The Inn on Bluebell Lane: A heart-warming and unforgettable emotional page-turner by Kate Hewitt

Author:Kate Hewitt [Hewitt, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837902989
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

ELLIE

Something quite serious.

Gwen’s sober words echoed through Ellie’s mind as she stood and stared at her mother-in-law fearfully, a dripping dishcloth in one hand. What could it possibly be?

“Of course,” she finally managed to say when Gwen just continued to look at her with such sorrow. Ellie tossed the cloth into the sink, where it landed with a wet thud. “Anything, Gwen, of course. Should I… should I get Matt?”

“No, no, not just yet.” Gwen gave a trembling little laugh, one hand pressed to her cheek. “I’ll need to tell him and Sarah too, of course, but right now I think I can only manage one person.”

And that one person was her? Ellie’s stomach swooped at the thought of whatever Gwen was going to tell her, as well as the responsibility of being the one to hear it first and to respond. She and Gwen had made some personal strides in their rather fraught relationship this afternoon, but she didn’t know if she was ready for this… whatever this was. But it seemed Gwen wanted to tell her, and that, she told herself, was a privilege.

“Of course,” she said again. She gestured to the table. “Shall we… shall we sit down?”

Gwen nodded and they both sat at the big table in the center of the room. Outside, the rain had stopped and twilight was falling, the sky darkening to violet as the last of the watery sunlight streamed through the windows. Toby trotted in and, with an audible groan, lay himself down in front of the Aga. From upstairs, a few more thuds sounded, followed, thankfully, by more laughter, and then Ellie heard Matthew calling, “What’s going on up there?”

She tensed, afraid he was annoyed by the noise, but then she heard his own answering laughter as he headed upstairs, and she relaxed, relieved by the little exchange, before turning back to Gwen and seeing how worried and sad she looked.

“What do you need to tell me, Gwen?” she asked gently.

Gwen sat very still, her hands folded on the table in front of her, her expression turning composed, or perhaps just resolute. What on earth was she going to say? Ellie couldn’t even bear to think.

“I don’t know where to begin,” Gwen finally said after a moment, managing a shaky laugh. “So, I suppose I might as well just come out and say it. I… I have… cancer. Breast cancer. I found out last week.”

“Oh, Gwen.” Ellie’s stomach swooped again as she gazed at her mother-in-law in sorrowful dismay. Based on everything Gwen had—and hadn’t—said in the last few minutes, she realized she’d suspected something like this, but it still came as a terrible shock. Tentatively, she reached out to touch Gwen’s hand, and to her surprise and gratification, Gwen gripped it tightly for a second before she released it, smiling almost in apology. “I’m so, so sorry,” Ellie said quietly.

Gwen nodded, her expression now definitely resolute, her lips set in a line, her hands folded together once more. “I put off doing or thinking about it for too long, I know.

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