Page 88 of The Summer Swap

“I hope she and Seth are—”

“Can we stop talking about my grandmother?” He silenced her with a kiss, and she wound her arms around his neck.

“So, what are we going to do with the rest of the day?”

“I have a few ideas we can test out. But first there’s something I need to say to you.” He smoothed her tangled hair back from her face. “Something you need to know.”

“What?”

He cupped her cheek with his hand and held her gaze. “You said you had no one in your corner. And I want you to know that I’m in your corner, Lily. Always. No matter what happens, or what choices you make, you will always have me in your corner.”

It was possibly the best thing anyone had ever said to her. “Thank you.”

“Also, I love you.” He kissed her gently. “I may have told you that already.”

“I have a terrible memory.” She stroked her fingers through his hair. “Maybe you should tell me again, just so I’m clear about it.”

“I can do better than that.” He scooped her up and carried her to the stairs. “I can show you.”

17

Kristen

Kristen arrived at the restaurant five minutes late. Theo was coming straight from the hospital and although he’d assured her he’d be on time, she knew him well enough that she chose not to arrive early.

She’d hoped he might take the whole day off as it was their anniversary, but having taken an extended leave of absence he understandably felt he needed to pull his weight in the department.

Theo had missed many anniversaries in their years together, and she was determined that this one was going to be perfect. It seemed symbolic somehow, that it came after what she thought of in her mind as a “rough patch.” He wouldn’t see it that way, of course, because he didn’t know how she’d been feeling, but that didn’t matter, because things were improving between them.

Losing Michael had made Theo more vulnerable, more open to talking to her about his feelings. She was sure that from there it was a very short step to talking about her feelings.

Even his work-life balance had improved. Since returning to work, he’d been restricting his hours and he’d been home when he’d promised to be home every night.

She smoothed her hair and stepped into the restaurant. It had become the most talked about place in Boston, and the chef had won multiple awards. It was the perfect place for a celebration.

In order to secure a table, she’d done something she rarely did, which was to use her maiden name when she booked.

“Ms. Lapthorne?”

She was greeted with warmth and shown immediately to a table. The atmosphere was muted and sophisticated. Candles flickered and silver gleamed. It was perfect in every way but one—

Her husband hadn’t yet arrived.

She was not going to stress. Traffic was probably heavy. When he walked through that door she was not going to say anything that might spoil the evening ahead, or risk threatening the new closeness that had emerged since the tragedy with Michael.

“You’re the first to arrive,” the woman said as she settled Kristen at the table, facing the view. “Can I fetch you a drink while you wait for your guest?”

She ordered a bottle of champagne, sure that by the time it arrived, Theo would have arrived, too.

She checked her phone, but there were no messages.

Five minutes, she promised herself. She’d give him five minutes, and then she’d call.

In the end she gave him ten, and by then the champagne had arrived.

“Shall I open it?” The sommelier hovered and she shook her head.

“I’ll wait, thank you.”

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