If I Should Go (Novella) by Amanda Brooke

Author:Amanda Brooke [Amanda Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

5

Rachel was on the sofa with Hope on her knee while Martin and her mum sat on opposing armchairs. As she listened to Martin telling Karen all about his new business venture, Rachel rested her chin on Hope’s head which had begun to feel heavy against her chest, a sure sign she was drifting off to sleep. The little girl still had her new iPad clutched in her hand even though Rachel had told her to switch it off half an hour ago. If the gift from Martin was intended as a bribe to win her over then it seemed to have worked. Hope hadn’t exactly showered Martin with new-found affection but with her eyes glued to the LCD screen, she had at least stopped glaring at him with suspicion.

‘I think it’s time for bed,’ Rachel whispered in her daughter’s ear.

‘Would you like me to take her?’ Karen asked. Her eyes had been glazing over as she listened to Martin and she looked eager for escape.

‘It’s OK, you stay there,’ Rachel insisted as she heaved herself off the sofa with Hope.

‘Would you like me to help? I could read you a story, Hope.’

Balanced on Rachel’s hip, Hope was facing away from Martin so he didn’t see the contortions on her face which had miraculously settled into a sweet smile when she turned around to say, ‘No, thank you. I’m too sleepy.’

The glass of wine at dinner had settled Rachel’s nerves and the efforts Hope was putting in to at least appear polite gave her some much needed reassurance. As she left the room, the conversation resumed and Rachel smiled to herself. This really could work.

‘This must be such an exciting time for you,’ Karen said, determined to find out more about the man who had stolen her daughter’s heart.

‘Yes, it’s hard to believe how much things are changing. This time last year I was juggling my time between my job and visiting mum. I can honestly say I didn’t have a life beyond that.’

‘Did you look after your mum for very long?’

Martin’s laugh was tinged with sadness. ‘Most of my life,’ he said. ‘I was in my teens when my dad died so I became the man of the house. Mum started acting a bit odd shortly afterwards, so she frightened away a few girlfriends, that’s for sure, but we both put it down to her grief. It was only when I came home from university that she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and caring for her took over more and more of my life.’

‘It must have been a difficult time for you.’

‘Which is why I’m making up for it now and doing my best not to feel guilty. My mum kept a tight hold of the purse strings, saving and investing for the future but look what happened to her. OK, her wealth funded her care in the last year of her life, but she never used her money to enjoy her life while she could. I won’t make the same mistake and I want Rachel to enjoy that same kind of freedom.

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