The Silent Bride by Shalini Boland

Author:Shalini Boland [Boland, Shalini]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

NOW

After days of dodging my parents’ calls and visits, I’ve finally given in to their summons and find myself at theirs for Sunday lunch. I’ve managed to avoid the previous two weekends, but I couldn’t get out of it any longer. My sister and Graham have been messaging me too. Sending their love and support. But I’d rather no one made a fuss. Maybe if they all acted normally around me, I wouldn’t feel like such a giant freak. That’s not fair. I know it’s only because they care.

Thankfully, Graham and Elizabeth couldn’t make it today as it’s Graham’s grandmother’s eightieth birthday party. I think it would have been too overwhelming with all four of them passing judgement and making ‘helpful’ suggestions.

I follow Mum into the garden with a tray of glasses and iced lemonade. She’s immaculate as always in a strappy floral sundress, pale-pink raffia sandals and a straw sunhat. I feel underdressed by comparison in navy cargo pants and a white vest top. We’re eating on the patio today as the weather still thinks we’re having a European summer rather than the usual drizzly British affair.

Dad takes the jug off the tray and starts pouring, ice cubes clinking as they slide into each glass. ‘What you need, Alice, is a bit of routine. You should get back to work.’

‘I will. I’m just not quite ready yet.’ I take a seat in the shadiest spot beneath the sun umbrella. Mum, Dad and Elizabeth are all sun worshippers, but I’ve always preferred shade. Mum sits next to Dad so they’re both facing me and I realise they’re colour-coordinated – Dad in a lavender short-sleeved shirt the same tone as Mum’s dress. ‘Anyway, I’m not due back until next week.’

‘Doesn’t matter when you’re due back,’ he replies, vigorously slicing into his Yorkshire pudding. ‘What matters is that you start getting back to normal.’

His no-nonsense pep-talk irritates me, yet I can’t help begrudgingly agreeing with what he’s saying. I have had too much time on my hands. Too much space to brood and think. To wonder about what might have been. To fear the future and doubt myself. But the thought of going back to work makes my stomach lurch. What if I can’t do my job any more? How will I be able to face my clients without wondering if they’re aware of what happened to me? Ringwood is a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business, so it’s not unreasonable to assume that everyone’s been talking about it. About me.

‘The sooner you get back to normal, the sooner you can put all this behind you,’ Dad says, bulldozing on. ‘What’s happening with Seth? You went to see him yesterday, right?’

‘Yes.’

‘And . . . ?’ he asks, putting a forkful of roast potatoes and green beans into his mouth.

I clench my teeth. ‘And . . . I still don’t recognise him, if that’s what you’re asking.’ I haven’t touched my food. Not sure why we’re having a roast dinner on what feels like the hottest day of the year, but heaven forbid we break with tradition.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.