Chapters (51)
- Cover
- Praise for A Season for Second Chances
- Also by Jenny Bayliss
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Discussion Guide
- About the Author
- What’s next onyour reading list?
Pepe’s was open, every table full, the smell of garlic and caramelized onions bursting into the air every time the door was opened. Nory thought about her empty fridge and barren cupboards and considered going in and ordering a takeaway, but she couldn’t face Anthony’s friendly greeting; she suspected that if anybody paid her the slightest kindness she would collapse into floods of tears. Instead, she ducked into the corner shop—where the staff only spoke to tell you the cost of your items—and bought herself two KitKat Chunkys and a Pot Noodle. It was a far cry from the gourmet pleasures she’d enjoyed for the last seven days, but given her mood, it felt fitting that her dinner should be crap too.
Her mum called as Nory was drinking the dregs of the salty broth straight out of the Pot Noodle tub.
“Hello, love, Ameerah called me. She’s filled me in on what’s happened.”
Of course she did.
“Right.”
“How are you doing?”
“Not so good, but I’ll be okay.”
“I can’t believe Isaac wouldn’t let you explain yourself. I’d expected more from him; he always seems like such a nice boy, but I suppose you never can tell.”
“It’s not Isaac’s fault, Mum. It’s mine and Guy’s. Whichever way you look at it, I betrayed Isaac’s trust.”
“I don’t like the sound of this Guy at all. Ameerah said you went to school together. And he’s married too!”
“Yes. All of the above.”
“Can’t you just talk to Isaac?”
“Mum, he doesn’t want to talk to me, and I don’t blame him.”
“Maybe Thom, or your dad could?”
“Oh god, Mum, no!”
“They might be able to help. Thom and Isaac go way back, and I think Isaac’s always looked up to your dad . . .”
“Mum, do not get Thom or Dad to talk to Isaac. That is the worst possible course of action you could take. In fact, please don’t tell Thom about Heba’s books. Isaac never wanted anyone to know, and I’ve already told too many people.”
“I only want to help, love. That’s a mother’s job. When our babies are hurt, we fix it.”
“I appreciate the offer and I understand that it comes from a good place, but you can’t fix this, Mum.”