The Last Days of Summer: The best feel-good summer read for 2017. Sophie Pembroke
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in my marriage, or with my husband. You’re not friends, you’re not confidants, you’re nothing. Do you understand that?”
“Of course I do,” I whispered. “I know that. And I wouldn’t—”
“Don’t tell me what you wouldn’t,” Ellie said, bitterness seeping through her voice. “You already did. Remember?”
Shocked silence fell between us. Of course I remembered. Even if I’d spent two years trying to forget.
“I’m sorry,” I said, for what had to be the thousandth time. More, if you counted the letters she’d never read. “I… I’m not back here to see Greg. Or to cause any trouble. I know I did an unforgivable thing; I get that. I just…”
“Want to be forgiven,” Ellie finished for me, her voice hard.
“You forgave Greg.” I didn’t mean to whine, didn’t mean to imply that she was being unfair or that I deserved the same. But still the words came out. And as I said it, I realised I wanted to know why. Why did he get to stay here, to be part of my family, to live the life he’d always wanted, while I was exiled to Perth to do penance?
“Greg told me the truth,” Ellie said. “After… it happened. He came to me, practically on his knees, and told me the truth. He told me he couldn’t marry me, because he didn’t deserve me. Did you know that?” I shook my head. I’d been too preoccupied with my own fate to wonder exactly what happened between Ellie and Greg. “He was ready to walk out, leave his home and his family and his job, his life, because of what you two did.”
“And yet he’s still here.”
“Because I chose to forgive him.” Ellie leant across the table between us, hammering her point home. “I chose to go through with the wedding, even knowing that he’d slept with my sister just two days before, because I loved him. I still love him. I knew he truly regretted what he’d done, and I knew that together, we’d be able to move past it.” She leant back, her gaze fixed on mine. “It’s taken a lot of work, a lot of talking, a lot of love, but we have. We’ve moved on, and our marriage is stronger than ever.”
“I’m glad,” I said, softly. “I’m so glad that you’re happy together.”
“We are.” Ellie gave a firm nod. “And we will be when you leave again.”
And that, I supposed, was my answer. As far as Ellie was concerned, there was no place for me at Rosewood.
“Who else knows?” I asked, looking down at my hands. “When… two years ago, you said you didn’t want anyone to know.”
“I was ashamed.” Ellie gave a short, sharp laugh. The sort that isn’t funny at all. “Me. I was ashamed of what you two did.”
“You shouldn’t have been. I should. I am.”
“I know I shouldn’t have been,” Ellie replied sharply. “And when I realised that… I was able to talk about it, a little.”
“Who did you tell?” I asked, desperation leaking out in my voice. I needed to know who already knew my secrets, and who didn’t. Who I needed to explain myself to, who I needed to convince I wasn’t here to cause trouble. Mum and Dad had both said they didn’t know, and I suspected that was more because Ellie had wanted to spare them
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