Chapter 52
FIFTY-TWO
‘At least it’s your left arm.’ Gracie greeted Lewis in the coffee shop with a smile. ‘Can I sign the cast?’
‘Gracie, that’s what we used to do when we were ten.’
She laughed. ‘Time to grow up, Ms Davies?’
Lewis looked serious. ‘No, it’s not. Don’t ever change, Gracie Davies. I love you just the way you are. What are we doing laughing together, anyway? Last time I saw you, you were busy with your gardener friend.’
Gracie knew she needed to be honest; she couldn’t risk getting his hopes up. ‘I… err. I guess I miss you, too, Lewis, but I’m not ready for anything more than just seeing you like this… for a chat…’
‘As friends, you mean?’
Gracie nodded.
‘I’ve got enough friends, Gracie. It wouldn’t work. Seeing you with the Neanderthal on the common the other week just about finished me off. Are you still seeing him?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘What do you mean you don’t know? Actually, I don’t want to know. How’s the event business going these days?’
‘Brilliantly. It really does make me happy. I should have done something on my own years ago. Of course it helps that I have a free roof to sleep under. Not so much pressure to have to do well.’
‘I would have supported you, once we’d paid off the IVF, you know that. I mean, I was going to have to when the babies came anyway.’
The mention of ‘the babies’ made Gracie take a deep breath.
Lewis looked pained. ‘How are you feeling about it all now – our loss, I mean?’
‘If I’m honest, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it, but it is easing. I don’t wake up every day now thinking about what could have been. I do struggle with the thought of never being able to get pregnant again, though.’ Gracie sighed.
Lewis put his hand on hers. ‘I know. I would always have adopted with you.’ He paused. ‘I still would.’
Gracie shook her head. ‘Don’t say that. I’m so confused at the moment about everything.’
Lewis welled up. ‘It’s fine. It’s just amazing to see you, smell you, talk to you. I never thought I could miss anyone this much.’
Gracie gulped. ‘Oh, Lewis. Why did you do what you did?’
‘Let’s not down this road again.’ He sighed deeply. ‘I can’t say any more than I am deeply sorry and I will never do it again. I just wish you could forgive me.’
Gracie’s voice wobbled. ‘So I take it you haven’t met anyone else, then?’
Lewis snapped. ‘Of course I haven’t. Every time I close my eyes, there is only one woman in front of me.’
As Gracie began to believe in him again, she noticed him second glance at the counter, then go white as a sheet.
‘What’s wrong, Lewis, are you in pain?’
‘No, no, it’s nothing. Come on, let’s go. This side door leads out to Retford Street, doesn’t it?’
As Gracie stared to see what had created his reaction, she felt bile slowly rising in her throat. For there at the café counter, adorned in designer maternity wear and ordering a decaff skinny latte, was an obviously pregnant Annalize.
Gracie decided to flee rather than fight. Keeping her head down, she charged out of the café onto the street; Lewis threw money on the table and followed swiftly.
He grabbed her by both arms – she was now completely uncontrollable.
‘No, no, no! How could you have kept this from me? Fuck off away from me.’ She pushed him back and he winced in pain as she caught his bad arm.
‘You have to believe me, Gracie! This is as much of a shock to me as you… And who’s to say it’s my baby anyway?’
Gracie hailed a taxi and scrambled in.
‘I hate you, Lewis. I hate you more than I ever thought I could.’