Page 31 of One More Time

Finally, he met her gaze and, cupping her cheeks, kissed her ever so gently. ‘Thank you for loving me like you do, my darling Grace, because I really don’t deserve it.’ He searched her eyes. ‘I will try and find a way to deal with my demons, once and for all, I promise you that.’

Grace wanted to believe him, so very much, but time would tell if he could break the cycle they’d been living in. Placing her hands over his, she nodded, biting her lip to try to stop herself from sobbing, but she couldn’t halt the few stray tears that fell.

Charlie wiped them away, the hurt in his eyes tugging her heartstrings. ‘I have to get to work. I’ll see you this afternoon?’

‘Yes.’ She straightened her shoulders. ‘Me too.’

‘Would you like me to wait so I can drop Hope off to day care on my way?’

‘No, she’s still asleep, but thanks, I’ll take her today.’ She wrapped her arms around herself while wishing they could get back to how they used to be. ‘How about I make us a pot roast for supper?’

‘That sounds delicious.’ A rare soft smile etched lines at the corners of his baby blues. ‘I love you, with all my heart, Grace, and I always will, no matter what.’

‘I love you too, very much.’ As if seeing him for the first time in forever, Grace noted the dimples on his cheeks that used to make her heart flutter. ‘Have a good day, won’t you?’ She watched him disappear out the doorway.

‘I’ll try to. You too,’ he called back.

Climbing the staircase, Grace paused at Hope’s doorway. Their little girl was still fast asleep, with her teddy bear cuddled to her chest. She looked so peaceful, her petite features softly lit by the sunlight peeking through the split in the curtains. Grace didn’t want to wake her, but if she wanted to get to the teashop on time, unlike yesterday, she had to get a move on. Between Hope’s wardrobe meltdown while trying to decide between her fairy dress and rainbow skirt, her refusal to eat her breakfast and a last-second trip to the toilet the minute they went to walk out the door, Grace had been almost an hour late. Jenny hadn’t minded, of course, but she felt terrible being tardy – a boss was meant to set an example. If only she could take the day off. She’d let Hope sleep in – heck, she’d sleep in – and then they could go to the park together and swing to and fro, build sandcastles on the beach and swim in the sea, then follow it all up with a banana split sundae at the ice creamery.

Grace sighed. Charlie’s shortage of sales over the past six months had meant low commissions, which meant she simply couldn’t afford to take any time off. It wasn’t his fault that the automobile market had bottomed out, but six days a week, ten hours a day, was beginning to take its toll on her.

Padding over to the single bed, she sat on the edge and placed a gentle hand on her daughter’s arm. ‘Hope, darling. It’s time to wake up.’

Stirring, Hope blinked her blue eyes open. ‘Hello, Mummy.’

‘Good morning, sunshine.’ Leaning in, Grace brushed dark locks from Hope’s face and kissed her cheek. ‘Did you have a nice sleep?’

‘Yes, thank you.’ Hope sat up and wrapped her arms around Grace. ‘I love you so much, Mummy.’

Grace took her in her arms and brought Hope with her as she stood. ‘Aw, sweetheart. I love you so much too. To the moon and back.’

‘That’s a really long way.’

‘Ha, yes, it is.’

Grace helped Hope to change out of her pyjamas and into a polka-dot two-piece – and was very pleased it only took five minutes – then took her downstairs for some scrambled eggs. Unlike yesterday, Hope was agreeable to everything and eager to help.

Leaving her to watch some cartoons, Grace headed back upstairs and rifled through her closet until she found her favourite dress and slipped it on. She surveyed herself in her duchess mirror – her eyes were a little bloodshot and her cheeks a little pale, but it was nothing some eyedrops and blush wouldn’t hide. She was getting good at papering over the cracks of their life. Too good, in fact; so much so that the very thought made her want to burst into tears.

Fifteen minutes later, her footfalls echoed on the hardwood floors as she made her way to the front door with Hope’s tiny hand clasped within hers. Every day she left Moonflower Acres, she had to let go of the woman she was while here – a mother, a wife, a housekeeper – so that when she walked through the doors of Serendipity, she was totally focused on her role there. It was a balancing act, and some days the scales would heavily tip one way. She hoped this wasn’t going to be one of those particular days.

The morning went quickly, and sometime during the lunchtime rush the phone rang. ‘Hello, Serendipity Teashop, Grace speaking.’

‘Is this Mrs Wilson?’ an official-sounding voice asked.

‘Yes, speaking.’ The phone gripped between her shoulder and ear, she continued beating the lemon and vanilla cake batter. ‘How can I help you?’

‘This is Doctor Hunter from the Sapphire Bay hospital.’ There was a short pause. ‘Your husband has had an accident, but don’t worry yourself, he’s recovering and is going to be fine.’

Grace forgot to breathe. ‘Oh my god, what’s happened?’

‘Well, it appears he was walking along Riley’s Ridge and has somehow fallen over the edge.’ The doctor’s tone was cautious, almost as if he as didn’t believe a word he was saying. ‘He seems a little … shall we say, intoxicated, which I think helped him land a little softer, which in turn prevented any broken bones.’

The doctor’s words struck her like a thunderclap. ‘He was drunk? At Riley’s Ridge? In the middle of the day?’ The hullaballoo of the tearoom faded into the background as she tried to get to grips with the situation. ‘What was he doing there? He’s meant to be working …’

He promised. Only hours ago, he swore to me that he was going to find a way.

‘I don’t know, Mrs Wilson.’ The doctor’s voice snapped her from her thoughts. ‘Perhaps you will have to talk to Mr Wilson about that when you collect him.’