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‘She says herfrom her own pain and uncertainty
‘Dying?’ he repeated as if the as ?’
What was the ht Paul had always been so quick-witted His ht; she had been in awe of his intelligence Yet now, tonight, that ish, as if he couldn’tshe said She hadn’t expected her news to shock hi else, so he hadn’t told her about? All week he had had so off into deep concentration, frowning and silent; there had been phonecalls at odd hours, business s in London that kept hiether hadn’t been so intensely passionate Cathy un to suspect there was another woman, but she knew it couldn’t be that She knew better than to ask if anything rong – Paul never discussed business with her
Looking at hiot leukaeiven her three months at the outside’
Paul walked stiffly over to the fire and leaned on theinto the flames
Cathy couldn’t bear anyto do with us, forget theer she always felt when they were alone She whispered pleadingly, ‘I’o to bed, ’
If he would et Sophie and all these doubts and uncertainties; her only real certainty would be Paul’s body, her own, ether in perfect harmony
He didn’t turn round, or look at her, but she felt the e like that froe which was like a knife thrust in her
‘Don’t turn away frouish ‘It isn’t true, she was telling a pack of lies! Paul, I need youdown her face, her body was shaking with sobs ‘I’htened I knoho I am, butbut she’s knocked me off-balance, I’m so confused and miserable’
‘You’d better go up to bed,’ he said heavily ‘Go on, Cathy; get some sleep, that’s what you need Maybe you should take one of those pills the doctor gave you for her’ He sat down in one of the ar at her
‘Co over to kneel down beside hi like ivy, putting a coaxing hand on his thigh, stroking the tense ers
He pushed her
away, didn’t look at her, his eyes on the fire ‘I’m not sleepy, I have soet Nora to bring me some sandwiches and coffee and hile I eat’
The rejection ot up, stu Sophie’s photographs to the floor They scattered like autumn leaves across the carpet, so in the firelight Paul turned his head to stare at theether
‘What are those?’