‘Bad news?’ She still couldn’t quite comprehend that he was here.
‘Do you want to sit down?’
His face looked so grave, she led him over to one of the benches they’d put out earlier that morning. And then a dozen thoughts began to crowd into her head. What was he doing here? It came to her, like light through a crack in the door, bringing a wonderful sense of hope and relief.
Had he found someone else? She examined his stern expression and sat down. It would be just like him to come all this way to do the right thing and tell her in person. She sagged in her chair as the sudden glimpse of freedom made her hopeful.
‘It’s okay, Chris,’ she said, huffing out a relieved breath. ‘I really … well, it’s for the best.’
There was a long silence as if she’d spoken in another language and he was taking his time to translate the words. Then he stared at her, horrified, quick tears springing in his eyes.
‘F-for the b-best?’ he whispered. ‘Hattie? I n-never thought you could be so cruel.’ Then he began to cry in earnest, proper shuddering sobs so heart-wrenching that she froze. Each pain-racked sob punched into her.
‘Chris?’ She put her arm around him. ‘What? What is it?’
‘M-mum. It’s M-mum … she’s … she’s…’
Hattie had never felt so cold inside. Dead? She couldn’t be. She was only fifty-five.
Closing her eyes, trying to come to terms with the enormity of such simple words, she cradled Chris to her as he continued to cry. She rubbed his shoulder, unable to think of anything she could possibly say.
When Chris finally raised his blotchy face, Hattie hugged him.
‘God, I’m sorry. I just think I might be all right and then it comes back to me. Finding her like that.’
‘I’m so sorry, Chris. What happened? When?’
‘Last week. She said she had one of her migraines. She went to bed and … I found her…’ he began to cry again.
She rocked him in her arms and as she did she looked up to see Luc staring at her with a bleak expression on his face. Chris buried his head in her neck, his tears, hot and wet, sliding down her skin. She lowered her gaze and rubbed Chris’s back. He needed her. She had no choice.
When he finally stopped crying again, there was a fragility about him, and Hattie felt the tug of guilt, gossamer-fine but with tensile, energy-sapping strength. She’d left him to deal with this on his own.
‘Hattie, please come home. I need you. We could drive back in your car this evening. I came by taxi from the station.’
She looked into his face. How could she say no?
‘The good news is, I’ve got a job and I’ve smartened up my act. Look at me.’
She did and cursed herself for comparing his soft brown hair with Luc’s thick curls. ‘God, I let myself go, didn’t I? No wonder you gave up on me. I don’t blame you for wanting a break. But I’ve got this job in a warehouse. Manager. Not quite a grad job but the pay’s good. Enough for us to get a mortgage between the two of us.’
Hattie nodded, fighting against the sensation of feeling trapped. She was just being selfish. Chris needed her, especially now. She couldn’t leave him, not now. And he’d made the changes she’d wanted him to for so long. Maybe things would be different.
She swallowed hard. She had to do the right thing and look after Chris.
‘I’ll come home with you,’ she said.
‘You won’t regret it,’ said Chris fervently, clutching her hand. ‘I don’t recognise any of the guests. Where are your mum and dad?’
Hattie clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘This isn’t Gabby’s wedding. She cried off. It’s a long story.’
‘So whose wedding have I gate-crashed?’ Chris looked mortified. ‘I found the château and just followed the noise. I’d better go. Can you come? If Gabby’s not having a wedding we could leave today.’
‘I’m working,’ said Hattie, as cold fingers of panic gripped her. ‘In fact I ought to be serving canapés. Maybe you ought to go back up to the house to wait for me. I’m supposed to be attending the next part of the wedding at the restaurant too.’
‘Or I could just wait here. No one has noticed me. And I’m sure no one will miss you at the restaurant.’
Hattie saw Fliss giving her the evil eye. ‘Look, I’ve got to go.’ With that she dashed over to replenish her tray and began to circulate again, her eyes involuntarily scanning the crowd for a glimpse of Luc.
