Page 76 of Wife After Wife

“You’re kidding.”

“No,” said Megan. “Long-distance relationship’s not doing it for Ana, but she doesn’t want him to come back. She’s dumping him.”

“Poor old Perce. Can’t say I’m surprised, though.” Charles sat down and put a bag of takeaway on the coffee table. Curry smells leaked out, making Ana feel even more nauseated.

“How so?” said Megan.

“A certain reluctance to talk about Percy, or the wedding. A general waning of interest, let’s say. Tell me Harry boy hasn’t got anything to do with this, Ana?”

Ana’s eyes widened. “I—”

“What makes you say that?” interrupted Megan.

“He told me he’s got the hots for Ana. OK, those weren’t his actual words. It was more along the lines of sorting out things at home so he could have a proper crack at you.”

“Nothing’s happened,” said Ana.

“I’m sure it will,” said Charles. “Harry always gets what he wants. If you’re set on being the next love interest, just make sure you go into it with your eyes wide open.”

He disappeared into the kitchen.

“Bloody hell,” said Megan. “Why didn’t he say anything to me about it?”

“I’m sorry,” said Ana. “This is causing so much mess.” But Charles’s words had lifted her heart. Harry had said he was sorting things out so he could move on to her with a clear conscience.

“Well, Ana, I suppose it would be fun to be sisters-in-law. Good luck with that wait, by the way.”

•••

Finishing it with Percy was horrible.

He came over from Dublin thinking they were going to be finalizing the wedding arrangements. Instead, Ana sat him down and told him she didn’t love him enough to marry him.

They talked and talked, Ana explaining that their time apart had given her a different perspective on their relationship, that she realized now that they wanted different things out of life.

Percy cried. When he told her yet again that he’d move back to London, would take her career more seriously, she couldn’t bear to lie anymore and finally blurted it out: “There’s someone else. I’m so sorry.”

The shock on his face was hard to bear. She looked down at herhands, twisting them in her lap. “I haven’t been unfaithful, please believe me. We’ve only kissed. God knows I didn’t mean for it to happen; I was horrified when I felt myself falling for him. I tried so hard to make it work with you, to not think about him. But it was hopeless.”

“Who?” He was crying again.

“I can’t tell you. He’s married. He’s leaving his wife, but we’ve got to be very discreet, there’s so much at stake.”

“A married man?” The tears stopped. “This isn’t you, Ana. Look, if all you’ve done is kiss... I can come home, we can still—”

“No, Percy. We can’t. I love him. I loved you, too, very much. Always believe that. But this is something else. It’s on another level. I’m so sorry, but I can’t help it.”

Percy stood up, anger finally breaking through. “You’re not the girl I fell in love with. She’d never behave like this. A married man? Good luck with that. Theyneverleave their wives. You just trashed your future, Ana.”

He headed out the door, slamming it behind him.

•••

Ana stuck her head around her office door and hollered at the design team: “Turn it bloody down!” Meat Loaf was singing that he’d do anything for love, but he wouldn’t dothat. Again. The song had been at number one for weeks, and for some reason Ana found the words deeply unsettling.

Harry had been in the States again, and she’d heard nothing from him. He’d told her he’d keep his distance, but it was messing with her mind. She was tetchy and jumpy and needed to talk to him. And kiss him.

He was expected back today. She looked at her watch: noon. She picked up the phone. “Is Harry back? I need half an hour,” she said to his secretary.