The Day My Husband Left: An absolutely gripping and emotional page-turner by Amy Miller

Author:Amy Miller [Miller, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781800190726
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2021-01-20T18:30:00+00:00

Twenty

Sleep didn’t come, not really. At 4 a.m., Heidi decided to get up, because there was no point tossing and turning for another two hours.

Creeping downstairs, she retrieved the camera from her bag and went outside to charge the battery. This would give her the perfect excuse to visit William again – and to give him the bag of food shopping. Remembering the cornflakes and milk in the bag, she felt a new sense of urgency. That was his breakfast. If she didn’t get there quickly, he wouldn’t have anything for breakfast!

Buoyed by her decision to go straight away, she waited a few minutes until there was enough power in the battery for her to view the photos on the camera. Then, she pressed the play button and the first image floored her.

‘Johnny,’ she said to the empty room, unable to tear her eyes away from the beautiful photograph of her husband, taken at a table in the Blackbird Café, a window behind him framing him in gentle golden sunlight. William had captured him perfectly. Johnny’s mouth was slightly open, mid-laugh, and he was leaning forward in his chair, hands on his knees. The warmth in his eyes and the joy in his expression proved to Heidi everything she needed to know about his feelings towards William. He seemed lit from within, absolutely present in a precious moment.

‘Wow,’ Heidi said, gently scrolling through several more images of Johnny. William had taken at least a dozen shots and each one felt, to Heidi, like a gift.

‘Mum?’ said Zoe, from the doorway. ‘Are you alright? Couldn’t you sleep?’

Heidi looked up, the wine from the previous night suddenly making itself known as a monumental headache. She lifted a hand to her forehead and rubbed.

‘No, I couldn’t sleep,’ she said. ‘Bit of a headache. Are you okay? Why are you up? Shouldn’t you go back to bed?’

‘I could ask you the same question. What are you doing out here?’ Zoe said, rubbing her eyes. ‘I waited up for you last night, but you stayed out so late. It’s like we’ve reversed roles! I want to know about that woman. Tuesday. Who is she?’

Heidi swallowed, aware that she didn’t have much time if she was to reach William’s house in time for breakfast. If she told Zoe about Tuesday now, she’d ask questions, and Heidi needed to give her time. Also, how could she tell her about Tuesday without telling her about William?

‘I know I seem secretive,’ said Heidi, stuffing the camera into a bag with the battery charger. ‘But I need to talk to both of you – Scarlet and you – together. A few things have happened. Big things, since Dad died.’

‘What big things? He wasn’t having an affair, was he?’ asked Zoe. ‘With Tuesday? Not Dad. He’d never do that!’

‘No,’ said Heidi. ‘It’s nothing like that. Not at all. Dad would never do that.’

‘Then why not tell me now?’ said Zoe, frowning. ‘I’m fed up with this!’

Heidi felt guilty. Zoe was being punished and it wasn’t fair, but she needed Scarlet and Zoe to be together when she explained.

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