This Could Change Everything(85)

‘You never know, it might all work out OK,’ said Lucas.

‘That’s such a nice thing to say. And after everything I did to you.’ The tears flowed faster, dripping off her chin. ‘You and me, we were so happy together, weren’t we? I’ve managed to ruin the best relationship of my life.’

He shook his head. ‘No you haven’t. The best relationship of your life is going to be with that baby of yours, and that’s all that matters right now. You need to look after yourself.’

‘It’d almost be easier if you yelled at me,’ said Giselle.

He managed a brief smile. ‘Well I’m not going to.’

‘I deserve it.’

‘But it wouldn’t change anything,’ said Lucas. ‘Would it?’





Chapter 41


All was quiet outside the hotel. Essie was in her room, curled up on the broad window seat with her feet tucked beneath her, gazing out at the lights reflected on the water across the main street. Sleep was out of the question. It had been over an hour now since she’d left Lucas and Giselle to talk things through, and she still had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Were they still talking, or had it all been sorted? Had Giselle suffered a hormonal wobble that had caused her to panic and flee, and had Lucas reassured her that everything would be fine, that he loved her more than anything and together they’d get through this? Were they at this moment indulging in passionate make-up sex . . .?

Not wanting to dwell on that last thought, Essie told herself that whatever her own squashed-down feelings for Lucas, it would undeniably be the best outcome. Because this wasn’t simply a case of two people deciding whether to remain a couple, was it? There was a baby involved.

Her phone rang. Paul again. Oh God, this time he was FaceTiming her.

Tempting though it was to ignore the call, Essie answered it. Paul’s handsome, unamused face filled the screen and he said without preamble, ‘Where are you?’

‘In my hotel room.’

‘And where’s Lucas?’

‘In his hotel room, talking to his girlfriend.’

‘Show me your room,’ Paul instructed.

‘Seriously? Why, do you think Lucas might be hiding under the bed?’

‘I don’t know, do I? That’s why I’m asking.’

At that moment, a switch flipped in Essie’s head. She looked at the man she’d tried so hard to be happy about being back together with, and knew it was never going to work. She said evenly, ‘Shall I tell you something? If I wanted to spend a night in a hotel with Lucas, I wouldn’t drive five hundred and seventy miles to do it. We’d probably settle for somewhere just outside Bath.’

He visibly bristled. ‘Listen to yourself. You’ve changed.’

‘I have.’ Essie nodded. ‘And you still haven’t told your mother that you’ve been seeing me again.’

‘That’s because—’

‘It’s OK, doesn’t matter any more. You don’t need to tell her.’

Paul gestured with irritation. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Well, it’s not working out, is it? You don’t trust me. And your mum’s never going to stop hating me. We gave it a trial run, but I think our relationship’s pretty much died a death, don’t you?’ With every word, Essie felt herself growing lighter; it really was the most incredible sensation. Unable to prevent a smile spreading across her face, she said joyfully, ‘We may as well call it a day.’

‘But . . . but . . .’

She ended the call, leaving Paul gaping like a fish on the screen. Phew, that was one job she could now tick off her to-do list. Although it really should have been done before. And there was no need to feel sorry for Paul; his pride might be bruised, but he’d recover in no time at all. Deep down, he knew as well as she did that resurrecting their relationship would never work.

Downstairs, a door opened and closed. Essie leaned forward, resting her face against the cold glass, and saw someone leaving the hotel. Her heart did a dolphin leap when she realised it was Giselle, walking alone down the street with her long auburn ringlets bouncing around her shoulders and her hands plunged into the pockets of her favourite purple coat.

What had happened? It was impossible to tell. Within half a minute, Giselle had turned left down a side street and disappeared from view.

Essie looked at her phone. She could call or text Lucas. But he knew she was here and he knew she’d be waiting to discover the outcome of the meeting. Far better to leave it up to him.

Twenty minutes later, there had still been no word. While she was in the en suite bathroom brushing her teeth, Essie heard the same sound of the door opening and closing downstairs and instantly pictured Giselle running back into the hotel to throw herself into Lucas’s arms . . .

It was the not knowing that was the unbearable part. Skidding out of the bathroom and across the bedroom, she flung herself onto the window seat, almost knocking out her front teeth as the handle of the toothbrush went clonk against the glass. OK, if there was no one outside, that meant it could be Giselle returning . . .

But there was someone out there, and it was Lucas, instantly recognisable in his navy polo shirt and jeans. She watched him rake his fingers through his dark hair as he stood and surveyed first the street, then the sea.