Page 62 of Love Me Ever After
As I settled into the backseat, I realised I hadn’t finished the message to Ems I had started before my interview. Half ten at night back home. She’d be asleep, or at least in bed. Still, I wanted her to know I was on my way. If everything went to plan, I would get to Heathrow for half nine tomorrow morning and be back in Ealynn Sands by early afternoon.
Then I could tell Ems all about this experience and the decisions I thought I’d made. I still had time to be certain about what I wanted.
Watching the cityscape out of the window, I grabbed my phone. Deleting the original message that I’d started earlier, I typed out what I wanted to say and pressed send.
Mason: Ems, I’m coming home. Can’t wait to see you xxx
28
Ems
I woke the next morning,fully expecting to see a bunch of messages from Mason after my voicemail. When I just saw the one, telling me he was coming home, my mind went into overdrive: he’d been offered the job there and had accepted; he and Whit had finally decided to make a go of things, so he was coming home to break up with me. Both bad scenarios.
Checking my email to find the travel details he’d sent me; I saw he was definitely on a flight now. There was no point in trying to contact him, I’d only get his voicemail. I guessed I’d have to wait until he got back to Ealynn Sands this afternoon.
Pulling on my bathrobe, I headed downstairs. Sara sat in the kitchen, shovelling cereal into her mouth while simultaneously scrolling through her phone.
“Hey,” she said, looking up. “I haven’t seen you in ages.”
I gave her a weak smile. “That’s because you’re so loved up with Noel, nothing else matters.”
As I spoke the words, my heart contracted. That’s what I wanted with Mason. Him. This baby.Us.
“Did you go out last night? You look dreadful.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek desperate to tell her the truth, but knowing inwardly I couldn’t until I’d spoken to Mason first. It wouldn’t be fair on him. “Oh, I was up late talking to Mason,” I lied. “And then I couldn’t sleep.” At least there was some truth in the last statement.
Sara stood up, dropping her dirty bowl and spoon into the sink. “At least he’ll be home soon.”
I nodded, unable to speak without blurting out the truth to her.
“Are you going into work today?” She glanced at her phone to check the time. “You’d usually be dressed by now.”
Hastily, I made something up. There was no way on earth I would be able to face work and concentrate for a whole day. “I’m going in later for a meeting.”
“Lucky you. Amber’s booked me a whole morning of waxing.” She rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they were going to slip back into her head.
Once Sara had left the room, I sank down into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. My head told me I ought to eat something now I waseating for two.But I couldn’t decide whether the nausea currently swirling around in my stomach was from morning sickness or not being able to talk to Mason. I sat there, unmoving, until Sara came back downstairs.
“Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” A look of concern flickered across her face. “You do look pale.”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Probably just lack of sleep.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.” Sara swiped her bag which was hanging off the back of one of the chairs and left the house, banging the front door loudly behind her.
Knowing I couldn’t face going into the office, I called Sonya. She answered on the second ring.
“Morning, Ems. Everything all right?”
It was like she had ESP or something. But I wasn’t ready to tell her the real reason why I wasn’t coming to work today. “Um, no. I think I ate something yesterday that didn’t agree with me. I don’t think I should be at work today, can’t seem to keep out of the bathroom.” The lie slipped out of my lips with ease.
“Ah, that’s not good. And yes, the right thing to do is stay at home and get some rest. Make sure you drink plenty of liquid,” Sonya advised. “Give me a call later to tell me how you’re doing. If you need a couple of days to recover, let me know.”
Her concern genuinely touched me. “I will. Thanks, Sonya.” I ended the call and placed my phone face down on the table.
I honestly don’t know how long I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the knots in the cheap pine surface, until my phone pinged. Immediately thinking it might be Mason, I flipped it over and read the message.
Georgie: How are you doing today? X
