Page 162 of Time To Learn
I’ve been staring out in the air for I don’t know how long, but the defeated sigh from my friend pulls me back to the present. My lips pull up in a half-hearted smile and I sit back in the rocking chair in our kitchen. I give Trish a proper once-over as she slouches on the bench at the kitchen table across from me. The truth is that she’s never looked more beautiful than she does now that she’s expecting—her blonde hair is shiny, her cheeks a soft blush, and the small freckles on her upturned nose only enhance her beauty. But it’s not easy being a woman in the early stages of pregnancy.
“Morning sickness?” I ask her gently.
“Yes!” she exclaims, waving the spoon so hard, a dollop of ice cream lands on the floor next to her leg. I look down at Sally when she gets up from her bed and pads over the hardwood floor to clean itup.
I sigh lightly and stir the melting chocolate ice cream in my bowl resting on mylap.
“I’m sorry, honey. But it’ll pass soon, I promise.”
Trish nods as she places her palm on her still-flat belly. A soft smile grazes her lips, and for the first time since Kristian went home, I feel a small spark of excitement bubbling up in my throat, and I grin ather.
“You’ll be a wonderful mother.” I get up from my seat to sit down next to her. I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently. “How’s Alex taking thenews?”
She beams at me, and that’s pretty much all I need tosee.
“He’s happy, like me,” she whispers and I frown when her smile turns lopsided. “But we’re not together, Laura. You knowthat.”
I nod and place my arm on the table, resting my head in my upturnedpalm.
“Yeah, but…you’ve still got another six months, give or take, to get used to the idea of becoming parents. Maybe you’ll change your minds before Little Bean getshere.”
She blushes and avoids myeyes.
“We’llsee.”
I decide to let her off the hook and we fall silent for a spell. The warmth from the Aga stove is comfortable, familiar, and soothing.
“How are you doing, babe?” Trish whispersthen.
I blow out a long breath.
“I’m not doing so good,” I sniffle and blink the treacherous tears away. “The pain in my heart…it’s overwhelming,” I admit as I raise my head to meet hergaze.
“But, he’s coming back.” Her grip on my hand tightens as she shuffles closer.
“I’m not so sure,” I murmur.
The confusion in her eyes makes me a bit uncomfortable, but I’ve never kept any secrets from her. I’m not about to startnow.
“I told him everything about James,” I explain.
Her soft gasp fills the silentroom.
“Everything?”
Nodding, I pull my legs up on the bench until they’re crossed.
“Wait,” she starts, “what do youmean?”
“When he told me about his father turning up, only to lay dying in hospital back home, I wrote him a letter.” Wetting my lips, I look down. “It seems silly, I know, but I didn’t want him to leave without knowing the truth.”
“Oh, gosh,” she breathes.
“Yeah,” I smile sadly at her. “I never thought I’d tell someone else—a man I absolutely adore—that the woman he’s been seeing for a while is actually a murderess.”
“Hey,” she admonishes me, “you’re not. It was self-defence, Laura. You know it as well as I do—and besides, that’s what the courts ruled aswell.”
“Even so, it’s not a tale I ever wanted to tell him.” My eyes brim with tears and this time, I allow them to fall. Completely unable to remain strong for another minute, and feeling achy all over, I just don’t have the strength to remain resilient anymore.
