The Marriage by K.L. Slater (any book recommendations TXT) 📕

Tom to emerge from the inner door seemed to last forever. More than once, I thought I might be sick right there in front of everyone. I contemplated cutting my losses and going back home when I looked up and he was suddenly there. He filled the doorway, dwarfing the other men who were filing in and the diminutive officer who escorted them.

My breath caught in my throat, my eyes widening with shock. He was so much taller and broader across the shoulders than I’d remembered. His short dark hair had grown longer, wavier, and framed his thick brows and serious dark eyes. He had a couple of days’ worth of stubble on his well-defined jaw and his features looked chiselled and angular.

This mature, brooding man barely resembled the slightly hesitant, polite boy I’d seen grow up. I held up my hand in case he had failed to spot me, but he’d already fixed his eyes on mine as he headed straight for me.

‘Bridget.’ His voice emerged throaty and deep as he took his seat opposite. ‘Thanks for coming. Even after I saw you’d scheduled a visit, I didn’t know if you’d turn up.’

‘I didn’t know whether I would until the last moment either.’ I felt ridiculously shaken by his presence.

What had I expected? I wasn’t sure, but it hadn’t been this. During the past eight years, Tom Billinghurst had clearly grown into his own skin. But there was no trace of arrogance, he was just … mature Tom. A self-assured but still humble man.

He’d linked his fingers and placed his clasped hands on the table. His nails were short and clean, and there was a scattering of fine dark hairs on the top of each hand, thickening as they traced up to his muscled forearms.

‘I’ve been waiting a long, long time for this,’ he’d said, his voice low and level as he looked into my eyes. ‘I want to say that I’m sorry, Bridget. I’m so, so sorry that Jesse died because of me. Because of how I reacted that night.’ His voice cracked. ‘I never, ever meant for that to happen. I should have stepped back, I should have left instead of reacting.’

That had been the start of it. I looked down at my left hand, at the simple gold wedding band.

Later today, we’d begin our new life together.

Eleven Jill

I was first out of the car when Robert parked up on the drive. I’d visualised this moment a thousand times in my head, imagining Tom trying to control his emotions when he saw his family home again after all this time.

I’d hung winter flowering baskets either side of the porch and filled a wooden trough with cheerful pansies and violas in front of the window. I’d cleaned the glossy green front door and bought a nice new woven doormat that read Home Sweet Home.

I stood back and watched as Tom unfolded his broad frame from the back seat. He took a moment to look at the house and I watched with growing anxiety as his dark brows beetled. His mouth tightened and he walked around to the boot and retrieved his holdall and rucksack.

‘Welcome back, son,’ I said and pressed his old front door key into his hand. He pocketed it without even glancing at it.

‘Thanks, Mum,’ he said and we walked to the house together, tears blurring my vision. I opened up and Robert strode past us, down the hallway and disappeared into his downstairs office.

‘Tom?’ I said faintly as he stepped inside the hall. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing,’ he said, pasting a small smile on his face. ‘I’m tired, I guess.’

I waited a moment or two for him to comment on the brighter hallway. I’d had the ugly old flooring ripped up and replaced with a smart light oak. Over the past twelve months, Joel, our decorator, had freshened up all the downstairs rooms ready for the big day. Our new start.

‘Anyone would think we were expecting a visit from royalty,’ Robert had grumbled. ‘We’ve had to live with it long enough, I don’t see why you’ve done it for his benefit.’

‘It’s not really for Tom,’ I’d said, practising tolerance. ‘It’s marking a new chapter in all of our lives.’

Robert had snorted and made himself scarce. Even so, I kept the vision of our new family life together alive. I admit I felt deflated when Tom appeared not to have noticed my efforts at all. He didn’t even seem happy to be home.

‘Come on through to the kitchen. I’ll make you a cup of tea and a sandwich.’

He pulled a regretful face. ‘I need a lie-down, if that’s OK. Try to get my head around everything.’

‘Take as much time as you need,’ I said, although I wasn’t quite sure what he meant by ‘everything’. After ten years of being without his family, I felt a little concerned that he immediately wanted to be alone in his bedroom. ‘I’ll make our tea for about four thirty.’

I imagined what Audrey would say to reassure me. ‘Of course he wants some time alone, Jill, it’s what he’s been used to!’ She’d roll her eyes and give me a hug. ‘Nothing at all to do with how he feels about being home.’

Tom lugged his bags upstairs. I followed him up and watched as he hovered in the open doorway of his bedroom. My heart swelled as his head turned slowly, taking it all in. The Manchester United poster still above his bed, his model Star Wars memorabilia still displayed on his desk, the boxing trophies on the windowsill. I’d cleaned his room every week, dusted his collections, and last month, I’d cleared out his wardrobe and drawers ready for his new clothes.

‘I kept everything the same as the day you went away,’ I said softly behind him.

He turned around to face me. ‘But why? I mean, I didn’t expect you to do that. You and Dad could’ve used this room.’

I laughed. ‘Used it for what, exactly?