“I know your thirty-year-old secret,” whispered the sister-in-law.
“Emily, these beef and ale pies are absolutely divine! Would you share the recipe?” Rebecca stretched out her empty plate for seconds, beaming. “Mine never turn out this tender.”
“Oh, it’s nothing special,” Emily smiled, scooping another portion. “Just knead the mince long enough and boil the potatoes just right. I could show you sometimepop round whenever.”
The family had gathered for Williams seventieth birthdaychildren, grandchildren, close relatives. The usually spacious sitting room in Emily and Williams home felt cramped with laughter, chatter, and the rich smell of home-cooked food.
Emily caught the sharp gaze of Laura, Williams sister, whod traveled from Manchester just for the celebration. They hadnt seen each other in nearly a decade, and Emily couldnt help but notice how Laura had changed. Once loud and lively, she now seemed faded, withdrawn. Only her eyes remained the samewatchful, faintly mocking.
“Laura, would you like some more?” Emily asked, trying to ease the tension that look had brought.
“No, thank you,” Laura replied without looking away. “Ive had enough. In every sense.”
Something in her tone made Emily uneasy. She wanted to ask if everything was alright, but William stood up just then, tapping his knife against a wine glass.
“My dear friends, my family!” His deep voice filled the room. “Thank you all for sharing this day with me. Especially you, Laurayouve come a long way to be here.”
“For my big brother? Anything,” Laura said with a smile that didnt reach her eyes.
“And of course, my biggest thanks to my Emily,” William rested a hand on his wifes shoulder. “Forty-three years together, and not a day goes by that I dont thank my lucky stars for you.”
Emily blushed under the warm gazes of their guestsand the particularly piercing stare of Laura.
The evening rolled ondinner turned to tea, and guests slowly trickled out. The older grandchildren took the younger ones to play upstairs, their son and daughter-in-law insisted on washing up, and Emily sank onto the sofa, resting her aching feet, when Laura sat beside her.
“Tired?” Laura asked, studying her with an odd intensity.
“A bit,” Emily admitted. “Its been a whirlwind. But lovely.”
“Yes, my brothers a lucky man,” Laura mused. “Such a family, such a wife… Forty-three years. Couldve turned out so differently.”
A chill ran down Emilys spine.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, really,” Laura shrugged. “Just… life takes strange turns, doesnt it?”
Before Emily could respond, William approached, rosy-cheeked from wine and laughter.
“What are my favorite ladies whispering about?” He slung an arm around Laura. “Plotting against me?”
“Dont be silly,” Laura patted his hand. “Emily and I were just reminiscing. Werent we, Em?”
The night wound down. Emily saw off the last guests, helped finish the washing up. William, worn out from the festivities, had already gone to bed. Laura, staying in their guest room, retired too.
Emily tidied the kitchen and headed upstairs, but a sliver of light under the guest room door stopped her. She knocked softly.
“Laura? Still awake? Fancy a cuppa?”
The door opened. Laura shook her head. “Come in. No teabut Id like to talk.”
Emily stepped inside, unease prickling. The guest room was smalla sofa bed, an old dresser, a telly in the corner. Laura sat on the edge of the bed, gesturing to the armchair.
“Is something wrong?” Emily asked, sitting. “Youve been… off all evening.”
“Something happened,” Laura said, meeting her eyes. “Three months ago, I saw a doctor. Its cancer, Emily. Stage four.”
Emily gasped, hand flying to her mouth. “Good God, Laura! Why didnt you say? There must be treatment”
“Too late,” Laura shook her head. “Six months, tops. And its made me rethink a lot. Remember things Id tried to forget.”
“What things?” Emily frowned.
Laura leaned in, whispering: “I know your thirty-year-old secret.”
Emily froze. Her pulse roared in her ears.
“What… secret?” Her voice trembled.
“Dont play dumb,” Laura said coldly. “I know about James Clarke. That summer in Cornwall. What happened when Will was away on that two-week dig.”
Emilys throat tightened. “How”
“I saw you,” Laura cut in. “I came as a surprise, wanted to holiday with you both. The door was unlocked. I heard you… then I saw.”
Emily covered her face. That daythirty years buriedflooded back. James, Wills old uni mate, dropping by with a book. Wine on the patio, sunset, conversation… Then a sudden, reckless passion. The only betrayal in forty-three years. A mistake shed never forgiven herself for.
“Why wait so long to say anything?” Emily finally whispered.
“At first, I wanted to tell Will,” Laura admitted. “But he adored you. And James left for London straight afternothing more happened. I saw how you suffered. Figured it was between you two.”
“And now?” Emilys voice broke. “Why now? To tell Will before you go? Poison his last years?”
Laura studied her, then shook her head. “No. I came… to apologise.”
“Apologise?” Emily blinked. “For what?”
“For what happened after,” Laura looked down. “For what you dont know.”
Emily tensed. “What are you talking about?”
Laura took a deep breath. “After I saw you with James, I stayed at a hotel. I was furious. You know how much I loved my brother. Next day, at that same hotel… I ran into James.”
Emilys stomach dropped. “And?”
“We talked. He was drunk, wrecked. Said hed made a terrible mistake, betrayed his best mate. That it was a moment of madness…” Laura hesitated. “Then I said Id tell Will. And he… begged me not to. Offered money. I refused. Then he offered himself.”
Emilys breath caught.
“And you?”
“I said yes,” Laura said flatly. “One night for my silence. Next morning, he was gone. Transferred to London. We never saw him again.”
Emily stared, horrified. “But why?”
“Because I envied you,” Laura said bitterly. “Pretty, clever, loved by my brother. And suddenly, even you werent perfect. I wanted to feel… better than you. Just once.”
“My God,” Emily whispered. “What a mess we made.”
“Worse,” Lauras voice cracked. “I got pregnant.”
The room spun. “What?”
“Jamess baby,” Laura said, tears glinting. “I had an abortion. Told no one. A year later, I married Davidyou remember him. Had his children. But I never forgot that night.”
Emily sat stunned, thoughts whirling.
“Why tell me now?” she finally asked.
“Because Im dying,” Laura said simply. “I cant take this with me. I wanted you to know. And maybe… forgive me. Like I forgave you long ago.”
“Forgave me?”
“For hurting Will. For being the reason I made my mistake,” Laura gave a thin smile. “Though really, it was all me. My jealousy. My weakness.”
They sat in silence. A car passed outside, headlights briefly lighting the room.
“You wont tell Will?” Emily asked finally. “About me… or you?”
“Of course not,” Laura shook her head. “Why ruin what youve built? Hes happy with you. Thats what matters.”
Emily surprised herself by reaching for Lauras hand. “Thank you. And… Im so sorry. About everything.”
“Me too,” Laura squeezed back. “But its strangeI feel lighter. Like a weights gone.”
“What happens now?” Emily asked. “With treatment?”
“Palliative care,” Laura shrugged. “Pain management. Ill spend my time at home, with family. David knows. The kids too. Wills the only one I havent told. Didnt want to spoil his birthday.”
Emily nodded. “But we must tell him. He deserves to know.”
“Tomorrow,” Laura agreed. “For now… would you hold me? Like the sister I never was to you?”
Emily moved to the bed, wrapping her arms around Laura. She felt the frail woman shake with silent sobsand her own eyes filled with tears, for the past, the lost years, the looming loss.
“Stay with me tonight,” Laura whispered. “Just till I sleep. Im… scared to be alone.”
“Of course,” Emily stroked her greying hair. “Im here.”
They talked through the nightsoftly, so as not to wake Will. Childhood memories. Dreams fulfilled and unfulfilled. Husbands, children, grandchildren. Laura confessed shed followed their lives on Facebook, through rare letters.
“Funny thing,” she said as dawn crept in. “For years, I hoped your marriage would fail. That Will would find out, that youd split… Awful, isnt it? Then, after a decade, I realised I was glad for you. That youd kept love alive all these years. My envy… turned to admiration.”
“It wasnt easy,” Emily murmured. “We had rough patches. My guilt never left me. I tried to make up for itevery day.”
“And you did,” Laura smiled faintly. “See? One night didnt undo forty-three years.”
As dawn broke, Laura finally slept, exhausted. Emily tucked the blanket around her and slipped outstraight into Will, shuffling from their bedroom in striped pyjamas.
“There you are,” he yawned. “Woke up and youd vanished.”
“With Laura,” Emily hugged him. “We talked all night.”
“About what?” He searched her face. “Something wrong?”
Emily hesitated. Thered be time for hard truths later.
“The past,” she said. “Youth. Mistakes. Lessons.”
“And whats the verdict?” He grinned.
Emily thought, then smiled. “That loves stronger than envy or regret. That forgiveness sets you free. And its never too late for a fresh start.”
“Deep,” Will chuckled, kissing her head. “Breakfast? Ill make pancakes.”
Emily nodded, gazing at him fondly. Forty-three years, and every day still a giftmaybe because of the mistakes, not despite them.
She glanced back at Lauras door. The woman whod been more rival than family. Now, a confessor of buried sins. And suddenly, heartbreakingly, a sister with so little time left.
“Lets go,” Emily took Wills hand. “QuietlyLauras finally asleep. Its been a long night.”
And they walked to the kitchena silver-haired man in pyjamas and his wife, eyes tear-bright but smiling. A new day ahead, with its joys and sorrows, its truths and forgiveness. A day worth living wellespecially for those running out of time.
