Chapter 12
E lisabeth. His heart fluttered in his chest. Conrad had forgotten she would be here. For months, he’d managed to avoid her.
He took in the cascade of long, silky blonde hair and the high cheekbones of a woman who knew she was beautiful. All his mates had envied him. They had led a busy social life back then, and she’d been the crown jewel, the woman who turned every head when she walked beside him.
Conrad swallowed, watching her glide toward him with that mysterious smile on her perfectly symmetric face.
“Hi.” Her voice was like a gentle breeze. “I’m surprised.”
Conrad frowned. “Surprised?”
“To see you here today. I thought you were avoiding me.” Her fingers brushed his shoulder, and he tensed involuntarily.
She wasn’t wrong .
“Yeah, well.” There was no point pretending otherwise. Besides, she might think he was here to make amends. Far from it. “We had an emergency, so I had to step in.”
“Ah.” The light in her eyes dimmed slightly, and she glanced out the window.
She seemed hurt. For a fleeting moment, he felt the urge to tell her he missed her, and that she looked as stunning as ever.
No. It was all for show.
He should know better. He wouldn’t let her play him today. Or ever.
“Don’t turn the tables around.” Conrad’s voice as tough as steel. “You’re the one who bailed on me, remember?”
“If that’s how you see it. My memory’s a bit different, but it was a long time ago.” A half-smile tugging at her full lips. “What emergency? Anything I can help with?”
“Stop pretending you care.” His hostility should make her leave. He wanted her to leave. His life was better without her in it.
“I always cared, Conrad. Maybe too much.” Her gaze focused on his eyes. “I don’t know what you remember, but you can’t blame it all on me. You never cared enough to stop me from leaving.”
Now that was rich.
“The only thing you cared about was my money. The moment I went under during COVID, you dropped me in a heartbeat.”
Her cheeks flushed. She pressed her lips together, but she didn’t look away.
“I don’t want to argue with you, but for your information, I was surprised you even noticed I’d left. You only remembered me when you needed to show off in town. With COVID, there was no need for me anymore, was there?”
“What a pile of rubbish.”
Her eyes glistened, and she swallowed hard.
“Maybe to you.” She looked away, gathering herself. “Anyway, I just wanted to say hello.” She turned to leave.
Conrad took a deep breath. “Wait. I’m sorry.”
Why was he so hostile? It had been two years since she’d left. He should have got over it by now.
“You’re right. It was a long time ago.”
Elisabeth looked at him with an unreadable expression. “Do you really believe I only cared about your money?”
Of course. What else? Conrad sighed, not sure what to say. She was right. There was no point arguing about the old days.
“It felt like that to me.”
“I thought we had fun together. Sure, maybe our lifestyles were different, but when we were actually together, it felt right to me.” A melancholic smile appeared on her face. “But clearly not for you.”
He nodded.“It was great, as you said, when we spent time together. But in between ... ”
“In between, you were never there,” she finished, almost to herself. She shook her head. “I get it now. I couldn’t compete with your job. It was stupid to think I could.”
Wait, what? He blinked. “My job? What does that have to do with you leaving me because I had no money for you to spend?”
“What?” Elisabeth chuckled, though he could see his words had stung her. Again. He was a real prince charming today. “You thought I left because of your money?”
Conrad cleared his throat. “Yes.” He raked a hand through his hair, feeling a knot forming in his stomach. Had he been wrong all this time?
“I thought you knew me better than this.” She shook her head, eyes dropping to the floor. “No. I left because you were not there. You were never there.”
He had to strain his ears to hear her.
“Whenever I offered to help with the business to be closer to you, you’d just hand me your credit card and brush me off. You kept pushing me out. I was lonely.”
He frowned, feeling the weight of her words. Memories stirred, half-buried under years of resentment. She was right—she’d tried to be involved, to support him.
“And when the COVID hit and you had to be at home, I thought I finally got my chance. Boy, I was wrong ... ” her voice broke, and she glanced out the window.
Conrad touched her shoulder. She wasn’t faking it now, and he remembered. Scotch. Lots of it.
“I’m sorry, Elisabeth. I remember now.”
And he did. The past came back tumbling—the blurred days and endless nights, her hands holding his head over the toilet, pushing water into his dry lips, her tears as she begged him to get help. And then the silence when she’d finally left.
Conrad opened his mouth, gasping for air. “I’m so sorry. I—” What could he even say? That he’d forgotten? That his brain conveniently had blamed it all on her?
Elisabeth placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “It’s in the past now.”
Conrad covered her warm hand with his. “But how can I ever make up for what I did?”
She smirked, but in a joyful way. “Well, you can stop avoiding me for a start. I’m not your enemy.”
“Done” He managed a small smile, but his gaze grew serious again. “But that’s not enough. Do you need anything? You’re with the group today, right? Can I get you something to take away, or ... ?” His eyes darted around, searching for some tangible way to make amends.
She laughed. Out loud. He’d forgotten how much she liked that laughter.
“I’m fine, and you’re trying too hard. I was serious when I said it’s all in the past. Because—” Elisabeth cleared her throat. “Well, I met someone and—” Her eyes widened, locking onto his. “—we’re getting married.”
Conrad wasn’t entirely sure he’d heard her correctly, as her voice was barely audible, like she was afraid of something.
“Are you happy?” It was the first thought that came to mind.
“Yes,” she said, her voice filled with quiet conviction. “I am.”
“Then it’s fantastic news! I’m so glad you found the happiness you truly deserve.” And for once, he meant it. Odd sensation. If someone had told him an hour ago that he’d be genuinely happy to hear Elisabeth was engaged, Conrad would have laughed.
“Thank you.” She blushed. “I heard you got married too.”
“Ah, yeah.” He looked over at the bar, where Louise was expertly managing the till; her face lit up with concentration.
“She’s pretty.”
“What?”
Elisabeth nodded toward Louise. “Your wife. That’s her, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but—” He couldn’t tell her it was fake. And pretty much over.
“What,” she said, raising an eyebrow with a teasing glint in her eyes, “are you worried she doesn’t love you as much as you love her?”
Conrad laughed, opening his mouth to say something, but what exactly, he wasn’t sure. Deny? Admit? What?
“No need to worry. I saw how she looked at you,” Elisabeth said softly. “And I noticed you checking on her earlier.”
How was Louise looking at him? He wanted Elisabeth to tell him more, but without revealing it was a fake marriage, he wasn’t sure how to ask. Besides, Elisabeth had been his girlfriend once. Wouldn’t that make this conversation ... awkward?
“I’m happy for you, too. I truly am.” Elisabeth hugged him, her lips brushing his cheek. “I need to go now, but let’s not be strangers anymore, promise?”
“You got it.”
As she turned to leave, he watched her walk away, a strange mix of nostalgia and closure settling over him. The bitterness, the anger—all of it finally began to ease. For the first time, he felt ready to let her go.
***
?
A nnie glanced at Conrad and Elisabeth. They did look cosy. Was he still seeing her while being married? Heat crept up Annie’s neck, and she turned away from the scene.
“Stop meddling, Linda,” Sophie said, her tone sharper than before.
“I just say what I see.” Linda clicked her tongue. “Well, it’s time for me, anyway.”
The screech of a bar stool dragged Annie’s attention back to the room.
“Lovely to meet you, love.” Linda nodded toward Annie while gathering her purse and her brown jacket that matched her scarf.
“Likewise.” Annie forced a polite smile, struggling to keep her focus on the older woman as the scene by the window drew her back like a magnet.
Were they still there? Touching? What if he kissed her? No, he wouldn’t. Would he?
Annie knitted her eyebrows. What should she do if he did?
Linda strolled out of the pub, waving at people as she passed. Once the door closed behind her, Annie risked a glance toward the window. Still there, Conrad’s hand over Elisabeth’s.
Stop. Annie shook her head, grabbing a cloth and wiping the bar top with such determination that her own reflection began to shimmer on the polished surface.
No, she couldn’t just leave it like this. She had to know.
“Sophie, is it true?”
“What, Mrs Brenman?” Sophie’s response was muffled, her cheeks bulging with a bite of blueberry muffin. Annie’s stomach gurgled.
Sophie pushed a plate of pastries toward her. “Please, help yourself. The Hiker’s Club will be here any minute, so we don’t have time for a proper lunch.”
Annie’s hand hovered over the plate, her eyes flicking to Sophie’s. “So, is it true what Linda said about Conrad and that Elisabeth woman?” She nodded toward the bay window, even as her fingers selected a banana muffin with white chocolate.
“Well, some of it, yes.”
Annie studied Sophie’s eyes, framed by the eyeliner and fake lashes. “Which part?” she pressed, her tone deceptively light as she picked at the muffin.
“They used to date. But it’s all over now, I can assure you, Mrs Brenman.” Sophie blinked and swallowed, looking as though she feared saying too much.
“Look, I’m not going to get upset about the past.” Annie dragged a stool from under the bar top and sat down as if the topic were casual. “I’m just curious. How long?” She broke off a piece of the muffin, pretending to be disinterested.
“They were dating for? Or since they broke up?”
“Both.”
“Well—” The young woman licked her lips—her purple tongue dyed by the blueberries. “They split up during the first COVID year, or so I heard. I don’t know exactly, as we were all on furlough until the year after.”
Have they seen each other since?
Annie opened her mouth to ask but stopped, reaching for an almond croissant instead and breaking off a corner. If she said nothing, maybe Sophie would reveal more.
“As for how long they were dating—” Sophie looked away toward the pub entrance. “Ahem.”
She clicked her tongue, clearly stalling. Annie waited for a moment longer, but it was clear that the young bartender needed encouragement to say more.
With her eyes on Sophie, Annie said, “Linda mentioned they were on-off, so I assume months at a time.”
Sophie nodded.
“But how long since the very first time they hooked up?” Annie pressed.
Sophie cleared her throat and whispered something Annie couldn’t hear as the door to the pub burst open, and the loud clang of the bell reverberated around the pub.
“Oh, look, the Hiker’s Club is here!” Sophie brushed off the crumbs of her T-shirt and dashed toward the far end of the bar.
Annie grimaced. Saved by the bell. Literally.
A group of hikers poured into the pub, boots scuffing the floor and hiking sticks tapping the ground as they flowed toward a long wooden table. They looked more like a beer crowd than pastry enthusiasts.
Annie’s eyes darted back to the bay window just in time to see Elisabeth leaning toward Conrad. Her eyes opened wider.
No, they wouldn’t.
Not with so many prying eyes watching. Not in front of her. Annie swallowed, her heart thumping in her chest. What would she do if ... What should she do as Conrad’s wife, if ...
“If they kissed,” she murmured, unable to look away.
Elisabeth’s lips brushed Conrad’s cheek, and then she pulled back. Annie felt dizzy from relief.
She watched as Elisabeth weaved through the growing crowd, her blonde hair swaying. Annie’s chest tightened. I wish I could be like her to someone. It was obvious Conrad loved Elisabeth. Annie had no doubts about it.
A wistful sigh escaped her lips, her shoulders sagging. Not only was this marriage nothing more than a financial transaction, but now she was also the other woman . Of course, she had no right to feel upset, given their arrangement.
But it stung anyway.
***
?
C onrad locked the door behind the last of the singing groups. Some patrons clearly hadn’t realised it wasn’t karaoke night. He stretched his arms, cracked his neck, and strolled back to the bar.
Louise was wiping the counter with a cloth, stacking coasters into a neat pile. Her face looked ashen, framed by dark circles under her eyes.
“Please, sit down, Lou.” Conrad grabbed the nearest high-backed chair and placed it behind the counter. “You’ve done enough for one night.”
He gently removed the dishcloth from her numb fingers, guiding her toward the chair, but she stumbled and fell into his arms. Not that he was about to complain.
“I don’t know how we would’ve coped tonight without you.”
Holding her in a protective hug, he tilted her chin up so he could see her face. “You seem tired. Ready to go home?”
She nodded but didn’t pull away, resting her head on his chest instead. If it was up to him, they could stay like this forever.
“I’m sorry about the Isle of Wight trip,” he murmured into her ear, simply to keep her close. “We can’t go tomorrow either—I’ve got a meeting Thursday morning, so I need to be in town. But what about a long weekend instead?”
Conrad loosened his embrace just enough to see her face. Her green eyes had lost their spark. “What do you think?”
Louise’s head bobbed in a half-hearted nod. “Yeah, fine.”
“Oh, boy, let’s get you into the car.” Conrad gently released her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to guide her toward the back door.
Colton and Sophie waited outside.
“Sophie, I’ve lined up a full squad for tomorrow from the local agency. Plus, Bob from The Swan will also be there to back you up, so you won’t have to manage the rookies alone.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic news, Mr Brenman.” Sophie beamed, visibly relieved.
It was great news indeed. He had called a few agencies before he secured a temporary replacement until the end of the week.
“Do you need a lift, Sophie?”
His bartender blushed. “No, I’ve got someone waiting for me.”
Conrad hid his grin, knowing how embarrassed she’d feel if he joked about it. “Thank you for your great work today. You are a star.”
Another blush, but with a smile. “I would’ve been lost without Mrs Brenman. She’s the one who should be thanked, not me.”
Conrad smiled. “I totally agree.”
Louise stirred, raising her head as if snapping out of a trance. She shifted and stepped to a side, breaking the bond between them. His arm flopped uselessly to his side, and he rubbed his hands against his thighs, to give them something to do.
He tilted his head and looked into his wife’s half-closed eyes. “If I didn’t know you were majoring in art, Lou, I’d say you’ve been running pubs your whole life.” He chuckled, watching Louise’s eyes grow bigger.
“I just did what needed doing.” Her cheeks flushed a deep red, a stark contrast to her pale complexion. It seemed not only Sophie had a hard time accepting compliments.
“Right, ready to go?” His comment wasn’t directed at anyone in particular, but Colton nodded, retrieving the car keys from his pocket.
“I’ll bring the car around, Mr Conrad. No need for Ms Louise to walk all the way.”
“Good thinking, thank you, Colton,” Conrad said.
The older man turned on his heel as Sophie chimed in, “I’ll join you. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Brenman.”
“Likewise,” Louise said, managing a faint smile.
As they left, Sophie glanced back and added, “Oh, and don’t pay any attention to Linda’s words. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Linda’s words? Conrad knitted his eyebrows, pondering this cryptic statement while watching his bartender and Colton disappear into the alley leading to the car park.
“What was that about?” he asked, turning to Louise.
His wife seemed suddenly more awake than a minute ago. “Well.” She sucked the air through her mouth and looked away, so her words barely reached him. “She said you’re in love with Elisabeth.”
Wow.
That was a loaded statement. He was—and he wasn’t. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure anymore what his feelings for Elisabeth even were.
Louise’s shoulders stiffened. She turned to face him, stepping closer until he could feel the warmth radiating from her body.
“Are you?” Her eyes searched his face, seeing through him like he was transparent.
Lying wasn’t an option. But what was the truth? And would the truth shatter any chance this fragile marriage had of surviving?
“Honestly, I don’t know anymore.” He sighed, his voice softer now. “Until today, I resented her, but now ... ”
“Now what?” Her breath was tickling his face.
Exactly. Now what? Right now, he wasn’t thinking about Elisabeth at all—just the emerald-green eyes locked on him and the full lips only inches away.
“Things weren’t how I remembered them,” he admitted. “But now, I think I can finally let go.”
Conrad leaned closer, his hands finding her waist. He stroked her back, pulling her gently toward him. She didn’t resist. His heart thudded as he tilted his head, their lips only a whisper apart.
She tensed in his arms. “Will you see her again?”
Ouch.
“Probably,” he murmured honestly, and his wife shifted in his arms, increasing the distance between their lips.
“And you might too.” He forced himself to keep his tone casual. “We’ve got an invitation to her wedding.”
Louise blinked, her surprise evident. “A wedding?”
The moment was gone—maybe for the better. What was he doing anyway? This wasn’t supposed to be a romantic relationship, was it? He didn’t need it, anyway, did he?
“Yes, Elisabeth’s getting married and invited us to her wedding.”
His wife, free from his embrace, rubbed her arms, avoiding his gaze. “And how do you feel about it?”
“I’m happy for her.” The words flew off his lips with ease.
“Really?” Louise’s voice was quiet, almost wistful. “Because you looked like you wanted to be married to her, not me.”
Her words carried a hint of jealousy, and it stirred something unexpected in him. A flicker of hope. Was she ... jealous?
A small smile tugged at his lips. “I mean it.”
The feeling of calm and resolve enveloped him. He was now certain of two things: he was genuinely happy for Elisabeth, and he couldn’t let this marriage—this chance with Louise—slip away. He’d already screwed up too much in his life. This time, he had to make it work.?