Page 74 of Wife After Wife

Dublin disappeared below her, and she knew she wouldn’t be back.

•••

On Monday, Ana left the office on time for once, admitting to herself she couldn’t produce work to her usual standard until she’d decided on a course of action. Already she knew the wedding wasn’t going to happen.

She needed someone to talk to before she imploded with the stress of it all.

She’d phoned Megan. “I need to unload before I go mad.”

“Pre-wedding jitters?”

“Something like that. A bit more than jitters, actually.”

“I’m your man. I’ll chill the wine.”

Megan poured them both a large glass. “So, Nervous Nellie, what’s up?”

Where to start? “It’s more than nerves. I don’t think I can go through with it.”

Megan came to sit next to Ana on the sofa. “You’re bound to feel nervous, sweetie. Everyone does. Same bloke for your entire life? It’s a huge deal.”

“I don’t want a part-time marriage, but I don’t want to live in Dublin.”

“He’d come back here for you, you know that. He should look for something in London.”

Ana sighed. “Honestly? I don’t think I want him to. I’m not sure I love him enough. Having this distance between us, it’s made me realize. I was swept up by it all, it was a holiday romance. The excitement hasn’t transferred to real life.”

“Well, how could it? Real life isn’t all romance and flowers. Percy’s solid. He’s a good guy, and he loves you so much, Ana.”

“It’s not like you and Charles. He’s always been the one for you. You’re so sure. I’m not sure anymore. You have to be sure.”

“True.”

Saying the words out loud was helping Ana resolve things in her mind. “I’m going to call it off, Megan. I can’t take the risk.”

Megan was quiet for a moment. “God. I can’t believe this. All the plans.”

“I know—I’m so sorry.”

“And you haven’t told him yet?”

Ana shook her head. Now it was hitting her anew, the leap of faith she was taking. A leap from loyal, good-natured Percy, to a man who’d broken the hearts of two lovely women already this year. And probably more in the past, if she was honest with herself.

“Ana,” said Megan. “Will you tell me the truth, if I ask a big question?”

“Big question?”

“Is there someone else? You’ve been so distracted. I thought it was because of the wedding, but these past couple of months... it’s as if your mind’s off somewhere else.”

Megan’s eyes, usually sparkling with fun, were now so earnest, and the temptation to off-load was overwhelming.

She looked away. “No.”

“You’re lying. Who is it, Ana? What’s going on?” Her voice was so gentle, so full of compassion, that Ana’s self-control finally crumbled and the floodgates opened. Megan gathered her into a hug, and she sobbed on her shoulder.

“Oh, dear. Let it all out.” Megan patted her back, stroked her hair.

“It’s Harry,” she said between sobs.