Trying Not To Love You

Part Forty Nine

Chapter Forty Nine

Martha was regretting dragging Ethan across the town, his small legs were struggling to move at her speed, but she couldn’t slow down, because then she’d have to think about things. So they persevered. As they crossed the main road, heading towards the route that led out to the Oldbury house, Martha spotted James and his sister coming out of the corner shop across from the pub, and offered an awkward smile. Both he and Jade had their eyes trained on her, and she sighed, the last time she’d seen them both had been in the pub on the weekend when she’d kissed Sonny. Looking down to her left she smiled at the happy Ethan, and realised she was giving REAL value for money to them. How long would it take the town grapevine to work out who Ethan was? Not long she was sure.

Giving them a genial wave, she gripped Ethan’s hand harder, and dragged him along the road, hoping her plastered on nonchalant smile looked convincing. Then she let out the breath that she hadn’t realised she was holding in extreme relief. Striding towards her was Sonny. He was wearing his running gear and was sporting a dark bruise to his jaw. As his eyes flicked from James and Jade, the repulsion faded and he lit up as they landed on her walking towards him.

With a sigh of relief that he hadn’t run away, she stopped in her tracks, and within seconds he was beside her, high-fiving Ethan then pulling her into his arms for a dramatic kiss that told her JUST how much he’d missed her.

                “I thought you’d gone,” she offered hating that tears threatened her eyes.

He shook his head vehemently, “never. I’d not do that to you.” Lifting his head he smiled at her, “breakfast?” He nodded to the café at the end of the road.

                “We’ve eaten, but I can always go for another coffee and something sweet.”

Nodding he threw an arm around her shoulder, “my treat. Come on squirt, you want a doughnut?”

Sonny was smiling contentedly as he threw open the cafe door, he didn’t need Michael Oldbury, he had Martha. As she made for a table, he smiled at Maggie behind the counter.

                “Hi Maggie,” can I get a couple of coffees, a coke, your sugariest doughnut, and a full English for me.”

She looked up and smiled, “no problem, haven’t seen you in here for ages Sonny.”

When he’d moved to town he ate in the cafe as often as he visited the bookies or the pub, “love of a good woman!” He announced.

Maggie glanced past him to Martha then smiled again, “lucky you.”

He turned to see what she did, Martha sitting Ethan into a seat, her smile breaking into a laugh that lit the whole room, then she glanced up at him and met his eyes and he felt a jolt of love rip him apart. He had to be honest with her about everything. That was essential, and he had to do it now.

As they ate, he apologised for his absence, then started on the truth, that Gripper had caught him off guard, knocked him out, and that Oldbury Senior had put him up for the night. Martha looked stunned beside him, unable to believe that a man grieving would be so genial. If only she knew! If only HE knew.

                “So, it was a strange one. I should have called. But I was bloody unconscious. Do you forgive me?”

Martha watched as he dug into his breakfast, a calmness descending over him once she nodded her obvious forgiveness. The fear, the pain at losing him, at the thought of him running away was fading, but she still had the trip to visit Michael Oldbury, to introduce Ethan to his grandfather. And for a lot of reasons she wasn’t looking forward to it.