Page 53 of Life After

“That was my first thought when you left. The memories. They all outweigh what I’ve come to learn recently.”

“That’s good. It means this could potentially be salvaged.”

Suzanne lowered her eyes and sniffled. “I’d like to think so.”

“Please don’t be upset, babe.” Jen leaned in and wrapped Suzanne up in her arms. “I don’t know where we go from here, but please, don’t be upset. Everything is going to be okay.”

She felt Suzanne smile against her hair, and then she sighed as she dipped her head towards Jen’s ear. “I have to make this right with you.”

Jen drew back, brushing a thumb beneath Suzanne’s eye. “Let’s just take it one day at a time, okay?”

With her eyes closed as she leant into Jen’s touch, Suzanne simply smiled. “Okay.”

Chapter 19

Suzanne wavedJen over as she walked through the main doors of the restaurant. In the last several days, things between them had been slow and steady. Suzanne had thrown herself into her work, making up for the lack of it in recent weeks, and Jen was equally as busy. Whenever Suzanne contacted her, their exchanges were pleasant, but it was clear that Jen was holding back a little. Understandable but hopefully short-lived.

“Hi.” Jen leaned down and kissed Suzanne on the cheek, smiling down at her as she drew back. “I didn’t think you’d be here already.”

“I only arrived a few minutes ago. They asked if I wanted to wait at the bar, but I decided to take our table instead.” Suzanne looked back at Jen, admiring that gentle smile playing on her lips. “Busy day?”

“Steady, actually. I’m definitely looking forward to the day off tomorrow, though. I’m sure they’ve added someone else’s round onto mine. It’s been a hellish week.”

Now that Suzanne knew Jen was originally a primary school teacher, she could imagine how mind-numbing her current job must be. “Is it something you plan to continue doing?”

“The job I’m in?” Jen asked as she took a seat facing Suzanne and looked around the restaurant. “I hope not if these are the kinds of places we’re going to be eating. Looks very fancy.” Jen puffed out her cheeks as she lifted the menu. In Suzanne’s mind, the prices were reasonable in here. Especially with inflation at the moment. “Food looks good, though.”

“We can go somewhere else if you’re not comfortable here…”

“I’m comfortable.” Jen smiled. “And before we go any further, I’m not on the bones of my arse. Idohave money.”

Oh, God. That wasn’t what Suzanne was saying at all. “I’m sure you do. That wasn’t what I was getting at.”

“No, I know. But you probably think I’m taking out loans and stuff to get myself back on my feet, but I’m not. When my dad died, he left us all a significant amount of money. Mum took mine off me when I went off the rails…and now that I’m back and doing better, she’s returned it to me.”

“She helped you through a lot, didn’t she?” Suzanne clasped her hands under her chin, wanting to know more.

“My mum? I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.” Jen lifted a shoulder and took her glass of water from the table. “And I know everyone says that, but it’s true. She saved me.”

“I’m glad you have her. A good support system is the most important thing in life, regardless of who is going through what.” Suzanne had been lucky to have a great support system of her own. Without her family, she didn’t know how she would have worked through John’s death. “I’d…like to meet her one day.”

Jen smiled and lowered her eyes.

“If that’s something you want too, of course.” Suzanne couldn’t quite put her finger on Jen’s mood, but she didn’t seem overly enthusiastic about the idea of Suzanne meeting her mum. That had Suzanne wondering if this was going anywhere the second time around. Jen had been excited to meet Elsie all those weeks ago, but when it came to this…not so much. “Jen?”

“Y-yeah?”

Suzanne dipped her head. Their eyes eventually met. “Isthat something you would want to do?”

“Eventually, yeah.”

Suzanne exhaled a deep breath. “Okay. Eventually is good enough for me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to get back into the swing of this. Us, you know?” Jen sipped her water only to almost spit it back into the glass as her eyes widened. “Is that…” She squinted over Suzanne’s shoulder. And then the biggest smile spread on Jen’s mouth when Suzanne heard a gasp behind her.

“Jen?”

Jen shot up from her seat and embraced a woman who came rushing towards her from behind Suzanne. She watched their interaction, how they held onto one another, and then she slumped back in her seat. Suzanne didn’t know why she felt so off about all of this, but she had expected more from tonight. Sure, the night was only just beginning, but Jen wasn’t feeling it. That much was clear.

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