by Kate Hardy
She was right in that he didn’t want to teach in a secondary school. He’d miss his work in the lab so much. But if it was a choice between doing a job he didn’t love and being with the woman he loved, or doing the job he loved and being without Abby, then it would be an easy decision. He wanted to be with her and the job came second. He wanted a second chance with her and he wanted to see their child grow up. Most of all he wanted to make a proper family with Abby.
The way she saw it, either she had to give up her entire life and move to London to be with him, or he had to give everything up and move back to Norfolk.
But surely there had to be a middle way, where they could both get what they wanted?
He thought about it some more.
The previous summer, a headhunter had called him and offered him a job up in Manchester. He’d considered it seriously and had almost accepted, but in the end he’d talked to his boss and negotiated more responsibility in his job.
Maybe he could talk to the headhunter to see if anything was available nearer to Great Crowmell than London. Maybe Cambridge; it would still be two hours away from Great Crowmell, but that was better than three hours. More doable.
The next morning, he was in the lab early, but before he left the house he’d already bought flowers online to be delivered to Abby at breakfast time, along with the message See you tonight. B. Again, he’d been close to writing I love you, but he didn’t want to pressure her. Just let her know that he wasn’t going to let her down.
He’d also left a message with the headhunter he’d spoken to, outlining his availability and saying that he’d call at lunchtime to discuss the options.
He sorted out his team’s questions, agreed the next steps for the project, and then went to speak to his boss.
‘Good to have you back, Brad,’ Dominic said.
This was where Brad knew he was supposed to say that it was good to be back. Which it was; and at the same time it wasn’t.
‘Can I be frank with you, Dominic?’ he asked.
‘Sure.’
‘There isn’t an easy way to say this, because I love my job here and I love working with my team—but I need to move out of London. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to resign without seeing the project through to the end.’
‘Move out of London?’ Dominic frowned. ‘Why? Is there a problem at home? Is there anything we can help with?’
Brad shook his head. ‘It’s all a bit up in the air at the moment, to be honest—it’s for personal reasons.’
‘OK.’
Dominic had been a great support. The least Brad could do was tell him the truth. ‘I know you won’t tell anyone before I’m ready to break the news.’ Brad looked his boss straight in the eye. ‘I just found out that I’m going to be a dad. And that’s something I can’t do from three hours away. It’s not commutable, and I don’t want to be a part-time dad.’
‘No, of course not.’ Dominic blinked. ‘Well, this is a bit out of left field. I didn’t even realise you were seeing someone, let alone that it was serious enough to start a family. I don’t know what to say—um, congratulations?’
‘I’m seeing my ex,’ Brad said, ‘and the baby wasn’t planned. But I’m hoping we’re going to be able to make things work, second time round.’
‘As you’re resigning, does that mean you have another job lined up?’
‘Not yet,’ Brad admitted. ‘I might end up retraining. I was thinking of maybe teaching chemistry.’
‘And you’d be happy doing that?’
‘If it meant I could be with Abby and the baby, yes. But that’s plan B,’ Brad admitted. ‘I’m keeping my options open.’
‘If you want my opinion,’ Dominic said, ‘I think you’d hate teaching in a school because you’d miss the research side too much. And I also think you’d be a huge loss to the industry if you switched to teaching. I wish there was some way to keep you here, because I don’t want to lose you.’ He frowned. ‘Would your partner consider moving to London?’
‘That would mean moving a three-hour drive away from both our families. So if she moved here, that would mean she’ll be pregnant and know nobody in the area—or, if she waited until the baby was born before she moved, she’d have a small baby and know nobody in the area. It’s not fair to do that to her.’
‘She’d make friends at antenatal classes, and at the baby groups.’
Abby would make friends easily, Brad knew. But that wasn’t the issue. ‘I don’t want to make her uproot everything. And, to be honest, I know how much she loves it back in Norfolk. It’s not just her home and her family, it’s her family business as well.’ Last time, Abby had put him first, uprooted herself and gone with him to Cambridge—and he’d let her down. This time, it was his turn to make the move. To put her first. ‘So I need to go back to Norfolk.’
‘Don’t hand your notice in just yet,’ Dominic said. ‘Give me a few days. I know people in other labs. People I trained with. They’re always looking for good people. One of them might have an opening.’
‘I was going to sign on with an agency, too,’ Brad said. ‘Talk to the people who headhunted me last year.’
‘Much as I’m going to hate losing you from the team, it looks as if you’ve got it all sorted out.’ Dominic rolled his eyes. ‘Not that I’d expect anything less from you. Your organisational skills put everyone else’s to shame.’
‘Obviously I’ll work out my notice,’ Brad said, ‘but I have a lot of time in lieu owing.’
‘I’m sure the HR team can work something out,’ Dominic said. ‘Thank you for being honest with me.’ He sighed. ‘I really wish you weren’t going. But I understand. You must really, really love her.’
‘I do,’ Brad said. ‘I was the one who messed it up, last time. And I’m going to be the one to fix it, this time.’
* * *
Who would be ringing her doorbell at this time of the morning? Abigail wondered.
Thankfully she’d always been a lark rather than an owl, so she was already up and dressed.
She answered the door to see a delivery man half hidden behind a huge bouquet of flowers.
‘Ms Scott?’
‘Yes.’
‘These are for you. Could you sign for them, please?’ The delivery man gave her the handset so she could sign on the screen, then handed her the flowers.
‘Thank you,’ she said, and took the flowers into the kitchen.
They were gorgeous, bright and summery, all yellows and blues.
But who would be sending her flowers—especially at this time of the morning, when it was well before normal delivery times? Someone had definitely pulled some strings or paid a massive premium to get them to her before she went to work.
Brad?
Her heart gave a little leap of excitement.
And then she thought about it. Were the flowers his way of saying sorry, he wasn’t going to make it tonight?
Her hands shook slightly as she opened the envelope.
And the message left her none the wiser.
See you tonight. B.
Not even a kiss. Nothing emotional at all. She still didn’t have a clue how he felt.
On the other hand, he’d got the flowers to her at a crazy time. And this didn’t look like any old bouquet. He’d asked them to include little yellow pompom chrysanthemums with dark centres that looked like tiny sunflowers, flowers she’d admired in the stately home gardens with him earlier in the week. It was a detail she knew hadn’t slipped past him. He’d chosen them deliberately because he knew she liked them.
And maybe he’d just sent them to let her know he wasn’t going to let her down. This time. A statement that he’d be there tonight and then they’d talk properly.
A tear leaked down her cheek.
She so wanted this to work out. But, for that to happen, one of them was going to have to make a huge sacrifice—and the whole thing scared her stupid.
She rested one hand across her abdomen. ‘Whatever happens, baby,
you’re going to be loved. I can guarantee that,’ she said. But whether she and Brad would be living together and bringing their child up together—and where—she really didn’t know.
She picked up her phone and texted him.
Thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful. Loved the pompoms. See you tonight.
And please, please let it work out.
* * *
The Friday night traffic was worse than usual, Brad thought.
He’d left London at six, hoping the worst of the rush hour would be over and he could get to Abby by nine—but there seemed to be roadworks and temporary traffic lights everywhere, holding him up at every stage.
He called her at seven, but her mobile phone went through to voice mail; clearly she was either busy or she hadn’t heard the phone ring. ‘I’m on my way,’ he said, ‘but the traffic’s terrible. I’ll be with you as soon as I can.’
She didn’t call him back, so either she hadn’t picked up the message or she didn’t want to talk to him. He really hoped it was the former. Sure, he could go and stay with his mother, or find a room in a hotel somewhere, and then sit on her doorstep the next morning until she emerged for her usual run, but he just wanted to be with Abby.
He was thoroughly fed up with sitting in a queue of traffic, but at least all the delays gave him a chance to practise what he wanted to say to Abby. He just hoped that she’d actually listen to him.
A phone call with news from Dominic, half an hour later, cheered him up slightly.
Though it was half-past nine before he reached Great Crowmell, and it took him another ten minutes to find a parking space because the car park was much busier than he’d expected. But finally he knocked on Abigail’s door.
She looked as if she hadn’t slept properly the previous night, and there were dark smudges under her eyes.
‘Sorry—I’m really late. Maybe it would be better to do this tomorrow,’ he said.
‘No, come in,’ she said. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘Yes,’ he lied. He didn’t want food—he wanted Abby. And he didn’t want to give her an excuse for distraction.
‘At least let me make you a cup of coffee.’
‘Not if the smell makes you feel queasy.’
‘It’s fine.’ She bustled around the kitchen. ‘Your flowers were lovely.’
‘I got your message.’ He smiled. ‘I’m glad you noticed I picked the flowers deliberately.’ The day they’d talked about going to Monet’s garden together in the spring.
‘How did you get someone to deliver so early?’ she asked.
‘The Internet can be a wonderful thing,’ he said.
And then he couldn’t stand it any more. ‘Abby.’
‘What?’
He took the tin of coffee from her and put it on the worktop, then drew her into his arms. ‘I missed you.’
‘You were only gone a day.’
That bright, breezy tone meant she was trying to hide her feelings. And it gave him hope. ‘I still missed you.’ He dragged in a breath. ‘Forget the coffee. I need to tell you something.’
She went very still. ‘Oh?’
Did she really think he was going to let her down again? He pulled back slightly, keeping his arms loosely round her but making sure she could see his eyes. Making sure she had no cause to doubt his sincerity. ‘Last night, I tried not to put any pressure on you. But I’m done with trying to be noble. I need you to know the truth. Abigail Scott, you’re the love of my life—you always have been, you always will be, and I want to be with you.’
She looked as if she was about to say something, and he gave the tiniest shake of his head. ‘Hear me out, because I’ve been practising this all the way from London and I want to get it right. Five years ago, I was very, very stupid. I thought I was doing the right thing in letting you go in order to find the happiness you deserve with someone else. But it’s the worst thing I ever did and I’ve regretted it every single day since. I bury myself in work so I don’t have time to realise how empty my life is without you.
‘But I want you back, Abby. I want you and I want our baby. I want the life we should’ve had together if I hadn’t gone into meltdown when Dad died. And I don’t want to be a part-time. Actually, I’m scared as hell I’ll make as much of a mess of being a dad as I have of being a son, a brother and a husband, but I’m going to do whatever it takes to make this work. I want to be a full-time family, with you. I know you don’t want to live in London because it’s too far away from our family, so I’m moving back to Norfolk.’
She looked utterly shocked. ‘But—’ she began.
‘Hear me out, Abby,’ he said again. ‘Yes, I love my job, but I love you more. If it’s a choice between you, then you’ll always win. I’m coming home to you.’
‘But I don’t want to give you an ultimatum, Brad. I don’t want you to give up the job you love.’
‘I don’t have to,’ he said. ‘I didn’t tell you, but last year I was headhunted to work for a company in Manchester. I turned it down because my boss gave me more responsibilities and I wanted to see my current project through, but I got in touch with the headhunters today to see if they had anything else available.’
‘Did they?’ She looked hopeful.
‘No,’ he said, ‘but my boss trained with someone who runs a lab in Norwich, and he’s put in a good word for me. It’s not absolutely definite, and there are no guarantees I’ll get the job, but they’re ringing me on Monday to arrange an interview. It’ll be a mix of lab work and teaching postgraduate students, which suits me fine. Plus my hours will be reasonable and it’ll be only a forty-minute commute from here—that’s less time than it takes me to get to my lab now. Even if they don’t offer me the job, then I can find something. The main thing is I’ll be here with you.’ He took a deep breath. ‘The first time I asked you this question, I pretty much knew the answer before I asked.’ The second time, she’d said no. Would this be third time lucky? ‘This time, I don’t. It scares the hell out of me that you’ll say the words I don’t want to hear, but even if you do I’ll be here for you and the baby. That’s not going to change.’ He swallowed hard, then dropped to one knee in front of her. ‘I love you, Abby. I always will. Will you marry me and make a family with me and our baby?’
* * *
He loved her.
Loved her enough to put her before the job she thought was his life.
And he was telling her that she could have it all. She didn’t have to wrench herself away from their family, she didn’t have to give up her job to follow him—this time, he was making the changes. He’d found a compromise that would work for both of them. And he wanted to marry her again.
All she had to do was say yes.
‘You shouldn’t have to do all the compromising,’ she said.
‘You did all the compromising last time,’ he said. ‘So I think it’s my turn.’
‘Not necessarily,’ she said. ‘Maybe I could open a branch of Scott’s in Norwich and run all the admin from there. Then you wouldn’t have such a long commute.’
He coughed. ‘Abby, that was a yes or no question. And you’re killing me, making me wait for the answer. I’m not promising you perfection, because I’m only human. But I’ll try my hardest not to let you down again. To be a much better husband than I was before and a good dad. I love you. Nobody else has ever come close to making me feel the way I feel about you.’ He looked up at her, his eyes dark and beseeching. ‘Will you marry me again? Make a family with me and our baby?’
She took his hand and drew him to his feet. ‘I love you, too. Always have and always will. Yes, I’ll marry you.’
He wrapped his arms round her and kissed her lingeringly. ‘I was so scared you’d say no.’
‘I never have been able to resist you, Brad. But it took me a long while to pick myself up again when you filed for divorce.’
‘It was the worst mistake of my life,’ he said. ‘No more hair shirts and no more white chargers.’
&nb
sp; ‘Agreed.’ She paused. ‘Though, this time round, I think we owe our family the party we deprived them of last time.’
‘Absolutely.’
‘And your sister gets to be my bridesmaid.’ She smiled. ‘And we pour a glass of champagne on your dad’s grave so Jim gets to share it, too.’
‘I’d like that.’ He kissed her. ‘All that time we wasted... We’ve got some making up to do.’
She grinned as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen. ‘I thought you’d never ask...’
EPILOGUE
A year later
‘OK. YOU’RE DONE,’ Gina, the hairdresser, said with a smile.
Abby looked at her reflection. ‘I can barely believe this is me.’
‘Wait until you’ve got the dress and shoes on,’ Ruby said.
‘Mummy looks amazing, doesn’t she, Jessie?’ Annie said, cuddling her granddaughter.
The baby gurgled, as if to agree, and everyone smiled.
Ruby helped Abby into her dress, straightened her veil and then stood back. ‘Wow. You look amazing.’
Abby’s dress was cream, with a full-length tulle skirt, and a bodice of raw silk with a spray of roses across it.
‘So do you,’ Abby said. Ruby’s dress was similar to Abby’s, but in duck-egg blue.
Ruby hugged her. ‘I’m so thrilled to be getting my sister back. Not that I ever didn’t see you as my sister. And I still can’t believe you got back together with Brad at my wedding.’
‘Contagious things, weddings,’ Abby said with a grin, and hugged her back.
There was a knock on the door. ‘Am I allowed in?’ Stuart asked.
‘Sure. It’s just the bridegroom who’s not allowed,’ Ruby said.
Stuart came in with a large box. ‘Flowers.’
Both Abby and Ruby had simple bouquets of cream roses and there was also a single red rose from Brad.
I love you and I can’t wait to marry you.
Abby blinked away the tears. She couldn’t wait to marry him, too.
‘You look beautiful, love,’ Stuart said. ‘Let’s go downstairs and have a glass of champagne while we’re waiting for the cars. And I need a cuddle from this young lady here.’ He scooped Jessica from his wife’s arms and blew a raspberry at the baby, who chuckled and waved her hands in glee.