Chapters (67)
- Cover
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- PART ONE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- PART TWO
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- PART THREE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- PART FOUR
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- EPILOGUE
- Mailing list
- A Letter from Kathryn
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by Kathryn Croft
Rob appears and reaches for Sienna, wrapping his arms around her. It’s a gesture that takes Abby by surprise, even though she’s aware of how close they’ve become. ‘I’m so sorry,’ he says.
She nods, and for the first time since seeing her in the church, Abby notices the desperate pain etched on her face. ‘Rob, can I borrow you for a minute?’ she asks.
He doesn’t hesitate, turning to Abby. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
She watches them walk away together, to the other side of the lobby, where they sit down at an empty table, their heads buried together.
Abby knows she deserves this.
THIRTY-ONE
Sienna
She can see Abby watching them, but she’s too raw to feel smug. It’s not as though there’s anything going on between her and Rob; at least nothing beyond friendship.
‘Thanks for coming,’ Sienna says.
‘I’m sorry for bringing Abby. I just thought she should be here, to face up to what she’s done.’
‘Has she admitted it then?’ Sienna asks this even though she’s no longer sure she cares. What does it matter now that Greg is dead?
‘No, she hasn’t said a word about Greg other than when we first found out.’ He looks around. ‘I can’t imagine how you’re feeling right now.’
‘To be honest, I’m just numb. It will hit me again when I get home and I’m alone. Being surrounded by so many people like this is kind of like a protective layer. A shield stopping me feeling anything.’
He thinks about this for a moment. ‘That makes sense.’ There is a pause. ‘I’d better go, there are so many people wanting to talk to you.’
‘Let them wait,’ she says.
He stays another few minutes, just long enough for her to steel herself to carry on.
It’s Holly she speaks to next, and just as Rob has done, she wraps Sienna in a hug. Jackson is right beside his mother, his eyes red-rimmed and swollen.
‘Come here,’ Sienna says, and reaches down to hug him. He’s almost as tall as she is, and she imagines he’ll easily reach six foot like his dad. ‘You’re so brave,’ she says softly. ‘Remember that.’
‘Is that your friend over there?’ Holly says, nodding her head in Abby’s direction.
‘Yes, that’s her.’
‘Are you still sure something happened between them?’
Sienna nods.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about this now. Can I do anything for you? Anything at all?’
It takes Holly’s kindness to open the floodgates, and now she is overcome with sadness. This is what it’s come to – finding solace in Greg’s ex-wife.