Page 88 of The Work Husband

‘And you couldn’t because I was already out of the door.’ I didn’t know how to feel about that. If Sam had seen Jamie, Jamie would have provoked him, mocked him, said things that could have made Sam do something he’d regret forever. I was relieved that hadn’t happened but also sorry that Sam hadn’t got the resolution he’d come for.

‘As soon as I saw you’ – he looked down at me, all the gentleness and kindness of his soul shining from his eyes – ‘that didn’t matter any more. He didn’t matter any more. You’re the only thing that matters, and I realised I couldn’t let you go. Being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

A sneaky, insecure part of me wanted to ask, Better than being with Ava? But I wasn’t going to. Fighting that part of myself and not letting it win was one of the things I was going to have to learn to do, and now seemed like a great time to start.

Instead, I said, ‘You’re pretty amazing too. You’ve got more integrity than anyone I’ve ever known. You stand up for what’s right. You’re kind and handsome, and I’ve had more fun with you than I’ve ever had in my life. No wonder Milton loves you.’

Sam smiled, his whole face lighting up the way it always did when he was truly happy. ‘I love him too. And, Georgia – I love you. I never stopped loving you.’

‘I never stopped loving you either,’ I told him.

I tilted my head up, and he kissed me on the lips, tenderly, like a promise.

Then he said, ‘Georgia. Like I said, I brought something for you.’

I let my eyes ask the question.

Sam reached into his pocket and took out a box. It was small and made of cardboard that I guessed had started out cream, but had yellowed slightly round the edges and was a bit grubby in places too. He handed it to me, and I eased off the lid.

Inside, resting on a block of foam padding, was a ring. It wasn’t huge like the one Okan had given Zahra. It was delicate and simple, a single diamond flanked by two smaller blue stones that I thought might be aquamarines. The diamond didn’t blaze when it caught the light like Zahra’s had, but it sparkled when the sun fell on it through the rustling leaves.

‘I’ve never seen this before,’ I said in wonderment.

‘Do you like it?’ he asked.

‘It’s beautiful. It deserves to be worn again by someone who’s happy.’

‘I thought…’ Sam cleared his throat. ‘I brought it for you to give back to your mother, if you wanted to do that. But now I’m thinking I could keep it, and when we’re ready…’

‘You could give it to me?’

‘That’s right.’

I didn’t try the ring on. I could see that it wouldn’t fit me – it would have to be enlarged if I was ever to wear it. But it wasn’t just my finger I wanted it to fit right – it was all of me.

I wanted Sam and me to be sure that we could have a marriage that was strong and true and based on trust and love. I wanted our children to feel important and wanted and secure, the way Arthur would grow up feeling.

And now I knew that I’d do whatever it took for us to get there, and so would he.

‘I think you should keep it,’ I said. ‘I’d love to wear it one day. Hopefully, one day quite soon.’

I closed the box and handed it back to Sam. He slipped it into his pocket.

‘We’ll get there,’ he said.

‘I know we will,’ I agreed.

FORTY-THREE

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

I was woken by what sounded like a herd of horses galloping through the flat, but I knew was only Milton zooming around chasing one of his toy mice.

I lay with my eyes closed for a few minutes, listening to him, until what I knew would eventually happen happened, and he took a flying leap onto our bed, waking Sam, before settling down to wash himself.

‘What the hell?’ Sam muttered drowsily. ‘Crazy cat.’

‘But look how cute he is.’ I sat up. One of Milton’s extra-toed paws was spread out next to his face so he could get the gaps thoroughly clean. Outside, I could see sparkling blue sky, and I could smell the freshness of recent rainfall through the open window.