Page 39 of Wedding Bells By the Creek

‘It’s a long story,’ Steph said softly. ‘And one I’m not proud of.’

‘After all these years, I think it’s time I heard the truth.’

Ed glanced around the bar. This wasn’t something to be done in front of an audience. He walked through to the lounge, knowing that Steph would follow. He didn’t sit down. He tossed the envelope onto a table in the far corner of the lounge and waited for Steph to begin.

‘When I left … with Andrew … well, it didn’t last. Then I travelled about a bit. There were others. Then I met Ian Wills. He was different to the rest. He loved me. He really did. He wanted to marry me. So I said yes.’

‘But you were already married.’

‘I lied. It seems I’m good at lying.’

Ed wasn’t going to disagree. He looked down at her hands, clenched on the table. He saw the mark where she had taken off her rings. He had thought that mark was left by the rings he gave her. But that was not the case.

‘We’d been together for such a long time. We were happy too. Then he died. In his will, he left everything to me. But his kids never liked me. They are going to contest the will.’

Ed felt as if the blinds had suddenly been lifted from his eyes. Now he understood. ‘You left because they were going to find out you had lied.’

Steph shook her head. She looked tearfully up at him. ‘No! Ed. I came back because I wanted to see you again. Because I’ve never forgotten you. I wanted to be a family again. With Scott.’

Steph was looking at him with pleading eyes. Even with tears on her face she was still a beautiful woman. Still the girl he had fallen for so many years ago.

A lifetime ago.

‘No, Steph. Just stop. You’re lying again. You’ve always lied.’ He picked up the envelope. ‘I just came over to tell you that I am going ahead with the divorce. I’m posting these papers today. I guess you’ll need to get involved now that you’ve shown up. But please don’t try to fight it. Just go, Steph. Do whatever you want. But I’m done.’

He turned to go but Steph grabbed his arm.

‘What about Scott? What are you going to tell him?’

‘I hope you and Scott will stay in touch. But that’s between the two of you. You could try telling him the truth, because if he asks, I won’t lie to him. I lied to him once before to protect you. It almost cost me my son and I won’t do it again.’

Steph let her hand fall. She looked forsaken, and Ed felt a touch of sympathy for her. But sympathy is not love.

‘Goodbye, Steph. Whatever you do, I wish you well.’

Ed turned and walked out through the back door of the pub. His heart felt wonderfully light as he crossed the road and walked through the small town square towards the post office. It was shut now, but that didn’t matter. He lifted the envelope and without the slightest hesitation slid it through the letter box slot.

As he turned away, he saw a figure emerge from the police station next door. He waited for Max to join him.

‘Posting a letter?’ Max raised a questioning eyebrow.

‘Sending off my divorce papers.’

Max nodded in an approving fashion.

‘I am going to see Helen now. There’s so much I need to tell her. To explain. And maybe tomorrow she and I can make a new start.’

‘Ah. Tomorrow. There’s something you should know about tomorrow.’ Max smiled and dropped an arm around Ed’s shoulders. ‘In fact, there’s a favour I want to ask you. It comes with an invitation.’

Chapter Eighteen

Ed was awake before it was fully light. He showered, scrubbing his hands for a very long time to get the years of oil and grease stains from under his fingernails. Satisfied at last, he dressed in his Sunday best. He made coffee, but was far too nervous to even attempt to eat anything. His eyes kept returning to the clock on the wall. It was almost time.

He felt something touch his leg and looked down. Bill, his grey tabby cat, was sitting staring up at him with an accusatory look on his face. Bentley was sitting a short, safe distance away from the cat. Ed shook his head. He had almost forgotten to feed the animals. That would never do. He opened the cupboard and reached for the necessary cans.

‘If today goes as I hope,’ Ed said as he put the dishes down in their respective corners of the kitchen, ‘it won’t just be the three of us anymore.’

At last he left the house. His car was waiting. He’d washed it last night and cleaned the interior until not so much as a speck of dust remained. He didn’t get behind the wheel, but instead he walked across the road to the pub. Steph had left last night. He’d seen her car pull away not long after they’d talked. For that he was glad. He didn’t want anything to cast a shadow over today. It was an important day … for many reasons.

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