Page 37 of Save You
Lydia
“I don’t believe it.”James sighs with frustration.He pushes his laptop away and turns on his chair to face me.“Another two have turned me down.”
I eye my brother from my spot on the sofa.When he first told me about his plan to rejoin the events committee, I was surprised.But the longer I think about it, the more I like his decision.
Ruby loves working on that team.Showing her that he doesn’t just get her passion, he shares it, is a good first step.Besides, last term, James discovered how much he enjoyed organizing those parties—even though he’d never admit it.
“You have to be persistent.Appeal to their consciences, not their wallets.Then they’ll turn up at the gala,” I say, sipping from the mug of fruit tea I’ve wrapped my cold fingers around.I think the housekeeper knows I’m pregnant.She brought up the teapot unasked and gave me a knowing look as she whispered that she was sure it would do me good.
James nods absentmindedly and pulls his laptop a bit closer again.At the same moment, there’s a quiet ping as a new emailpops in.James squints as he reads it, and I reach for a biscuit.A few crumbs drop onto the sofa as I nibble on it, but luckily, he’s too busy typing a reply to notice—he hates crumbs.
“Have you spoken to Ruby?”I ask after a while.
I hear the sound of an email being sent, then James turns back to me.“No.”He rubs his face with his hand.“At the moment, she can’t even bring herself to look at me.”
“You can’t force her, obviously.But sooner or later, you two will have to have a conversation,” I say gently.“The longer you leave it, the bigger the gap between you will grow.Believe me.”
My brother gives me a long look.Clearly, he can put two and two together.“You still haven’t spoken to Sutton, then?”
I shrug my shoulders.“What is there to talk about?We both know that it’s better this way.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t know you’re pregnant.That changes everything.”
“He doesn’t want anything more to do with me.”I shove the rest of the biscuit into my mouth and chew.“He’s told me that more than once.Besides, for one thing I have my pride…”
“And for another thing…?”
I look back at James.“Besides, I’m scared to tell him.I don’t want to know how he’ll react.I have to get my own head around it first, and then I’ll have space to work out what to do if he doesn’t respond the way I’d hoped.”
“Lydia…” James’s phone rings.He doesn’t go to answer it, just keeps looking intently at me.
“Pick up!”I insist.“I bet that’s a potential sponsor.”
He hesitates a moment.Then he picks up his phone and glances at the screen.He takes the call.“Owen,” he says loudly.“Thanks for getting back to me.”
I pretend to vomit.Owen Murray is the CEO of a telecoms company and one of Dad’s best friends.Neither James nor I can stand him, and I’m pretty sure the feeling’s mutual.
“Not too bad in the circumstances,” says James.Suddenly, his voice is firm and businesslike.“No, I’m not calling on Beaufort’s business but on behalf of Maxton Hall.We’re holding a charity gala for the Pemwick Family Center in early February and we’re looking for sponsors.”
I can hear a quiet murmur on the other end.
“Of course.I’ll send you the details.That would be amazing, Owen, thank you.”
James ends the call and types something into his phone.
“If you don’t tell Sutton, you’ll never knowhowhe’ll react.”
“So you think I should tell him?”
He nods.“Yes.And I think he has a right to know.”
I stare into my cup.I peer at the rest of the bright fruit tea and try to make out a pattern in the sludge on the bottom.
Don’t call me.We agreed.
Even if he decides to be there for me and the twins from now on—what does that even mean?That he feels guilty, nothing more.But there’s nothing I want more in the world than to be with Graham becausehewants it too.By choice and not because the pregnancy has forced his hand.
James’s phone rings again.He holds up a finger to tell me that our conversation isn’t over, then he takes the call.
