Epilogue
West Country
That night, once the twins were in bed and asleep, they’d lit the fire against the autumn evening chill. Sarah and Hugo were sat on the sofa in front of it, drinks in hand, the Saturday night they’d had countless times over the years repeated one more time.
Them, wine, music.
Hugo was scrolling through his phone, choosing what to play over the speakers. “Any preference?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, your choice.”
She was trying to keep the tension out of her voice, but inside she was a mess, her heart hammering against her ribcage.
“Did I tell you about the two sixth formers from Wednesday?”
Sarah shook her head. “No.”
Hugo smiled, and launched into the tale of the two pupils at his school caught doing the sort of thing together that their parents presumably wouldn’t have approved of, and certainly weren’t paying their fees for.
Sarah listened, and asked questions, and smiled at the right moments just like she always did. Performing the role.
When he finished they sat in silence for a few moments. The only noise was the pop of a log on the fire.
It’s time, she realised, her mouth going dry. Now or never.
She looked across at Hugo. He was a good man. He deserved better than a wife who couldn’t love him like he deserved to be loved. She knew it, but it didn’t make it any easier.
“Hugo,” she tried to say, but it came out as a whisper.
He looked back and smiled. “Yes?”
His smile… she very nearly lost her nerve. How can I do this to him? But she knew she had to, she knew she must.
Sarah took a deep breath and sat up straighter in her chair.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”