Read Online In The Garden Of Stones by Lucy Pepperdine - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lucy Pepperdine
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“No
thanks.”
“ We can go down the pub for a drink and pick up a kebab on
the way home.”
Click.
Click. “I don’t really fancy it.”
Alec
sighs dramatically and drops his shoulders. “You can’t stay indoors
brooding for the rest of your life, Grace. You’ve got to go out
sometime.”
“ I’m not brooding.”
“ If you’re not, it’s a damned good impression of it. Have
you given any thought about when you might go back to
work?”
Click.
Click. “I’m still feeling a bit fragile and out of sorts. I’m not
ready to face the outside world just yet, and it’s only been a few
weeks. Like my therapist says, I mustn’t rush things.”
My former therapist?
Alec
drops onto the sofa beside her, grabs the remote from her hand and
switches off the TV. This looks serious.
“ You might have to,” he says. “I didn’t want to bring this
up, not after … I know you’re not well yet and you have enough on
your plate to worry about, and this is just going to add to your
load, but … ” He sags with a groan.
“ But what, Alec? Come on, spit it out.”
He
screws up his eyes, rubs at his brow and forces his words out.
“Money’s been a bit tight of late and I had to pay both halves of
the rent last month. A whole raft of bills have landed on the mat –
leccy, council tax, car insurance, phone… everything all at once,
and everything’s gone up and… trade’s been down. My name’s on them
all and that makes me responsible, and I can’t risk falling into
arrears with anything. Red bills and final demands will really
bugger up my credit score… it could affect the business. I’ve had
to ask Denny for a loan to see us through.”
Grace is
horrified at the revelation. She hadn’t given it a second
thought.
“ Alec! You idiot! Why on earth didn’t you say so? How much
did you borrow? Give it him back and I’ll go to the bank first
thing tomorrow and sort this out. I have the money, you know I
have. We’ll be fine.”
“ It’s not just about the money,” he says. “I’ve been meaning to bring this
up for a while.”
“ What’s the matter?” And then the penny drops. “Oh. I see.
You want me to move out.”
“ It was only ever supposed to be temporary, we both knew
that,” he says. “It was just to get you back on your feet after
your split from Connor –” He sighs deeply. “I don’t want to rub
salt into your wounds darling, but it’s been nearly a year, and
Denny and me, we’re at that stage –” He snatches at her hand. “He’s
the one, Grace, he’s my heart and soul and I’m his, and we want to
find a place of our own, because …” The squeeze becomes painful.
“We’re getting married.”
Now
there’s a collection of sensations she never expected to feel
simultaneously – to be shocked speechless, whilst deliriously happy
and yet, at the same time, utterly heartbroken.
In a
split second she’s potentially lost her best friend, her home and
her security. She doesn’t know what to say except,
“Congratulations?”
It comes
out more like a half hearted, insincere question than a declaration
of joy, and it is clear it wounds him.
“ Well, thanks very much. I thought you’d be a little bit
pleased for us.”
She
presses her palms to his cheeks.
“ I am! Alec, darling, nothing would make me happier than to
see my bestest friend in the world, the one who lights up my entire
universe and fills my heart with joy, married to the man he loves.
I love you. I love Denny too, and if ever two people belonged
together, it’s you two. I am happy for you sweetie. I really,
really am.”
She
throws her arms around his neck and hugs him.
“ I’ll start looking for a new place first thing tomorrow …
while I’m out at the bank.”
Chapter 9
Flat
hunting is hard work without a car. Grace has walked miles today,
following up ads in the paper and details from the lettings
agency.
Her legs
ache, she has blisters. She’s tired and stressed and
thanks.”
“ We can go down the pub for a drink and pick up a kebab on
the way home.”
Click.
Click. “I don’t really fancy it.”
Alec
sighs dramatically and drops his shoulders. “You can’t stay indoors
brooding for the rest of your life, Grace. You’ve got to go out
sometime.”
“ I’m not brooding.”
“ If you’re not, it’s a damned good impression of it. Have
you given any thought about when you might go back to
work?”
Click.
Click. “I’m still feeling a bit fragile and out of sorts. I’m not
ready to face the outside world just yet, and it’s only been a few
weeks. Like my therapist says, I mustn’t rush things.”
My former therapist?
Alec
drops onto the sofa beside her, grabs the remote from her hand and
switches off the TV. This looks serious.
“ You might have to,” he says. “I didn’t want to bring this
up, not after … I know you’re not well yet and you have enough on
your plate to worry about, and this is just going to add to your
load, but … ” He sags with a groan.
“ But what, Alec? Come on, spit it out.”
He
screws up his eyes, rubs at his brow and forces his words out.
“Money’s been a bit tight of late and I had to pay both halves of
the rent last month. A whole raft of bills have landed on the mat –
leccy, council tax, car insurance, phone… everything all at once,
and everything’s gone up and… trade’s been down. My name’s on them
all and that makes me responsible, and I can’t risk falling into
arrears with anything. Red bills and final demands will really
bugger up my credit score… it could affect the business. I’ve had
to ask Denny for a loan to see us through.”
Grace is
horrified at the revelation. She hadn’t given it a second
thought.
“ Alec! You idiot! Why on earth didn’t you say so? How much
did you borrow? Give it him back and I’ll go to the bank first
thing tomorrow and sort this out. I have the money, you know I
have. We’ll be fine.”
“ It’s not just about the money,” he says. “I’ve been meaning to bring this
up for a while.”
“ What’s the matter?” And then the penny drops. “Oh. I see.
You want me to move out.”
“ It was only ever supposed to be temporary, we both knew
that,” he says. “It was just to get you back on your feet after
your split from Connor –” He sighs deeply. “I don’t want to rub
salt into your wounds darling, but it’s been nearly a year, and
Denny and me, we’re at that stage –” He snatches at her hand. “He’s
the one, Grace, he’s my heart and soul and I’m his, and we want to
find a place of our own, because …” The squeeze becomes painful.
“We’re getting married.”
Now
there’s a collection of sensations she never expected to feel
simultaneously – to be shocked speechless, whilst deliriously happy
and yet, at the same time, utterly heartbroken.
In a
split second she’s potentially lost her best friend, her home and
her security. She doesn’t know what to say except,
“Congratulations?”
It comes
out more like a half hearted, insincere question than a declaration
of joy, and it is clear it wounds him.
“ Well, thanks very much. I thought you’d be a little bit
pleased for us.”
She
presses her palms to his cheeks.
“ I am! Alec, darling, nothing would make me happier than to
see my bestest friend in the world, the one who lights up my entire
universe and fills my heart with joy, married to the man he loves.
I love you. I love Denny too, and if ever two people belonged
together, it’s you two. I am happy for you sweetie. I really,
really am.”
She
throws her arms around his neck and hugs him.
“ I’ll start looking for a new place first thing tomorrow …
while I’m out at the bank.”
Chapter 9
Flat
hunting is hard work without a car. Grace has walked miles today,
following up ads in the paper and details from the lettings
agency.
Her legs
ache, she has blisters. She’s tired and stressed and
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