Page 6 of My Husband's Wife
‘They are your first appointments.’ She excitedly claps her hands once. ‘They’re both interested in our bronze package. I don’t think you’ll budge Ben and Alice, but I know that Madison wasn’t happy. She wanted silver but her husband-to-be was trying to keep costs down. We want them to both be happy, but ultimately if we can convert to a silver, that would be amazeballs.’
So, I have my first challenge and I can’t wait.
Hallie leaves the room to attend to a customer’s billing query, and my phone rings. ‘Hi, Mum.’
‘Eva, how are things? I was getting worried because you didn’t call me back. We haven’t had a proper chat since you moved.’
I should have called Mum but I’ve been constantly sidetracked, and I know how she worries, even though I’m in my thirties. ‘I’m fine, Mum, but I can’t speak for long. I’m at work and it’s my first day. I can’t get caught talking on my phone.’
‘I should call back later.’
I stand and open my office door. Hallie is nowhere to be seen. ‘I’m okay for a couple of minutes but if I cut you off, it means someone is about to come in.’
‘Okay, I just wanted to know how you were all settling in.’
‘It’s amazing here and the house is beautiful. We’re really happy and Caiden loves his new school. You’ve seen the photos of the house, haven’t you?’
‘I have and I’m worried about you.’
‘Why, because of the house?’
‘No… yes. All of it. Rushing into your marriage, the house, the new job, the move. You were settled in Malvern; we had a routine and it was good for you and Caiden.’
My stomach clenches. Not this again. ‘I was existing in Malvern. I had to pass where Hugo died every single day. It was stifling me and don’t get me started on the people and how they stared. Caiden and I needed to get away from all that.’
‘You’re running away and we know what happens when you run away from things that upset you or stress you out.’
‘Mum, I’m not having this conversation again. I love Zach, I wanted to move here with him and I’m happy.’
The day before we left Malvern, Mum had gone on and on about us moving away with Zach and it pains me that she won’t accept him when he’s been nothing but perfect with me.
She hangs on the other end of the call in silence. ‘I’m scared.’
I puff out a breath. ‘Why?’ I don’t know why I’m indulging her. I’m not the same person I was all those years ago. Things have changed for the better.
‘I’m scared I’ll lose you again.’
‘You haven’t lost me. You can visit anytime.’
‘You know what I mean. Only this time, I won’t be close enough to be there when you need me.’
Is she crying? ‘Mum. Please stop this nonsense and let me live my life.’
Hallie walks back in and smiles. ‘Right, let’s get that coffee.’
I hang up on Mum and smile. That’s the story of my life. I smile to cover my worries. Ouch, without realising what I was doing, I’ve pulled another hair from the back of my head and it stings.
Keep smiling, I say to myself but the wider I smile the more my head is itching for me to pull another hair out. A smile can’t fix me or the dark feelings that have followed me from Malvern. The anxiety and guilt is eating me up from the inside, but I can never become ‘past me’ again.
Five
As I put the plates in the dishwasher, I keep thinking about whether to call Mum back but I can’t face speaking with her now. I post a photo of our lovely view on Instagram, instead.
‘Mum, can I have some ice cream now?’
I flinch and drop a plastic cup onto the tiles, where it bounces and hits the kick board. ‘You made me jump.’ I snatch the cup and pop it in the dishwasher. ‘I’ll do you some in a minute.’ I turn around and notice that Zach has left the table. He was scrolling through his phone last time I saw him. ‘Where’s Zach?’
‘He went up to his office,’ Caiden replies.
