The Wife – Part Three by ML Roberts

Author:ML Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008259884
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

I sit at the kitchen table watching Liam as he makes breakfast. I had to call him. I didn’t want to be alone last night, the fear is becoming too much to bear. I can’t cope sometimes, when I’m alone here. Every creak, every random, harmless noise, they all remind me of that night. They all bring back memories, cause those images I’ve tried to push aside to surge forward again. They make me realize that what happened, it’s never going to go away. If I’m alone I can’t cope with that realization. If Liam’s with me, I’m okay. I can manage.

‘Here. You need to eat something.’

He places a plate of scrambled eggs down in front of me. ‘I’m not hungry.’

‘I don’t care. You’re losing weight, so you’re obviously not eating. And I’m not going to stand around and watch you make yourself ill.’

Michael hasn’t noticed I’ve lost weight. Because Michael doesn’t notice anything anymore. He chooses to ignore instead. To bury his head in the sand. He chooses distractions.

‘I’ll eat when I’m hungry.’

‘Stop acting like a petulant child, Ellie, and just eat something. If not for yourself then do it for me.’

I scoop up a forkful of egg and swallow them down, but I’m resisting the food so much it almost sticks in my throat. It takes a mouthful of tea to dislodge it.

‘I thought it might be nice to have a walk along the river this morning.’

I look at him as he joins me at the table; as he sits back and drinks his tea. He’s made himself at home, but then, this place was always his second home anyway. He’s always been too close. ‘Okay.’

He looks at the plate of eggs in front of me. ‘Eat some more, Ellie.’

He’s talking to me like I’m a child, and I don’t want that from him. He’s supposed to make me feel like the woman I need to be, not some weak, pathetic person who needs to be looked after.

I eat a little more of the scrambled egg before pushing the plate away. That was enough, I don’t need too much food. It upsets my stomach.

‘While we’re down by the river we could have some lunch. The weather’s looking okay, we could sit outside.’

I pick up my plate and take it over to the sink.

‘Ellie? Did you hear what I said?’

I turn around and stand with my back against the counter as he gets up and comes over to me. ‘Our first date was a walk, down by the river.’ I look up into his eyes. Am I pushing him away, too? ‘Mine and Michael’s. That was the night I knew I was in love with him.’

Liam drops his head and backs away from me. But he doesn’t say anything. He remains impassive. Stays silent. And then he looks up at me and I realize how much I need this man. If I push him away I’m left with nothing. I really am alone.

‘I’m sorry, Liam.’

He comes back over to me.

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