The Memory Library by Kate Storey

Author:Kate Storey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Ltd
Published: 2023-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ella

Present Day

Sally was quiet that evening.

‘You all right?’ said Ella, after dinner.

‘Just tired, love,’ said Sally. ‘Okay with you if we sit and read tonight?’

‘Perfect for me,’ Ella replied. She couldn’t wait to get back to Jay Gatsby and Long Island. She soon lost herself in the story, only stopping when, about seventy pages from the end, she read the words, ‘“What’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon?” cried Daisy, “and the day after that, and the next thirty years?”’

She was reminded of the last conversation she’d had with Charlie. He’d read those words too and said to Ella, ‘What do you really want from your life?’

They were getting on better than they had for a long time and now she thought about it, it was because they were talking more. Not the kind of talking they did at home, which was mostly about Willow, or who took the bins out last. They were talking about how they felt.

Now, in The Great Gatsby, she could feel the heat and tension rising to a crescendo. Something terrible was about to happen. She thought about her relationship with Charlie. It didn’t have the passion she felt coming from these pages, but it was deeper, grounded in trust and respect. She’d taken that for granted. She’d seen his steadiness as dull and his cheeriness as irritating and it had taken her to travel to the other side of the world to value him again, to hear what he had to say.

What would they do with themselves for the next thirty years? This novel was about how important having a purpose is. Charlie had said, ‘Now Willow’s older, I’d like to find a new purpose.’

Ella had been surprised, but it made complete sense. She was ashamed that she hadn’t considered his needs. She’d been too busy feeling pious about how hard she worked. Now she could see this could be an exciting opportunity for real change in their lives. And what about her? Her purpose had been work, but was it truly fulfilling? She would give it serious thought.

‘Mum.’ She looked across at Sally, who was nearing the end of the short book. ‘Why did you choose The Great Gatsby for the library? Do you remember?’

Sally slipped in her bookmark and turned towards her, her face serious. ‘I hope you won’t see it as a criticism.’

Ella inwardly winced, expecting a few home truths. This trip was a humbling experience, and humbled still wasn’t her first choice of emotion. ‘I’m braced.’ She plumped a cushion and straightened to face the blow.

‘I bought this one when you got that big promotion at work.’

Ella cast her mind back to when she had been promoted two pay grades in a company restructure. It had felt dizzying and thrilling. She remembered emailing her mother the news.

‘I was worried about you,’ said Sally.

‘Worried?’ That didn’t make any sense. She’d been excited. Proud even. Surely a mother could be expected to feel the same when their child achieved something. ‘Why?’

Sally sighed.

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