Kate laughed. “Who says I want anything?”
Gabe shook his head and moved to leave. Kate was always after something, a lesson he learned a long time ago.
“I want a divorce,” Kate said.
CHAPTER43
Hannah was dripping in sweat. She’d known it was too hot for an outdoor run when she’d set out, but she’d been going stir-crazy and needed to channel her frustrations somehow. If Russel’s behaviour had fired her up, that was nothing to what Gabe’s had done.
Relieved to be almost home, the sun beat down on her back. She felt the strain of her feet pounding on the pavement, each step hurting more than the last. Her throat was dry from not concentrating on her breathing and whereas running usually gave her the space to think, her mind refused to settle. The scene with Gabe and Kate constantly played on a loop and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get her head around it.
She came to a standstill and let herself into the house. Passing the lounge on her way to the kitchen, Hannah paused, scowling as she glanced into the room. She knew she was making life hard for herself and, no doubt, being childish, but having discovered Gabe was married, she no longer wanted anything to do with the man and that included using his treadmill.
She heard Aunt Dorothy chatting and after assuming she was talking to Uncle Denis, the room fell quiet when Hannah entered. Wondering why, she was surprised to see Mel and Liv sat at the dining table. “No one told me we were having a team meeting,” Hannah said. She headed straight for the sink to get a glass of water. “Although with only two days until race day I suppose it makes sense.”
“Sod the race,” Liv said. “When you didn’t turn up for last night’s group training session, we wanted to check you’re okay.”
Hannah took a long hard drink to both quench her thirst and soothe her sore throat. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and turned to face the others. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Poor Gabe was beside himself,” Mel said.
“Tell that to someone who cares,” Hannah replied.
Dorothy, Liv and Mel shared a knowing look. “Didn’t I tell you she’s in denial?”
“If this is about Gabe’s marital status,” Hannah said. “You’re all worrying over nothing. Was I surprised to find out he has a wife? Yes. Is that any of my business? No.”
“You’re really trying to tell us you don’t care?” Liv asked.
Hannah joined them at the table. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.” Her phone rang in her pocket and realising its timing could have been better, Hannah fixed a smile on her face.
Dorothy, Mel and Liv stared back at her. They clearly knew as much as Hannah did that it was probably Gabe trying to get through and while Hannah’s expression masked the fact that inside she was squirming, theirs dared her to pick up.
Much to Hannah’s relief, her phone, at last, fell silent. “As I was saying, the man means nothing to me.”
Dorothy raised an eyebrow. “If that’s the case, why won’t you talk to him?”
“That’s a fair enough question,” Liv said.
“I’m sure you can spare Gabe five minutes,” Mel said. “Not only has he given up his time for you these last couple of weeks, we’re all–”
“You’re gonna play the guilt card now?”
Mel ignored Hannah’s question. “As I was about to say, we’re all mature enough to know things aren’t always what we think they are.”
Hannah scoffed. If anyone should understand her position, she’d have thought it was Mel. “Spoken to Russel lately, have you?”
Mel immediately appeared hurt.
“Hannah!” Dorothy and Liv said.
Realising she’d crossed a line, Hannah’s upper body crumpled. Gabe’s marital status wasn’t Mel’s fault and Hannah had no right to take it out on her friend. Full of regret, she closed her eyes for a second. “I’m sorry,” she said, before opening them again. “That was uncalled for. Please. I didn’t mean it.”
“I suppose I did walk into that,” Mel said.
“No, you didn’t.” Hannah took a deep breath and exhaled. “I know it’s no excuse, but I’m just tired. I’ve been preparing for Saturday’s race and–”
“You’ve been using it as a distraction, you mean,” Dorothy interrupted. “And running yourself into the ground in the process.” She turned to Mel and Liv. “I’ve tried to tell her. She’s been pushing herself far too much. Gabe’s training plan has gone out of the window. It’s like she’s trying to prove something, although I haven’t a clue what.”
