Page 66 of Only You

Ana’s stomach turned over at the thought. The thought of Andrew touching her sister like he had her last night. The desperate way he had taken her, sending her soaring, and how after he had held her close. Making her feel, for the first time in her life, cherished. But what if it was an illusion? He would not have had to pretend too hard that she was Eva.

Ana’s mind flew back to the last time she had seen him. She had hidden at the top of the stairs as he pleaded with Eva not to throw their marriage away, their child. How he loved her, and they could work through anything. How could she have forgotten that? She could never compete with her sister. Who did she think she was?

“The only way to know is to talk to him,” George said.

Neither of her friends could dispute what she had just told them.

“Well, your sister must be one beautiful bitch,” Millie said as George smacked her on the arm. “What? Ana is one of the most beautiful girls I’ve met, and I’m straight. If she’s telling us her sister is more beautiful, she must be a super, supermodel.”

Millie’s words brought a smile to Ana’s lips as Millie handed her a tissue. “You, my friend, do not know how special you are. That is what Andrew sees. He doesn’t see your sister. He sees a beautiful, kind, and wonderful human being who has taken his daughter under her wing and showered her with love and affection. What is there not to love about you? You may look like your sister, but from what you’ve told me, you’re nothing like her.”

Ana leaned forward and hugged her friend. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

A knock came at the door, and Millie’s mum popped her head into the room. “Sorry to disturb you all. Ana, would you like to stay the night? I’m not prying, but I already made the spare room up if you’d like to.” Without waiting for an answer, she left.

Millie agreed. “Space might be just what you need.”

“But Olivia?” Ana said, her thoughts immediately going to the little girl who had so firmly and intrinsically wormed her way into her heart. She would expect her home.

“Message Andrew and tell him to tell Olivia you are having a sleepover with your friends. All little girls like sleepovers, and she’ll understand that.” George nodded at Millie’s suggestion. “I think giving yourself some space will do you some good. You need time to process. If Olivia is there, it’s not like you and Andrew will get time to talk.”

Ana had to agree; her friends were right. Time away would allow her to see more clearly. It was not like she and Andrew had even discussed what they would do when Olivia came home. “Thank you. I’ll message him and let him know.”

Grabbing her phone

ANA:I’m staying at Millie’s. Please tell Olivia I’m having a sleepover, and I’ll see her tomorrow to hear all about her sleepover with Skylar.

The message immediately showed ‘Read’

ANDREW:We need to talk

ANA:Not today

ANDREW:Eva has gone... come home.

ANA:I can’t. I’ll be home tomorrow. Give Olivia a big kiss from me.

Ana switched her phone off as soon as she sent the last message. She didn’t want to go round in circles. She should go home and face the music. Home, ha, when had she started thinking of Andrew’s home as hers? She really had fallen off the wagon. When had she become so comfortable?

“Great,” Millie said, taking Ana’s phone and placing it on the table. “So, ladies. What will we do for the rest of the day and this evening?”

Both Ana and George shrugged.

“George, give Julia a call. We can have a girls’ pamper session and drink ourselves into oblivion. Forget about our stresses and worries and think about the moment. This is going to be a mindfulness Boxing Day. Mindful that we drink more than we should!”

Ana and George snickered. Ana felt grateful for her two friends as she sat back and accepted the drink Millie had handed her. She needed to forget about what had happened and get into the moment. Ana was twenty-two and had survived breaking free of her family. She could survive heartbreak, too.

Chapter Forty-three

Andrew

Andrew eventually asked Eva to leave, telling her he needed time to think. He had a lot to process after what he’d learned. She had agreed and thanked him for taking the time to listen to her, then she’d given him her telephone number and the address of the friend she was staying with. Ana’s text message had been a kick in the stomach. He had attempted to call, but she must have had her phone switched off. He desperately wanted to talk to her, to find out if what Eva had told him was true. They also needed to discuss what had happened last night. His heart rate picked up at the thought of the night they had spent together. He had never felt such a connection to another human being; it was why he had thrown every fear and concern he had to the wind the moment their lips had touched; it was as though a switch had gone off in his head and all he could do was feel. Did Ana regret what had happened? Is that why she had stayed away? He did not know what he’d do if she regretted their night. He knew he’d have to move forward for Olivia. Had he wrecked their perfect little family because that was how he’d seen them? As a family.

Andrew headed to Star and Damian’s house to collect Olivia. He didn’t know if he should tell his friends what had happened. Would they understand, or would they see him as a desperate middle-aged man, having an affair with the nanny, who was nearly fifteen years younger than him?

Star opened the door when he arrived, her eyes drifting behind him, searching. “No Ana?” she asked, sounding disappointed. Andrew knew Star had taken a shine to Ana. She had told him as much, and he valued her opinion.

“No, she’s having a sleepover with friends,” he heard himself say, which sounded as ridiculous out loud as it did in his head.

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