Chapter 29
Over the next three weeks, Aurelia and Vronsky developed a routine: they wrote together at night; Aurelia edited their draft during quiet moments in the day; and then they reviewed the draft the following night before beginning to write again.
A few times now she’d remembered how Oliver had described writing as just that—a routine—and she’d smiled to think she was finally back in it.
The shop took up most of her time as the holidays approached, giving her only spare minutes to write and edit during the day and driving her to make the most of her writing time with Vronsky at night.
A few times some of her regular customers, like Sophie and Mark, had caught her scribbling away and asked what she was working on, but Aurelia wasn’t yet ready to tell them about her project.
It was all part of the compounding secret of her new double life.
Keeping her writing a secret from her customers was easier than keeping it from David.
She found herself telling him about it on a cold Sunday morning when they met for coffee and a long walk around Hampstead Heath.
David was waiting for her at the Tube station on the high street, wearing a hat she remembered Aunt Marigold knitting for him.
Aurelia smiled at the sight of it, which marked the first time in a long time that she didn’t feel like crying over stirred-up memories.
David filled Aurelia in on school, the never-ending renovation of the guest bathroom at his and James’s flat, and the progress he was making on his cooking blog.
He then turned expectantly to Aurelia, waiting for her to fill him in on what had been keeping her busy.
She told him that the shop was in full swing with holiday shoppers, and then paused.
What else could she tell him? She looked over and saw his frown, knowing that he, like Antonia, was probably worrying that she was keeping too much to herself at the shop.
In a spark of inspiration, she shared the one part of her new secret life that she could.
“I’ve also started writing again.”
“You have? Really?”
The eagerness in David’s voice made her break into a grin.
“I really have.”
“Finally!” he exclaimed, stopping in the middle of the gravel path where they’d been walking. “Was it all of my bullying that did it?”
“I’ll let you believe that, sure.”
“What are you working on, then? Your novel?”
“No—well, it’s a novel, but not the one I was working on before.” She let ‘before’ hang there, knowing David would understand. “It’s something new.”
“I’m so proud of you,” he said as he gave her a hug. “You’ve been sitting on your talent for much too long.” He held her at arm’s length and looked her full in the eyes. “We’re out for a walk, you’re writing again—you’re finally back.”
She felt the all-too-familiar pricking of tears in her eyes and gave David a nudge.
“I’ve kept it together all day, and now you’ve blown it,” she joked with a sniffle.
“Well, I can’t help being excited for you,” he said, hugging her again. “When can I read it? What about James? Oh, maybe he can publish it!”
“Hang on! I’m just happy to be writing again,” Aurelia said, laughing. “I don’t think it’s going to turn into something I could publish, but it just feels good to know I can still do it.”
“I knew you could,” David said sincerely.
“I love you, but if you make me cry…” she threatened.
“Okay, okay,” he said, taking her arm in his and continuing down the path. “Why don’t I tell you all about the lamprey pie I made last night?”
“That sounds horrendous, but in the interest of me not weeping, let’s hear it.”
Then, kissing his cheek, she added softly, “Thank you.”