AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Yes. Hooey.’ Leila nodded in emphasis. ‘Joe and I could have had a wonderful future together. He would have made a fortune—not just from surfing but from advertising and endorsements. We would have been as big as any of these football celebrity couples. We could have had it all—hell, by now we could have been on reality TV, with millions in the bank.’
‘Is that what Joe wanted?’
‘Of course. He loved surfing—and I’d have handled all the other stuff. But then he went and blew it.’
Anger was on a slow burn now, along with a feeling of wonder as to why Joe thought he owed Leila anything. ‘It wasn’t his fault his parents died.’
‘No, but he didn’t have to let it change everything.’
‘But it did change everything!’
OK, so she’d yelled, but it had been either that or give in and shake some sense into Leila.
‘Leila, you need to wake up and smell the coffee—or iced tea, or whatever. Just for a minute can you please try and look at this from a different perspective?’
For a second guilt prodded Imogen. Less than an hour ago she’d been just as bad as Leila, willing to condemn Joe because of her own fears and inadequacies. She had judged him unfairly. Now she could make amends. By standing up for him. And maybe she could achieve something more. Because whether he liked it or not Joe had been affected by his relationship with Leila. Maybe this was Imogen’s chance to achieve closure for him. And if that meant bursting Leila’s bubble then she’d enjoy every second.
‘If Joe had done what you wanted and surfed off into the sunset with you what would have happened to his sisters?’
‘Well … they … they would have been fine. He could have visited them, kept in touch. They could have come to stay with us every so often.’
‘Visited them where, Leila?’
Red stained the blonde’s cheeks. ‘There must have been other relatives.’
‘Nope.’
‘The care system. Or …’ Discomfort creased Leila’s face.
‘You didn’t think, did you?’ Imogen leant forward and slammed a palm down on the table, hearing the frustration sharpen her voice. ‘Or rather you just thought about yourself. If it had been me all those years ago I’d have married him to help him through. I’d have stood by him. He’s a good man. Who feels terrible about the way he behaved to you all those years ago. He believes he blighted your life. Did he?’
The green eyes skittered away. ‘I would dream about his anguished face … his words of anger would echo in my eardrums.’
‘Leila. This is real life. Please. There is a good man up there, beating himself up because he thinks he did you damage. A man who gave up his dream to look after his sisters. A man who built a new life for them and him.’
A man she had accused unfairly and owed an apology to herself. But that could come later—now her chest ached as she held her breath and hoped that her words had had some effect.
There was a long silence as Leila’s glossy painted mouth opened and closed, and to Imogen’s surprise she saw the green eyes swim with tears.
‘Oh, hell,’ Leila said. ‘Double hell. Now my mascara is running.’ A small sniff and suddenly she looked a whole lot more accessible. ‘You’re right.’ She gusted out a sigh. ‘I’m behaving appallingly. I’ve always felt terrible about the way I left Joe. I was young and shallow and, truth be told, I don’t believe Joe and I really loved each other. I loved being a surfer chick and he loved having a hot blonde girlfriend.’
‘That’s OK.’ Surprise and a sudden leap of elation at the knowledge that her instincts had been right after all fizzed in Imogen’s tummy.
‘But that doesn’t mean I should have deserted him. And now—because I don’t want to face what an outright bitch I was, and I certainly don’t want Howard to know—I’ve rewritten history to suit myself. Without giving Joe a thought. I’m sorry.’
Imogen shook her head. ‘It’s not me you owe the apology to.’
‘You think I should talk to Joe?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Imogen smiled—whatever her faults, it had taken guts for Leila to acknowledge the truth and want to make amends. ‘That way you can both have closure.’
‘And I can get on with doing what I’m best at. Being adored and fêted and looked after.’
‘I think that’s the bride’s prerogative. Truly, Leila, I wish you and Howard very happy.’
‘We will be, darling. And, Imogen?’
‘Yes?’
