Page 87 of The Work Husband

‘And that feels like a better option than going back to yachting?’ He was watching me carefully, as if he could read my thoughts in my face.

I hoped he could.

‘It’s not just that it’s a better option,’ I said slowly, ‘although, realistically, it probably is. It’s that… well, when I was thinking of just upping and going back to yachting, what made it feel so attractive was that I could leave everything here behind.’

‘Like Milton?’

I realised for the first time just how hard that would have been, and a lump came to my throat imagining it. ‘Don’t,’ I said. ‘That would have been awful.’

‘Like me then?’ he asked with a sad smile.

I reached out and took his hand. His skin was warm and dry and his fingers strong when, after a moment, he returned the same pressure.

‘Leaving you would’ve been awful too,’ I told him. ‘But, you know, you’ve left already. Escaping from that – not having to live with it every day – was one of the things I wanted to do the most. If that makes any sense at all…’

‘But you’ve changed your mind?’

‘I suppose I have. I realised – even before I saw Zahra’s email – that running away isn’t the right thing to do. I tried to fight back when Jasper accused me of doing unethical things, and I think I would have won, if Jamie hadn’t produced a surprise duke.’

‘A surprise what?’ Sam burst out laughing.

I laughed too. It was infectious, and soon we were giggling so hard I could barely explain.

‘You know what a massive snob Jasper is. When Jamie told him an old school friend had inherited a title and Devereaux Partners could get him as a client if Jamie kept his job, it was game over. There was no point me carrying on fighting after that. But I’d realised why it was important to, and I’d realised that you can’t just run away from problems, and you can’t run away from yourself.’

We’d stopped laughing now – but Sam was still holding my hand, which was something.

‘I decided…’ I began. ‘I decided, back then, that I’d try and fight for you too. If you’ll let me.’

‘I…’ Sam began. ‘That’s why I came to see you today. I didn’t want to call or text. I wanted to see you in person. To talk to you – and to give you something. But I…’

I squeezed his hand. ‘You don’t have to say yes or no now. Because I know it’s a big thing. I know it won’t be easy, after everything that’s happened. And that reminds me, I need to make a call.’

Sam’s face was puzzled as I took my phone out of my bag and flicked through to find the number I wanted. But there was no answer – it rang through to voicemail.

His face grew more puzzled still as he listened to the message I left.

‘Hi, Ava. It’s Georgia. Hope you’re doing okay. I just wanted to ask – if it’s okay with you – if you could send me a contact number, please. I’ve been thinking, and there’s some stuff I want to talk to someone about. Not like what happened to you but to do with my mum and dad and my childhood and things like that. So I was wondering whether you could share the details of Elizabeth, your therapist, or someone she recommends. And maybe we can meet for a coffee or something soon? Okay. Thanks. Bye.’

My heart was pounding as I ended the call, my palm sweating against Sam’s.

‘That was brave,’ Sam said. His face was full of admiration, like I’d done something remarkable, not just left a voice message.

‘Nah.’ I shrugged. ‘That was just a phone call. What Ava’s been through – that’s brave. And you supporting her. And Zahra standing up to her family. But if I do see this Elizabeth or someone else, and I talk about what I need to talk about, then I’ll have to be brave.’

‘I guess it won’t be easy.’ Sam put his other hand on top of mine, so my cold, clammy fingers were sandwiched between his warm ones. ‘But you can do it. You can do anything, Georgia. You’re strong. You’re amazing.’

I gave a shaky laugh. ‘You think?’

‘I know,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you if you weren’t. You’re the most amazing woman I know. You’re spontaneous and funny and gorgeous and loving. And when I saw you come out of that door just now, it reminded me of all those things. It reminded me I couldn’t go through with what I’d come there to do.’

‘Did you think’ – it was hard to say the words; to remind him of something I hoped was gone from his mind – ‘did you really believe Jamie and I were… you know, a thing? Is that why you came to the office and not the flat?’

‘Not really,’ he admitted. ‘Not any more. Especially not after what Ava told me about him and what he did to her. I know you got things wrong about him, Georgia, but you wouldn’t have got them that wrong. I suppose I did want to see him, though, as well as see you.’

‘So you could beat the living shit out of him because of what he did to Ava?’ My eyes widened in shock. I’d never thought of Sam as a violent man, but I suppose in the circumstances anyone could have been driven to that.

‘No.’ He shook his head slowly. ‘Don’t get me wrong, it crossed my mind. But I just don’t have it in me to do that. I never have and I never will. I did think, though, that if I saw him, I could… I don’t know. Face my own demons, in a way. Get some sort of closure.’