Page 57 of Wife After Wife

“Ana?”

“Sorry, Mum, what was that?”

“Head in the clouds again. Ah well, if you’re not daydreaming about your big day, I suppose there’d be something wrong. I said, who shall we sit Harry Rose and his wife with? Gosh, I saw him in the paper the other day. He’s awfully good-looking, isn’t he?”

Ana had all but forgotten Katie would be there. Megan had told her how Harry’s wife was slowly recovering from her depression and was hoping to be well enough to come. “We’ll sit them with Megan and Charles... and Merry and Will,” she replied, feeling mischievous. “Will and Harry were at school together.”

“Oh, Ana, I’m not sure he’ll be well enough. Unless this new cancer treatment he’s on can work miracles, I think Merry will be coming by herself.”

Ana said nothing. Her mother surely knew the truth about her son-in-law’s illness. If she couldn’t bear to speak that truth in her social circles, Ana could understand that—many in her parents’ generation still had a problem accepting homosexuality. But to not even acknowledge the true nature of Will’s illness within her own family?

Her mother’s expression told her now was not the time to talk about that.

“If Will’s not coming, then we should put Merry as far from Harry as possible,” she said, picking up the slip of paper with her sister’s name on it. With a secret smile she slotted it in next to the vicar.

“Good idea.”

Ana looked up.

“I know about Merry and Harry. She’s told me everything. And from what I hear, your boss could be your new brother-in-law before too long.”

“She told you that? For goodness’ sake! I know Harry and Katie have been having problems, but I’ve heard nothing about a separation, and Megan would know. Merry’s living in cloud-cuckoo-land.”

“Oh. I see. Well, I’m glad you put me right. Goodness me. Is there anything else I need to know?”

“No. And what I just said—that’s between you and me, OK? Things are difficult enough between Merry and me as it is.”

They heard the key in the front door, then Ana’s father appeared in the kitchen doorway, Percy behind him.

“Still at it?” said her father.

“We’re trying to decide where to put Harry Rose and his wife,” said her mother.

“Can we put them as close to the top table as possible?” said Percy.

“He’s just a work person, not family,” said Ana.

“Yet,” said her father.

“Pardon me?” said Percy.

“It’s OK, Mum and Dad know,” said Ana. “But I’ve put Mum right. Merry won’t be becoming Mrs. Rose anytime soon.”

“Never say never!” said Percy. “He’d make a pretty cool brother-in-law.”

Ana pushed back her chair and went to check on the roast. “Lunch in twenty minutes,” she snapped.

CHAPTER 21

Harry

June 1993

Harry closed his newspaper and swiveled his chair to look out the window. A healthy number of cranes punctuated the skyline, especially above Canary Wharf. It looked as if today’s headline was correct—the recession was finally over.

Unemployment had fallen below three million and was continuing to drop. Rose Corp. shares were climbing in value, and Harry was considering new areas for expansion. The internet was of particular interest. He’d ask his secretary to organize an initial brainstorming meeting with his senior executives.

He was about to buzz her when the phone rang. It was Merry.