Page 2 of Bride Under Contract

Grace knew that feeling rather too well.

Looking out of the window...waiting for her dad’s car. Running for the post on her birthday... Sometimes there had been a car, and he’d taken her to the fair, or to a park, but more often than not he’d failed to show up.

Finally, and without explanation, he’d stopped all contact.

‘Look, I know I can’t visit her...’ Violet’s voice trailed off.

Neither she nor Grace wanted to raise the incident that had caused their friendship to waver, when—before her diagnosis—Grace’s mum had accused Violet of theft.

To this day Grace regretted her response. For a short while it had been easier to doubt her friend than accept how unwell her mother was.

‘Violet...’ Grace wanted to apologise properly, but Violet perhaps sensed it, because she hurriedly spoke over her.

‘I promise to keep an eye. The care home’s just opposite the library... I can check in with the staff... Anyway,’ Violet persisted, ‘you have to go. There might be some gorgeous...’ She paused and gave a little grimace. ‘Well, perhaps not a wildlife nerd, but once the jungle part’s over and you hit the islands...’

‘Believe me, romance isn’t on my mind.’

‘Who said anything about romance?’ Violet nudged her. ‘One hot night would do me. It might give me something to dream about while I’m filing the late returns.’

Though Grace laughed, she knew that for all Violet’s teasing it was a bit of a front.

They were both wary of men...albeit for different reasons.

Still, lately Violet seemed more ready to shake all that off, whereas Grace felt...

She took a moment, trying to work out how she felt.

Stuck?

No, that didn’t quite fit—after all she was going on holiday and her world was opening up again. The years between nineteen and twenty-five had vanished in a blur of struggling to work and care for her mum...

Lost.

It was more than that...

Grace might be sharing a flat with Violet again, but she felt so very different now than she had before.

Adrift.

Yes, that was more how she felt—adrift. As if she’d lost sight of the person she’d once been, while conversely being anchored.

She hadn’t told Violet everything—possibly because she didn’t want to burden her, or because she just wasn’t ready for another person to know the truth. Violet thought things were fine now, but Grace knew the money wasn’t going to last and could practically see the overwhelming responsibility to provide looming. Her mother was only in her fifties.

‘Don’t throw this holiday away,’ Violet said gently.

Grace nodded, knowing better than her friend that she might never get another chance—at least not for a very long time.

A little serenity might be required!

For now, her mother was safe.

Violet’s pep talk had worked and, with her mind almost made up, Grace glanced at the time. ‘I’m going to take her in a cake and say goodbye...’

‘Are you sure?’

The doubt in her friend’s voice told Grace that Violet didn’t think it was such a good idea.

‘Won’t that just confuse her even more?’