The Woman He Loved Before by Dorothy Koomson Page A

hands. ‘He has been like a different person since you started courting. I never thought I’d see him laugh, or take an interest in life again …’ All four of us in the corridor, not least Jack’s mother, were horrified when her eyes began to mist over with tears.
    ‘You must excuse my wife. She does come on a bit strong sometimes,’ Jack’s father said, coming forward. ‘You’re embarrassing the poor girl. You’ll frighten her off.’ He held out his hand and his wife immediately let my hands go to allow me to shake his. ‘Hector,’ he said. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
    Jack had inherited his father’s frame, height and self-possession. I was sure there were very few people on Earth who made Hector feel insecure. Jack had mentioned in passing that his dadstill went to the gym and played golf – it showed: his skin was smooth and unblemished, while most of his thick head of hair was neat and disconcertingly shiny.
    ‘I’m very pleased to meet you, too,’ I said, sounding prim and proper. I hadn’t intended to, but it had come out that way.
    ‘While my wife might have been a bit overwhelming, it
is
a pleasure to have your company today, Elizabeth. My son has been very circumspect, some might even say evasive, about you.’ He shot a pointed look at Jack, who lowered his head. ‘I see absolutely no reason for that. You are most welcome in our home.’
    A little churning began in my stomach, the butterflies of nerves at meeting them, but also the anxiety by the fact I’d have to tell them that my name wasn’t Elizabeth. They were both being so nice, so gracious and welcoming, how could I say it now? I realised with a start that Jack didn’t know it, either. The man I was about to marry didn’t know my full name.
And you’ve managed to convince yourself you’re not rushing into this?
I berated myself.
    ‘Are we going to spend all our time in the hallway?’ Jack asked.
    ‘Of course not, of course not,’ Harriet said. ‘Come in, come in.’ Hector let go of my hand, which was still tingling from the firmness of his handshake, and Harriet immediately hooked her arm through mine and began to lead me along their hall towards the living room. Since I’d walked in, one or the other of Jack’s parents had kept hold of me – almost as if I might disappear or run away. Maybe that’s what happens to a family after someone dies: they cling to anyone new in their world. I actually thought it would be harder, that they would look at me with suspicion and disdain – they would question my motivations for being there, while showing their slight disgust at me daring to try to replace the person they lost.
    ‘Now, Elizabeth, you must tell me all about what you’ve got planned so far for the wedding. I’ll be as involved as you want. I would love to take over because I don’t have a daughter but I’m sure your mother is already doing that.’
    ‘Umm, not really. Jack and I haven’t really talked about what we want from the wedding. We thought it best to meet each other’s families first.’
    ‘That is sensible,’ Hector said.
    ‘Who wants sensibility when there is love and romance involved?’ said Harriet with a smile that was practically a wink.
    Their living room, like the rest of the house, was huge. I could fit my whole flat in there twice over with room to spare. The walls were a pale sage green topped with high, white ceilings, and many display cabinets and sideboards lined the walls, as did pieces of ornate, elaborately pretty furniture that were obviously expensive antiques. Jack came from money, I knew that, but this house drove the point home that we were different, we had different experiences of the world.
    I sat on the sofa nearest the fireplace and was surprised that Jack immediately sat on the arm of the sofa, laid his arm along the back of it and rested his hand lightly on my shoulder. I liked being near him – having his warmth and scent right next to me was one of the best things