Lucy Gordon: Wife And Mother Forever

‘If only I knew what was the right thing to do.’

‘Listen to your heart. It will tell you all you need to know. It won’t be easy for you. He’s always going to be a troubled man, but he needs you desperately. And you’ll have all his love, even if he finds it hard to tell you.’

Evie drew a sharp breath. ‘I’ll get dressed as fast as I can.’

Outside stood Justin’s car and driver, both of which, Evie guessed, Hope had simply commandeered.

As they drove back to London Evie reflected, with wonder, on a lifetime spent avoiding commitment. Now she was plunging into a commitment so deep it was terrifying. But not as terrifying as a life spent without him.

When, hours later, they reached Justin’s house, Hope let herself in with a key that perhaps she had also commandeered. Everywhere was very quiet, and at first Evie thought the place was empty. But then she saw him in the big garden, far away under the trees, in the fading light. She began to run.

When he looked up and saw her hurrying towards him, he grew very still. She half expected him to turn away, rejecting her, but at the last moment he opened his arms. When she went into them, they closed about her in a fierce grip.

But still he said, ‘Go away, Evie. Don’t do this,’ while his arms held her tighter and tighter.

‘Shut up,’ she said. ‘No more of your words. You won’t get rid of me with words again. I’m staying, do you hear?’

He groaned. ‘I’ll break your heart. Don’t you know that?’

‘Yes, and I’ll probably break yours. What of it? Hearts break and mend. But if we part again mine will break and never mend.’

She shut off his reply by kissing him. Her embrace held as much strength and determination as passion, and at last the message began to get through to him. The decision was no longer his. She had taken over, imposing her will on him, and all he needed to do was yield in peace and joy.

She drew back, taking his face between her hands. Months of anguish had left him thin and haggard.

‘I’m here to stay, do you understand that?’ she said. ‘No more foolishness; we’re going to be married.’

He nodded, smiling faintly.

‘If you take me on, it’s that lifetime commitment that you didn’t want,’ he warned her.

‘Leave me to worry about that.’

‘Evie, listen to me. Once this is done, I won’t let you go, ever. I’ll be jealous and demanding, possessive, selfish, unreasonable-’

‘That’s understood,’ she said with a shaky laugh. ‘I’ll just kick your shins.’

‘Be warned. Leave me before it’s too late.’

‘You fool, it was too late long ago. We just didn’t realise it. It’s all right.’ She kissed him gently. ‘It’s all right-all right-’

Then he yielded, dropping his head on to her shoulder with a sound that was like a sob. She held him close, soothing him silently.

When he looked up, Hope was standing there in the gloom.

‘Did you do this?’ he asked.

She nodded.

‘Thank you-Mother.’ His voice lingered on the word.

Hope gave a little satisfied smile and moved away until she was lost among the trees. They could do without her now, and she had a wedding to plan.

The two in the garden didn’t see her go. They had set their feet on a long, troubled road, where there would be bitterness as well as joy. But the joy would be there, all the sweeter for the struggle. And they would travel together, with no turning back.

Lucy Gordoncut her writing teeth on magazine journalism, interviewing many of the world’s most interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Roger Moore, Sir Alec Guinness and Sir John Gielgud. She also camped out with lions in Africa, and had many other unusual experiences which have often provided the background for her books. She is married to a Venetian, whom she met while on holiday in Venice. They got engaged within two days.

Two of her books have won the Romance Writers of America RITA ®Award: Song of the Lorelei in 1990, and His Brother’s Child in 1998 in the the Best Traditional Romance category.

You can visit her Web site at www.lucy-gordon.com