A laugh escapes me. I snatch the box back from him. “Wow. That’s rude. Maybe teach your new girlfriend some manners.”
“She’s not—” He cuts himself off, dragging a hand through his hair. “She used to be a midwife. She’s certain.”
“I think I’d know if I was pregnant, Ray,” I say, my tone tightening. “Jesus, I’ve had a few nights out and I’m tired.” My voice wobbles. I steady it. “I know you breezed through our break-up, but I didn’t.” There it is. The truth, slipping out where I didn’t want it. I take a breath, forcing myself to pull it back together. “I’m not pregnant,” I say more quietly. “See you around, Ray.”
I turn before he can say anything else, forcing my legs to move.
I don’t look back.
Because if I do . . .
I might not leave at all.
The train journey home feels endless. Every mile drags and every stop feels like it takes too long.
By the time I step off and haul my suitcase down the familiar street, my arms ache and my head pounds, but none of it compares to the weight sitting heavy in my chest.
I stop outside the house.
Home.
The door swings open before I even reach for the handle.
“Thank the Lord,” Aunt Lucy cries, rushing out and pulling me into her arms so tightly I almost lose my breath. “I’ve been out of my mind with worry. If your housemate hadn’t called me, I swear I’d have rung the police.”
“I’m fine,” I whisper into her shoulder. The words taste like the lie that they are.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs, pulling back just enough to cup my face, her thumb brushing under my eye. “You’re anything but fine.”
I blink rapidly, forcing the tears back. I’m so tired of crying.
“Your dad’s out,” she says gently. “Come on. We’ll have some tea and you can tell me everything. Or whatever you want to tell me.”
I sit at the kitchen table, my hands wrapped around a mug of tea, letting the warmth seep into my fingers.
Lucy watches me carefully.
“I’m so glad you’re home,” she says softly. “We’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” I admit. My voice sounds small.
“So, the job didn’t work out?” she asks. I shake my head. “That’s a shame,” she says. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
I stare down into my tea. “I was caring for someone,” I begin slowly. “She was only a few years older than me.” My throat tightens. “She died.”
The words break something open inside me, and the tears come before I can stop them. Lucy is beside me instantly, wrapping her arms around me as I fold into her.
“Wynter,” she whispers, holding me tight. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was ashamed,” I sob. “I had all these plans going to London and I just . . . I failed.”
“You silly girl,” she murmurs, pressing a kiss to my hair. “You didn’t fail. You went after something you wanted. That takes courage.”
“But I didn’t make it,” I cry. “I didn’t achieve anything. I just got my heart broken again and ended up right back where I started.”
She pulls back slightly, searching my face. “You met someone?”
I let out a weak, humourless laugh. “Yeah. That surprised me too.”