The Marriage K.L. Slater (classic romance novels TXT) 📖

but had found them torturous because he’d been so nervous and tongue-tied. Instead, he’d immersed himself in boxing. ‘I’ve no time for dating,’ had been his stock reply if anyone asked.

His mother tried another angle. ‘I worry that Bridget comes with a lot of baggage. If Jesse had gone to prison for causing your death, I’d never want to see him again, never mind marry him!’

‘Well, you and Bridget are very different people, Mum,’ he said mildly. ‘Bridget found it in her heart to forgive me before we even fell in love, and that shows what an amazing person she is.’

Jill fell silent for a few moments and looked away, as if she was deciding whether to say something. When she looked back at him, she sounded resolved.

‘Don’t take this the wrong way, Tom, but it needs saying. You’ve been in prison for ten years, living a very limited life. Bridget has been out in the big wide world, building her charity, achieving a lot of things, it seems. How easy do you think it would be for her to convince you that you have a future together while underneath she still despises you for the fact that Jesse isn’t here any more?’

‘We’ve been totally open and honest with each other.’ Tom ran his hand through his hair, wondering how long he had to keep saying the same things in a different way to try and get through. ‘Bridget admitted she felt like she hated me for a long time, but now she understands I never meant to hurt Jesse. That what happened almost destroyed me too.’

‘What if Bridget’s only motive is to ruin you, to get revenge for Jesse’s death? If she poured all her efforts into that, how would you know until it was too late?’

The idea was so ludicrous he wanted to laugh, but he managed to keep his face straight. ‘Thanks to the restorative justice programme, we’ve done far more talking than if we’d just dated. I know Bridget inside out, Mum, and she knows me. Our love is strong and deep. All this rubbish about revenge, it’s not real. It’s only in your head. Bridget’s already shown her commitment and faith in me in other ways. One of the things I came here to tell you is that I’m going to be working at the charity, making new contacts and bringing in donations.’

‘You’ve never expressed any interest in that sort of work before.’

Tom shrugged, irked that she was unimpressed. ‘I’ve never had the opportunity before, and it beats some crummy job working in a library.’

He instantly regretted the snipe as her face fell.

‘Sorry, Mum. I shouldn’t have—’

‘It’s fine.’ Jill waved his comment away. ‘I’m only going to say this once, but it has to be done. I have to be sure you understand.’

‘Huh?’

‘This marriage can be annulled, Tom. I’ve googled it, you’ve only to say the word and we can go and see a solicitor. If you’d felt forced into marrying her, they’d have to—’

He stood up. ‘Right. I’m going now, I—’

‘No, please!’ Jill shot up and grabbed his arms. ‘I had to say it, I had to. I won’t repeat it, I promise. I do want you to be happy. It’s just … I honestly worry that you’ve made a huge mistake.’

He sighed and sat back down again.

‘You’ll see, Mum. Everyone will see how happy we are together, I’m asking you to give it time.’ He reached for Jill’s hand and she let him take it. Her fingers felt warm and dry. ‘I know you only want the best for me, but you can have your own life back now. You and Dad can do all the things you’ve been wanting to do together.’

‘But—’

‘Please, Mum. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.’ Being in this house was squeezing the life out of him. He needed to go home. ‘Bridget wants you to come over for dinner on Friday night if you’re free.’

Her face froze and he imagined her throat tightening. ‘That’s … unexpected.’

‘It was all her idea.’ He smiled. ‘She’s asking Coral and Ellis if they’ll come too. She desperately wants us to all get on. Please come.’

‘I’ll speak to your dad,’ she said lightly and he imagined Robert instantly looking for a way out. ‘I’m not sure he’ll be able to make it if he’s working late.’

Tom pulled a face. ‘I’d rather you came alone anyway. I don’t want him there.’

‘Tom!’

‘He doesn’t deserve you, Mum.’ He let go of her hand, battled to keep the sadness off his face. ‘I’ll tell Bridget you’ll come, anyway. She’ll be so thrilled. The house is amazing. She’s only been living there six months, I can’t wait for you to see it.’

Jill gave a small nod, seemingly unable to answer.

He gave her his mobile number and his new address before kissing her at the front door. At the bottom of the drive he turned and looked back at the house. His memories were largely unhappy here, at the mercy of his bullying father for so much of his childhood and teenage years.

His mother truly wanted the best for him and that pulled at his heartstrings. But she was wrong about Bridget. They’d been friends for many years and yet she refused to accept what a decent person his new wife was.

He and Bridget loved each other and, despite his mother’s fears, she’d never do anything to hurt him.

Tom felt certain of that.

Twenty Bridget

Mid-week, we decided to go food shopping for Friday night’s dinner to give me plenty of time to prepare. Jill had already contacted Tom to say both she and Robert would be gracing us with their presence and I saw he was both surprised and delighted.

I’d called Coral and held out the olive branch and she’d agreed to try again and bring Ellis to the meal. I hadn’t mentioned Tom’s parents would be there. No need to complicate matters and give her an excuse to refuse my request.

Tom drove to