‘You’re not mad, Elena. You’re as sane as the next person. You are stressed and sleep-deprived, but there’s nothing crazy about you.’
A tiny smile was Grace’s reward.
‘If he was, and I say was, having an affair, do you have any idea who it might be with?’
Elena sat back in her chair.
‘I’m not certain, but if I had to pick someone, I would say Anna is his type.’
Now she looked at Elena carefully, Grace could see the similarities between the two women. Elena was stunning, but Anna had twenty years on her boss, and, more importantly, wasn’t weighed down with the responsibilities of children and a business to run.
So, Giannis had found himself a carefree lookalike with plenty of free time instead.
Grace had to force herself not to speak. She was so close to blurting out the truth.
Elena stopped her silent weeping and wiped her eyes.
‘Nobody knows this, not even Giannis, but I am pregnant, with a child that we have longed for. I had a miscarriage last year, and we’ve been trying ever since for a fourth baby. Now I have to keep such a secret from my husband, as I do not know what the future is for my unborn child, or myself.’
‘Oh, Elena. How awful for you.’
‘I keep worrying that the stress of trying for a baby has driven him over the edge. But maybe he is right… and it’s me who’s been driven over the edge.’
The red mist descended, and Grace knew she couldn’t stop what was about to happen. Giannis was a selfish pig who deserved everything he got if he was prepared to treat his wife like this.
She grabbed Elena’s hands.
‘Listen to me, Elena. You are most definitely not going mad. I know for a fact that Giannis is having an affair with Anna, as I caught him coming out of her bedroom this week in the early hours of the morning.’
ChapterFourteen
The words hung in the air between them. She’d done it now; there was no going back. Elena’s hands dropped from Grace’s and back onto the table as if she’d touched fire. The frozen expression on her face scared Grace. This woman had a life growing inside her that she needed to look after, as well as three children who depended on her.
‘I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you. But I thought that you should know. It’s not right that you should be made to think that you’re going mad.’
Elena seemed incapable of speech.
Grace got her phone out of her bag.
‘This is a lot to take in at once. Let me order a taxi to take you home. Anastasia is there? Yes?’
After a few moments’ delay Elena nodded.
‘I’ll come with you and explain that you’re ill. You can leave your car at the school and collect it later. But I think you need an afternoon in bed.’
The plan to get Elena home was easy. What came afterwards was going to be far more complicated.
While they waited for the taxi, Grace coaxed Elena to drink a glass of water from the carafe on the table.
‘You don’t need to make any decisions in a hurry. Just focus on yourself and your health for the time being. You’re a strong, capable woman, and you will do what is best for you and your children.’
Grace wasn’t sure exactly what that would be, but she’d probably done enough suggesting for now. She’d opened this can of worms, or helped Elena to face the facts, as she liked to see it.
Elena was independently wealthy, and she could easily start over again without Giannis. Separating the business was more of an issue. Grace stopped herself racing ahead. That really wasn’t anything to do with her.
The taxi drew up, and Grace helped Elena in, putting gentle pressure on her head to get her to sit down, and then reached over to do up her seatbelt, like a child.
On the short journey back to the house, Elena remained silent. Grace paid the driver and helped the younger woman up the stairs.
