Chapters (60)
- Cover
- Books by Sheryl Browne
- Dedication
- KARLA
- 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
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Epilogue
- The Affair
- Hear more from Sheryl
- Books by Sheryl Browne
- A Letter from Sheryl
- The Babysitter
- The Second Wife
- Acknowledgements
But then, Jason’s decisions affect my future too, and the children’s futures, I’d reasoned. I’ve supported Jason every step of the way while he’s been trying to build up his company, juggling the children and my job. I can’t work any harder. And, yes, I pulled away from him in bed last night, but only because I was upset and confused. I love Jason. I used to feel that I’d lost the other half of me. I found it in Jason. Found myself. I’ve never really gone for all that ‘he completes me’ stuff, but the truth is, Jason made me whole again. My father treated him contemptibly from the moment he met him, determined I shouldn’t marry him. Many other men would have been frightened off – or even paid off; I wouldn’t put my father above that. They would have probably thought they’d had a narrow escape. It wasn’t just my unplanned pregnancy, after all. It was Jason’s, too. His future to consider. Jason had considered. He was equally determined to stay. He loved me, he said. There was nothing my father could ever say or do to change that. He wasn’t going anywhere. Jason gave me the confidence to stand firm. Perhaps I could have without him. But I was stronger with him. Our love is stronger than this. I can’t make myself believe he’s cheated on me. He wouldn’t. We haven’t struggled for twelve years, through thick and thin, and made two beautiful children together, for Jason to throw it all away. He loves his kids without question. He wouldn’t.
‘It was my fault,’ I say to Mum, determined now to end the subject and not give my father any more ammunition. ‘I shouldn’t have brought the subject up at that time of night. I’m just too tired to think straight lately.’
‘Exhausted, I shouldn’t wonder, what with working almost full-time and two children to look after,’ my father says pointedly. ‘You’d think, with a wife and children he can barely support, he would have put his pride aside by now.’ Shaking his head, he picks up the phone and scrolls through it before I can stop him.
‘Dad!’ Jumping to my feet, I attempt to take it back. This has nothing to do with him. If he dares mention it…
‘Give it back, Robert.’ Mum gives him a warning glance. ‘It’s just a misunderstanding. It doesn’t need you interfering.’
My father’s expression is scathing as he sweeps his eyes over her. He’s not happy being told what to do, having his authority questioned. His employees are loyal because he pays them to be, but none of them ever dare to confront him.
‘Do you honestly believe Jason has been browsing these sites, Karla?’ Mum turns back to me. ‘That he’s contemplating doing so?’