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their rehearsal into a lunch party. Anyway, seeing as she’s on her third husband, you’d think she’d know the words by now.” Gemma pulled a sour face.
    â€œOuch, you really don ’ t like her, do you?” Nathalie tried to look disapproving but couldn’t hide her smile.
    â€œDoes it show?” Gemma laughed. “I take it you’re not planning on asking Evan to go with you to the rehearsal then?”
    â€œWhat do you think?”
    Gemma shook her head and collected Nathalie’s empty mug, ready to take into the back room. “At least Karen’s wedding is just a few weeks away. After that, we won’t have to see her again. Until number four comes along, of course.”
    Nathalie smiled ruefully as Gemma whisked away. Karen might be a pain in the neck, but she was a good customer when it came to spending money. And because of her social connections, Karen sent them lots of very well-heeled customers. Compared to the impending appointment at the hospital the next day, however, Karen’s wedding wasn’t at the top of Nathalie’s list of priorities.
    Once the shop had closed for the day and she’d said goodnight to Gemma, Nathalie made her way home with a heavy heart. The next day’s appointments preyed on her mind. Light drizzle fell from a steel grey sky, and water dripped miserably from the bare branches of the trees that lined the streets on her route home.
    She heard the phone ring as she unlocked her front door. Min rushed to greet her, twining round her legs with loud purrs as Nathalie struggled into the lounge to answer the phone. She snatched up the handset and tried to ignore the inconvenient flicker of hope that Evan’s voice would be on the other end. Her spirits fell just as rapidly when all she heard was the burr of the dial tone.

 
Chapter Six
    Â 
    The relentless chirp of the alarm clock roused Nathalie from a deep sleep. It had taken her a long time to fall asleep the previous night. Her mother’s phone call offering to accompany her to the appointment with the gynaecologist, though well-intentioned, had stirred a well of mixed emotions.
    She lay still for a moment, enjoying the peace and quiet before going for a shower before her appointment. Part of her dreaded hearing that nothing more that could be done unless she accepted surgery. On the other hand, she longed to be free of pain, to lead a life independent of drugs and cramps.
    Nathalie slipped out of bed and put on her slippers before heading for the kitchen. Min padded along behind her, mewing with delight at the prospect of her regular morning bowl of milk.
    â€œBig day today, Min.”
    The cat sat on her haunches and stared at her with large green eyes. Nathalie sighed as she poured some milk into Min’s china bowl. If she were honest with herself, she wasn’t sure if it was just the appointment at the hospital that bothered her.
    She finished her coffee and swallowed more tablets. Evan was due to call around lunchtime, giving her time to compose herself and digest whatever news her consultant might have for her.
    ****
    When Nathalie emerged from the hospital later that morning, she knew her eyes had to be pink from tears, but she felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. The decision was made, and she had agreed an operation date for autumn with her surgeon.
    She glanced at her watch and realised she would need to hurry to make it back home in time to change her clothes. She’d worn a suit for her appointment, subconsciously hoping a smart appearance would give her a better outcome. Now she wanted to change into a more comfortable pair of jeans and sweater in order to accompany Evan on his house hunt.
    An accident on the ring road slowed traffic to a crawl. She pulled to a halt outside her house to find Evan’s car already at the kerb. Nathalie glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror to check that the redness had faded from