Always Mr. Wrong by Joanne Rawson Read Free Book Online Page A

hear
Guy’s keys clatter into the little china bowl that now was home for
both sets of our house and car keys. It had become a welcoming
action, that the love of my life was home safe and sound, making a
mental note when we had our new house we needed a table by
the front door.
    I couldn’t contain my excitement, leaping
from the chair, I ran to greet Guy. Shouting as I ran into the
living room “Have you heard? Did the estate agent call you? Two of
the bidders for the house have dropped out. Guy, that means there
are now only us and one other.” Knowing right away that he knew,
with his arms already outstretched a massive grin on his handsome
face.
    “I know, I know.” We hugged each other.
Holding me tight, he lifted me up off the floor, swinging me
around. “I can feel it, Clare. I just know that house is for us.”
Placing me carefully back down, I could see the twinkle in his
eyes. “Don’t be mad with me, but I was passing the store on the way
home, and in expectation I brought this.”
    Grabbing my hand he led me back to the sofa.
Sticking out of a huge carrier bag I saw two floppy, gold fur ears.
I stood staring at it, knowing very well what was inside the bag.
“Come on, pull it out.” With shaking hands, I pulled out the
toddler-sized teddy bear. “It’s for the nursery.”
    My heart froze. I felt sick to the stomach.
It was no good. I had to say something. Guy had been so honest with
me right from his proposal of marriage, of how he saw our life
together. It was now time, for both our sakes, for me to be honest
with him.
    “Do you really need a nursery?”
    “I see what you mean. I must admit that I
have been reading some of those mother and baby magazines on your
ward while waiting for you, and some do suggest that a baby is
better sleeping with its parents.”
    Throwing the teddy bear onto the chair, I
grabbed his hands, pulled him closer to me, I knew what I was about
to say would turn his world upside down. “No, what I mean is, Guy
do you really need a baby?”
    “Are you saying you don’t want a baby?”
    “I’m not saying no, maybe in time, yes,
but....” I pulled my hands away and covered my face. “Oh, Guy,
please don’t hate me for saying this. There has never been a man
that I have loved as much as you, and I know this sounds selfish,
and I should have said from the start... Phil and I had Olivia so
early in the marriage, and we spent all our time and efforts caring
for her that we never had time for each other. I just want time for us. I want us to enjoy our life together.” Suddenly the
emotions I had been holding back for the last few weeks opened up a
bursting dam. I could not help the tears streaming down my
face.
    Taking me in his arms Guy held me tight,
soothingly rubbing my back, planting kisses on my forehead, he
softly said, “Hey, hey, there is no pressure here. We can put this
on hold. Talk about it another time. Okay?”
    Through the sobbing I managed a muffled,
“Yes.”
    * * * *
    It had been a difficult few weeks. Our offer
on the house had been declined. We had put offers in on two others
in Southgate, Guy feeling we would be better living nearer Olivia’s
school, family and friends. Guy’s small apartment was still up for
sale, but as of yet no interest had been shown.
    But what was more challenging was how Guy and
I seemed to avoid mentioning the B word, which made talking
about my shift at the hospital very hard in deed. Guy had always
been thrilled to talk about my work, yet since my outburst, his
interest had somewhat dissipated. I did, however, notice how much
more time than before he spent looking through the nursery window
rather than chatting at the nurses’ station when he came to pick me
up.
    Waking in the early hours of the morning, I
rolled over to cuddle Guy only to find his side of the bed empty.
Leaping out of bed, I began to panic he had left. Noticing his work
clothes still hanging on the wardrobe door the panic subsided. In
the hallway, he