Page 61 of The Summer Swap

Like Michael, she might have found herself in a position where everything important to her collapsed because she hadn’t done more to save it.

But she hadn’t. She hadn’t.

She didn’t know why Jeff had ghosted her, but she was grateful that he had. And she was grateful to Michael because in a strange way he had saved her marriage. Because of what happened to him, Theo was spending more time with her. Because of Michael, she had Theo back again. She had a chance to fix things.

Theo finished his glass of wine. “Talking to Michael made me realize how much work consumes me. I’m not looking forward to going back next week.”

She wasn’t looking forward to him going back, either. Even though he’d been sad for much of the time, and so had she, it had been good to be together. They’d talked more than they ever had, and she cherished those conversations. She felt closer to him than she had for a long time. Surely they could build on that?

But in the meantime, they had to return to real life. They both knew it. And Theo needed it, even if he didn’t recognize it quite yet.

This time she was sure things would be different. Michael’s death had shaken him and made him reassess his priorities. She was sure that from now on he would be there for his family as well as for his patients. Even over the past few days she’d seen small changes. He brought her breakfast in bed and asked how she was feeling. When she’d mentioned that she was worried about Hannah, he’d taken her seriously and instead of dismissing her anxieties he’d called his daughter and arranged to take her to lunch the following week (at which point Hannah had called her mother because she’d been worried that there was something wrong with her father because he was acting strangely). Every evening they prepared dinner together, something they’d done only a handful of times since they’d met.

And she knew it was time to reassess her own priorities. She knew now that she needed more in her life. She needed to be more than just part of the Cameron Lapthorne machine.

“You’re a good doctor, Theo. A great surgeon. You’ve helped many people over the course of your career.” It seemed important to remind him of that. “And you were a good friend to Michael. He was lucky to have you.”

His loyalty to Michael touched her and gave her hope.

If he could be there for Michael, she could rely on him to be there for her, too. She wasn’t expecting something that he was incapable of delivering.

They finished their meal and took a stroll along the waterfront.

He held her hand, his grip warm and firm as if he was determined to stay as close as possible to her, and when he pulled her toward him and kissed her, she felt a flare of warmth that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

She kissed him back, sliding her hands into his hair, holding on to him and this moment.

She’d almost made the biggest mistake of her life, but fortunately she hadn’t.

And it was over now. Done.

She’d never have contact with Jeff again.

Theo would never know, and everything would be fine.

13

Cecilia

She parked in a spot reserved only for staff of the gallery and lifted her precious parcel out of the car. Before she’d even closed the door a man appeared from the back of the gallery.

“This is private parking. I’m going to have to ask you to—” He broke off and stared. “Cecilia?”

“Hello, Seth. Good to see you, too.” She took pleasure in watching his jaw drop.

“No, it can’t be. Is it really you?”

“It’s me. I don’t have to ask if it’s you. You haven’t changed at all.” She closed the car door and watched as the scowl turned into a smile.

“I wasn’t expecting today to turn out differently from any other day, but that just goes to prove you can always be surprised. And you look fantastic.”

When she’d packed for her impromptu trip she’d swept clothes into her suitcase without much thought, but when she’d riffled through everything that morning in an attempt to find something suitable, she’d been surprised by the choice. In the end she’d teamed a linen dress in a pale powder blue with a lightweight jacket and a scarf she’d bought on a trip to Paris decades earlier. Because this meeting felt like the most important thing she’d done in a long time, she’d added a pair of dangly earrings and a touch of lipstick.

It was clear from his expression that her efforts hadn’t been wasted.

“What have you got there?” He narrowed his eyes as he saw what she was carrying. “I hope you’re going to tell me you’ve been painting and you’re here to let me sell your work.”

“I’m not going to tell you that.”

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