Your Life for Mine by Karen Clarke

Author:Karen Clarke [Clarke, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-09-07T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

‘It wasn’t how I’d imagined hearing the news that my oldest friend is having a baby.’

Marianne murmured in sympathy. ‘It’s a shame, but understandable after the conversation you’d had,’ she said. ‘You were hardly going to jump up and down and give each other a hug.’

‘She didn’t give me chance to say anything.’ I felt the sting of shock all over again. Pregnant. Emma, who’d never wanted children. ‘She just left.’ Tears pricked. ‘She doesn’t want to speak to me.’

I’d tried to call her straight away, pushing outside the pub, but she’d already gone. She didn’t pick up, texting me instead.

Talk to him, Beth. Think about what you really want. You don’t need saving anymore. Cancel your trip. I love you xx

She’d never said that before. I knew she did, but it wasn’t something we’d ever put into words. It scared me. When I tried her number again it went straight to voicemail.

Marianne touched my arm in a gesture of solidarity. ‘I’m sure she’ll come round in her own time,’ she said. ‘Let her have some space.’

I hadn’t told her the whole story, just that we’d had words about Vic, giving the impression Emma didn’t approve of our relationship. I’d had to say something. After bashing into Marianne the day before and running off without explanation, she’d been waiting for me outside Fernley House, wanting to know what was up. ‘I only spoke to Emma briefly at your party,’ she said, ‘but I thought she was a bit of a troubled soul.’

‘You didn’t say.’ I gave her a sideways look, secretly scoping the perimeter of the car park. It was becoming worryingly normal – checking whether I was being spied on; whether someone was watching my every move. I’d turned down Vic’s offer to drive me to work, but he’d followed me anyway, parking at the end of the road until I waved him off. I hoped Marianne hadn’t seen. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told her what was going on, or about running after Katya the previous day. Maybe I didn’t want Marianne to question whether I was fit to be at work, or get Katya into trouble without knowing why she’d been there. ‘Are you still coming to the pool tomorrow morning?’ I said, keen to change the subject.

‘Of course.’ Marianne gave a quick smile but I had the impression she’d forgotten. Maybe she’d made other plans now her son was back home, but I didn’t push it. I didn’t want to give her an excuse to pull out. Marianne’s presence at the swimming pool on my Saturdays there with Hayley was the only way I could get through them. I supposed I could ask Daisy and her mum to join us, but it was too last minute and they’d probably have other plans.

I wouldn’t ask Vic. It had been our family thing and didn’t feel right yet to include him.

‘Maybe we’ll try the outdoor pool if it’s not too busy,’ Marianne said as we walked into the building, which was blissfully cool after the sun’s glare outside.

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.