We Both Have Secrets

Prologue

Before I begin, you have to understand how much I love you. You might question that once you find out what I’ve kept from you, but it’s true. I couldn’t have asked for any more from you. You’ve been a wonderful wife to me and an even better mother to our girls.

I also want to say that I am sorry. Deeply sorry. What I’m about to say is going to blow our lives apart. But there’s nothing else for it. I’ve tried so hard to keep it from you, not wanting to cause you pain. But I can’t hide it any longer. I wasn’t made for a double life.

You deserve the truth. But I don’t know if there’s any coming back from this, Ellen. And I’m terrified that you won’t ever forgive me…

Torn hurriedly from his notebook, Robert’s letter was damp and creased in Ellen’s hand, its words burned into her brain.

As she stood alone on the beach, all she could see were family groups sprawled out on the sand.

Happy holidaying parents and children, spending time with one another.

It felt like a blink ago that this was them.

Robert, Ellen, Grace and Abigail. How had she got to here?

Searching for her husband to beg him to tell her the truth.

And their girls. She felt a stab of pain in her stomach at the thought of having to tell them that their parents’ marriage was over.

All she’d ever wanted for them was a stable home life, parents who were always there for them.

Hadn’t she even sacrificed her own career because it would have taken her away from home?

But as the tears started to pool in her eyes she had to acknowledge that the timing of this wasn’t a coincidence. Abigail leaving for university was the beginning of the end for their family. She had hoped that this might be the start of a new adventure for her and Robert.

He had clearly been thinking the opposite.