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
We always want what we don’t have. Hearing Mel talk about single life makes Abby yearn for something she can’t identify. She has so much: a loving husband, a home they can grow into, a career – once she finds a school. It’s like a to-do list and she’s ticking things off one by one, only to find there’s nothing left, only to feel bereft.
‘Anyway, what are your plans for today?’ Mel asks.
She mentions the Pilates class she’s reluctantly booked, just for something to get her out of the house, to rehabilitate her mind.
‘Ooh, Pilates? That sounds… interesting.’
No, it doesn’t. It sounds like exactly what it is: a desperate attempt for Abby to create a new life here in London. ‘Well, I’ll let you know how it goes. It may not be for me. I’ll have to see.’
The Pilates class. Soon enough there will never be a moment when Abby doesn’t curse herself for booking it. There are so many alternative options she could consider: a book club at the library, art classes – anything else that would mean she doesn’t get involved in Sienna Wells’s life.
The call to Mel ends with the usual promises of speaking soon, and the minute they’ve said goodbye, Abby is back within her void.
When evening comes, she almost doesn’t go to the Pilates class. She’s about to email the fitness centre with some excuse or other for not showing, but before she gets a chance, Rob texts to say he has a meeting and won’t be home until late. This decides it for her. She’s already spent the day at home alone, attempting to unpack and organise things that are still in boxes. She needs to get out and see other human beings, not just for her sanity but because she owes it to Rob to make this effort, to be happy in their new life.
Fate has a way of steering you in a direction, making sure you’re right where you’re supposed to be for whatever’s meant to come next. Sometimes this is a comforting thought, and at other times it’s terrifying.
Pulling up outside the fitness centre in Southgate, once again Abby is a hair’s breadth away from changing her mind. It isn’t as though she’ll make friends here – everyone will be consumed with the class and then rushing home to whatever awaits them. This is London, a place where nobody seems to want to get to know anyone else. She’s learned this already in her short time here.