Free Bye Bye Baby by Fiona McIntosh Page A

didn’t make her feel quite so warm inside. She covered her left hand with her right and twirled the beautiful diamond solitaire that Dan had given her when he’d proposed on a romantic spring weekend in Marlow last year. It had been directly after some ‘morning glory’, as he liked to call it, and they were both tousled and drowsy in that warm, sticky cocoon of arms and legs that lovemaking provokes. Kate recalled how she’d wept when he pulled a black velvet box from beneath his pillow and, without hesitation or awkwardness, kissed her deeply and asked her to marry him. She hadn’t been able to speak for a few moments, and had always believed it was because of the rush of the emotion, the tears, the happiness, but now she was beginning to understand why she’d cried and taken that time to answer Dan. It was because she really wasn’t sure that she loved him in the way he loved her, in the way that people who plan to marry, have a family and grow old together should. But she was already into her early thirties, and her two sisters, both younger than her, were married and starting to tease her about still being a spinster.
    ‘Penny for your thoughts,’ Jack said into the heavy silence.

    ‘I was just thinking whether to be a thoroughly modern bride and not get married at all. Or whether to go through the whole ceremony thing so my mother won’t feel robbed and just opt for white chocolate cake as my act of rebellion.’
    ‘Mmm, that second option is definitely subversive. Very modern.’
    ‘Yes, maybe that’s the way to go. And Dan likes white chocolate.’
    ‘And you?’
    ‘Oh, I’m a bitter chocolate kind of a gal, I’m afraid.’
    ‘Milky Bars are for babies, I agree.’ He gave her one of those soft smiles, and Kate realised he had sensed her awkwardness about her forthcoming wedding, perhaps even about Dan.
    He changed the subject and began regaling her with tall stories of how he and Geoff nearly didn’t make it through their cadetship. By the time they caught sight of Lincoln’s magnificent cathedral through the drizzly haze that the windscreen wipers did little to improve, she was laughing delightedly, lost in his tales, but she also noticed she hadn’t stopped twirling her engagement ring.
    Clare felt Garvan’s hand squeeze her shoulder. He’d been acting strangely for the past couple of days: distracted and forgetful. After being so close for thirty-five years of marriage, Clare was suddenly feeling left out from her husband’s life.
    ‘Want a coffee, love? I could murder one,’ he said.
    ‘Who was that on the phone?’
    ‘Nothing important,’ he said, moving to put water in the kettle.
    ‘Why so secretive?’

    He looked at her, surprised. ‘No secret. A doctor’s appointment, that’s all. I’d forgotten it was today actually.’
    ‘Since when does a doctor’s surgery call its patients?’ she asked, her tone disbelieving.
    He closed the tap. ‘When the doctor’s not going to be in for some reason and they need to change the appointment.’
    She looked at him long and hard. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
    Garvan flicked the switch on the kettle. ‘I have to get something for this sore throat.’
    Clare moved away, irritated by his manner. She knew this man too well and he was hiding something. ‘Don’t forget to ring Peter,’ she said.
    ‘I plan to call him straight after my coffee. I think I’m going to dig out all my fishing tackle.’
    ‘What? How long’s it been?’
    ‘Fifteen years, probably.’
    ‘What’s brought this on?’
    He shrugged. Busied himself making the coffee. ‘Want one, love?’
    She shook her head and walked away to the sitting room, inwardly berating herself for overreacting. His mind was probably elsewhere because of this big potential contract Peter was waiting to hear about. Both of them knew it would change their son’s life if the deal went ahead. He could afford to buy a house, get on with getting married and starting his own family.