The Other Us
Page 34
That’s the one legacy from my life with Jude that I will guard closely. I may not have done anything remarkable in this life. Yet. But I know I have potential, and for now that seems to be enough for me.
Eventually, I find my way back to Dan, who has been cornered by Becca and Sy as they were doing the rounds.
‘So what do you do?’ Sy is asking Dan.
‘I’m an English teacher,’ Dan says. ‘Very boring, really. Lots of Shakespeare, kids sleeping through my classes …’
Everyone laughs, as they’re supposed to.
‘But he’s a writer too,’ I say, as I turn to look at my husband. ‘Aren’t you?’
Dan looks paralysed, as if he’s trying to work out if this is just a lucky guess.
‘Don’t tell me you haven’t been secretly working on a novel for the last year or so,’ I tell him. ‘Because I won’t believe you.’
‘A novel!’ Becca squeals. ‘You dark horse, you! What’s it about?’
I jump in before he can answer. ‘Don’t disrupt the creative process by making him spill the beans yet. He’ll tell us when he’s ready, won’t you, Dan?’
Dan is looking at me as if he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing, but he nods. I hail a passing waiter and grab a couple of wine glasses. I hand one to Dan and we wait while Becca and Sy get refills too, then we all clink glasses. ‘Whatever it is, it’s going to be brilliant,’ I say, ‘and when Dan hits the bestseller lists, I’m having full body liposuction and that’s that!’
We all laugh, but Dan slides his arm around my waist and leans in. ‘Thank you,’ he whispers into my ear. ‘How did you find out?’
I smile sweetly at him. ‘I have my ways and means.’
‘And you don’t mind?’
I shake my head. ‘Not if it makes you happy.’ My face crumples slightly as I discover unexpected tears springing to my eyes and I hold them back.
For the first time today, maybe even for years, my husband looks me in the eye, no barriers, no filters. ‘I love you,’ he says simply.
‘Me too,’ I say and lace my fingers with his. ‘I don’t know about you, but I think I’m ready to leave now.’
‘Whatever you want …’
Those words, said so differently, in a different voice, don’t wound as they once did, but they seem to have power to conjure up more than just bad memories, because, as we say our goodbyes, Dan stops and frowns at something on the other side of the room.
I turn my head and it seems to happen in slow motion.
Jude.
He looks just as I left him about twenty-four hours ago but at the same time he’s a stranger. A slim woman is on his arm, literally hanging onto him and not just his words. Another version of me. Although she’s blonde and taller, but I see the same look in her eyes, the same fear that he’s not quite hers and might never be. Good luck, I whisper silently in her direction. You’re going to need it.
Dan’s gruff voice cuts in beside me. ‘I suppose you want to go over and say hello?’
I take a long moment looking over at Jude. He lifts his head and spots me. I see recognition in his eyes, maybe even a glint of interest, but I turn away.
‘No,’ I say as I take my husband’s hand. ‘Let’s go home.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Huge thanks to my wonderful editor, Anna Baggaley, for being so enthusiastic and supportive when I wanted to try something a little different, and making it easy for me to jump outside my comfort zone. I also want to thank the whole team at HQ. I’m very excited to be one of your authors and I appreciate all the hard work you all put in on my behalf. Thanks also to my agent, Lizzy Kremer, and all at David Higham Associates.
And much love to my husband, Andy – I couldn’t have written this book without you. You’ve stuck by my side for twenty-seven years, through the highs and the lows, and you never complain when I bore you to tears about plotting and turning points, or ramble on about the people who live inside my head as if they’re real.
Writers spend a lot of time on their own, but if they’re sensible, they find a crew of like-minded lunatics around to cheer them on. Many thanks to the ladies who bring me sunshine, sanity and a kick up the butt (and sometimes wine!) when I need it – Susan Wilson, Heidi Rice, Daisy Cummins, Iona Grey and Donna Alward.
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COPYRIGHT
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
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First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2017
Copyright © Fiona Harper 2017
Fiona Harper asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © May 2017 ISBN: 9780008216931