Three Amazing Things About You(61)

Bill is wealthy and well-spoken. He loves me but he loves his children too. Nothing I do will ever alter their low opinion of me – they’re appalled by his choice and convinced I’m only interested in their father for his money. I’m not; I just wish they could be happy for us. But it’s not going to happen, and worrying about it isn’t helping Bill’s health. (I should say, he has already made a will leaving everything to them, but they are convinced that I’ll persuade him to write another without letting them know. Even though I would never dream of doing that!)

I hate being the cause of such conflict. For his sake, should I walk away and leave Bill and his children in peace? If you think so, Rose, I will do it.

Dear Tracey,

Your letter almost moved me to tears. Your personality shines out, you are clearly a lovely person and you and Bill deserve to be happy together. Listen, you aren’t the cause of the conflict; his children are. How would they feel if Bill told them he didn’t approve of their choice of spouse and demanded they end their relationships? Would they do as he asked, do you think? Of course not!

I’m touched that you have asked me to decide your future. Please don’t walk away from Bill and a relationship that has brought you both so much unexpected happiness. Carry on seeing each other, move in together, get married if that’s what you want. If his children refuse to be civil to you, just don’t see them. Of course they’re concerned about their father, but they need to learn that in this case they really don’t need to be.

I think you should show this web page to Bill. Then I think he should show it to his children. When they see that you were concerned enough about their father to end the relationship, I hope they’ll come to their senses and realise how incredibly lucky he’s been to find someone as loving and unselfish as you.

I’m sure anyone reading this will be wishing you all the luck in the world. And please do let us know how you get on. We’ll all want to know!

Hallie uploaded the post and closed her laptop. There, done. It was one o’clock, and Bea would be arriving at any minute to take her to the pub. By this evening, plenty of people would have read Tracey’s letter and sent encouraging replies of their own; she would look at them when she came back and put the best online.

If anyone deserved a bit of happiness, it was Tracey and Bill.





Chapter 27


Now that they were into April, the number of tourists visiting Carranford was increasing by the day. There were plenty of people enjoying the sunshine, sitting at tables outside the pub. With morning surgery finally finished – and with his stomach rumbling for the last hour of it – Luke had come over to the White Hart for some long-overdue lunch.

And there were Hallie and Bea, deep in conversation at one of the tables. Waiting for them to spot him and wave, Luke was taken aback when he saw the expression on Hallie’s face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and as he watched, she surreptitiously wiped them with the loose sleeve of her pale denim shirt. Bea, murmuring something in her ear, briefly put her arm around her thin shoulders and gave her a hug.

They hadn’t seen him. Luke headed on into the bar. What had that been about? Something to do with Nick, maybe? He hadn’t asked Hallie about him, but the knowledge of Nick’s visit – minus clothes – continued to haunt his thoughts. Hallie had mentioned the visit but not the lurid details. Those had remained private, between her and the ex-boyfriend who years ago had broken her heart.

Had he done it again now?

Or had someone else?

Luke ordered cottage pie and an orange juice, then carried his drink outside. Yes, he wanted to know why Hallie was upset. No, he wasn’t going to pry.

There were no empty tables, but Hallie and Bea were occupying one with two spare seats. This time they spotted him, and Bea, seeing him hesitate, called out, ‘Over here, join us.’

He sat next to Bea and across the table from Hallie, whose eyes were now dry but still pink-tinged.

‘Everything OK?’ That was as much as he would say; if she didn’t want to tell him, that was up to her.

‘I’m fine.’ Hallie nodded and managed a half-smile, then glanced down at the phone in her left hand. ‘Just heard a bit of sad news. Suze died.’

Suze. The name rang a bell. Luke hesitated and said, ‘New York Suze?’

‘That’s the one.’ Hallie nodded and showed him the photo on her phone, of a beaming twenty-something girl with a shock of white-blond curls, jokingly cradling an oxygen tank like a proud mother showing off her newborn baby.

‘Her brother just emailed me. She died this morning. Didn’t manage to get her transplant after all.’