Chapter 37
THIRTY-SEVEN
Gracie felt like she was watching herself in slow motion. She tried to regain her balance, but at the speed she was running, there was no chance of stopping her fall. She yelped in pain as she hit the pavement with force and she lay there, for a second, praying she had not broken anything and that nobody had seen her.
That would teach her for running away from her emotions. What was Lewis thinking of? How could she say yes to marrying him? Why did he even think she might say yes? He had said that he loved her hysterectomy scar. She had so wanted him to love that scar. God, she was confused.
A woman in her mid-forties, with cropped hair dyed a bright red, helped her to her feet. Her voice was soft and comforting: ‘Come on, let me help you up, you poor thing. Now, where are you hurting?’
Gracie lifted her damaged leg off the ground, like a flamingo. Her right elbow and left knee were badly cut.
‘Here…’ The woman led her to a wall nearby. She picked up Gracie’s bag, which had flown to the edge of the pavement, and put it by her side. ‘Now, let me take a look at you.’
Gracie was mute as the kind lady continued. ‘I’ve just come off my A we had IVF; I got pregnant… with twins.’ Her voice wobbled at the word ‘twins’.
Ed was visibly upset. But now she’d started, she had to finish.
Tears filled her eyes. ‘Obviously, I lost them and, with a following hysterectomy, my ability to have children, too.’
‘You poor love.’ Ed kissed her forehead.
‘And that’s when we started to grow apart. I went into myself. I didn’t lose my baby weight, didn’t feel attractive. Lewis went off me. He slept with someone else… a woman who used to sit opposite me at work.’ Her voice tailed off and she exhaled deeply.
‘What a twat.’ Ed shook his head.
Gracie winced at this comment. ‘He was hurting, too.’
‘Gracie, don’t make excuses for him. Love is love. I can’t believe he didn’t see what was in front of him. You’ve been through hell. How could he not wrap you up and protect you? And look at him now, tail between his legs thinking he can just get you back, now that he’s ready.’
Gracie bit her lip. ‘I’m so confused.’
‘I’m not surprised you are. I can’t think of anything more traumatic for a woman to go through, especially as you’re so young. Losing the babies would throw most people, without your tosser of a boyfriend being a complete and utter dick. You’re strong, Gracie, and you should never doubt yourself.’
‘Really?’ Her voice quivered.
‘Really.’ Ed bent to kiss her. She closed her eyes. It felt so lovely. He had said all the right things. Maybe he did care. Maybe he was just nervous the other night. They kissed gently, slowly, lovingly.
Standing up, Ed laughed. ‘My back is killing.’
Gracie stood up and winced again.
‘Keep those bandages on for a couple of days, I would.’
‘Yes, Doctor Duke.’ Gracie smiled.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Now there’s a thought. Doctors and nurses. Haven’t played that in years.’
Gracie laughed. ‘Yeah, right. Maybe not tonight, though, eh? As much as I’d like you to administer an injection, Doctor Duke, I think I need to go home to my own bed.’
Ed pulled up in his van up outside Naomi’s place and turned off the engine. He was torn about whether or not to tell his beautiful passenger about his current terrifying predicament. She had opened up to him about something so delicate and he was sure she would be supportive. But it didn’t seem fair to add to her troubles tonight. No, there would be a right time, he was sure.
He took off his seatbelt and leant over to kiss her. Then cupping her face gently in both of his hands, he looked right at her.
‘No more running, eh, Gracie?’ He rubbed his nose gently with hers. ‘Unless it’s to me.’