The Girl in His Eyes by Jennie Ensor

Author:Jennie Ensor [Ensor, Jennie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

15

Suzanne

11 April 2011

Suzanne put down the article with a yawn, went into the kitchen and switched on the coffee machine. Sunshine glinted from the cooker and the neat row of stainless steel containers lined up on the worktop. Through the open window she could see the trees in the garden, their branches puffed up with blossom. It was a glorious day, not a day to be sitting indoors.

She took her coffee outside to the patio. At last, spring had arrived. This winter had been surprisingly mild, yet lately, the bare branches and dreary, sodden days had weighed on her more than usual. As the sun warmed her skin, the aroma of coffee and damp earth mixed deliciously, removing all nagging thoughts about Paul and Emma. If only one could rein in the days as they galloped towards autumn. On days like this, the sun and the earth seemed to work their magic, turning lifeless twigs into supple shoots and flower-filled buds. She leaned her head back and basked, feeling a rush of contentment. It wasn’t just the sunshine, or the quiet greenness of the garden. Once in a while, it was as if something new and vital was unfurling inside her, too. Something beyond words, something she couldn’t explain to herself, let alone anyone else. As if the real Suzanne Cunningham was waiting to come out of hiding – not Paul’s wife, not a mother of two, not the woman who edited articles in obscure magazines, but another woman altogether.

She sipped her coffee slowly, examining the garden. The fence was invisible under a deluge of yellow forsythia. Further down, the apple trees were a mass of white frills. Wedding dress frills. Suzanne smiled. Weddings, that was all she’d thought about these past few days, after Sunday’s conversation with her son – along with much of the country, given the upcoming Royal splurge.

‘Mum, brace yourself,’ Daniel had greeted her when she answered the phone. ‘I’ve got something to tell you. Can you guess?’

‘I don’t know. Tell me.’ He’s going to work overseas, or he’s in trouble with the police. Which scenario would be worse, she wasn’t sure. ‘Have you got another promotion?’

‘Karen and I have got engaged. We’re going to get married.’

‘Married?’ It was the last thing she’d expected.

‘You know – a wedding, in a church.’

‘Daniel! I’m surprised, that’s all. I didn’t realise. I’m so happy for you, darling.’

‘I know I’m young, we both are. But I love Karen. I want us to have kids together.’

‘She’s not pregnant, is she?’

To her relief he had laughed for about a minute, and the conversation turned to his wedding plans – it would have to be the end of summer, probably, or there wouldn’t be enough time to organise the event. She avoided saying what was in her head – that the end of summer was only a few months away and he was quite young to be getting married, that it would be better to wait and get some experience of life first. There was plenty of time for that conversation.

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