The Almost Wife_An absolutely gripping and emotional summer read by Jade Beer

Author:Jade Beer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786813916
Publisher: Bookouture

16

Emily

Eight weeks to go

‘I’ve decided they mustn’t know. You won’t change my mind.’

Emily is sitting opposite a stunned Sarah Blake, trying to make her understand that sharing this news with her family is the last thing that needs to happen.

‘They are your parents, Emily, they will want to know, they will want to help you through this. I’ve known your mum for more than twenty-seven years and please believe me when I say that it will hurt her more not to know.’ Dr Blake is visibly upset. She’s lost all of the cool, emotionless doctor façade, again. In an almost funny way, she’s handling this whole thing worse than Emily is. She’s going to blub again, Emily can see it coming. Should she just tell her to pull herself together?

‘What do you think that sort of news will do to them, Sarah? It will destroy them. I’m their only child! I can’t do it to them. I won’t do it to them.’

‘Well, then at least tell Mark.’

‘I can’t! There is every chance he will tell them. There’s nothing anyone can do about this. And it could all be OK, you know. Have you forgotten that? I’m not dead yet!’

‘Don’t you think this is going to be a huge burden for you to carry, with no one else knowing what you’re dealing with?’ Sarah’s eyes have completely glassed over. She is leaning on her elbows across her desk, pleading with Emily but the battle is already lost.

‘Yes, it is and don’t think I haven’t spent hours silently screaming at my bedroom ceiling, I have. All of this is so bloody unfair. It shouldn’t be happening to me, not now, not when I’m about to marry the man I love more than anything in the world…’ She has to stop herself now, change tack before the walls come down, releasing every bit of emotion that she’s caged up inside herself.

‘But I’m not keeping it to myself, am I? You know. You’re the one person who can actually help me. You can give me medical advice, make appointments, help me decide what to do when the Americans come back with their verdict. That’s all helpful.’ Emily’s voice cracks. ‘I don’t want to see their sad faces. They are having the time of their lives planning this wedding and I’m not going to take that away from them. In fact, I’ve decided to bring the wedding date forward. You know, just in case.’

Emily stands to leave and watches Sarah crumple over her desk, shoulders sinking, head dipping, knowing she is defeated. She feels like giving her a hug but doesn’t want to prolong this conversation for a moment longer, inviting more appeals to come clean.

‘I will be all right. I’m strong. I feel OK, for now at least. Please Sarah, respect my wishes on this. I am right, it’s for the best.’

As she pulls the door closed behind her, Emily hears Sarah let out a long, breathy sigh, and feels almost convinced that as her long-standing doctor and close family friend, Sarah will do as she has been asked.

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