on the bed and picturing herself on the sand at Le Grand Havre.

If Meg noticed she was subdued, she made no comment, simply serving up her breakfast with a cheery, ‘Good morning.’

Lucy returned the greeting and made an attempt to eat but only picked at it. Being calmer didn’t remove all the painful memories. When she went upstairs to see Gregory she made an effort to appear more cheerful than she felt but he seemed to see through it.

‘What’s wrong? Still upset about Hamish?’

She spread her hands.

‘It’s a lot of things, Grandpa, but I’ll be okay. What’s more important is how you’re feeling. You’re the patient, not me.’ She managed a grin.

‘The usual aches and pains, but nothing to complain about. At my age I know nothing’s going to improve so every day I wake up is a bonus, my dear. And I want to keep waking up until I see you happily settled with the right man.’ He gripped her hand, adding, ‘But try not to take too long as I might end up pushing my luck.’

Lucy, overcome, threw her arms around his neck.

‘Oh, Grandpa, please don’t think like that! I know you’re no spring chicken,’ she smiled as Gregory’s eyebrows rose, ‘but, being selfish, I want you around for a few years yet, even if it’s just to spite my parents.’

He laughed.

‘Now that’s an incentive! They might even give up and return to their own home. I’d be happy as long as you were around to talk to.’ He paused. ‘Do you think you’ll stay in Guernsey now? Or are you hankering to go back to England?’

‘I’m warming to the idea of staying, as long as I can get a job and my own place, no disrespect to you, Grandpa. But I’d still visit you, no worries.’ She smiled at the old man who had become so important to her and hoped she could fulfil his wish of seeing her with a new man. And she already had someone in mind…

‘Hi, is Sam in today, please?’ Lucy crossed her fingers as she waited for the receptionist’s reply.

‘Sorry, he’s not back yet. Can anyone else help?’

‘No, it’s okay, thanks.’

Disappointed and now concerned for Sam and the family emergency, she went through the motions of her work-out on autopilot.

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