Independent Jenny by Sarah Louise Smith

and I need to think and clear my head. Can you just give me more time to think?”
    “How much time?”
    “Well, I think I might go away next week with Hayley, get some distance.”
    “I don’t see how having time apart can help. I thought we might still go somewhere together. Maybe if you spend some time with me, you might fall in love again? It could be a second honeymoon.”
    “I want to clear my head, and right now I can’t be around you. The thought of you going out and being with other women makes me sick. So no, I don’t think it’s as easy as that. You can’t just say sweet things and think I’ll fall for you all over again.”
    “Okay. Fine. But I can’t wait forever, I need to think about where I might live. Aiden’s already getting annoyed with having me around.”
    My heart tingled at the sound of his brother’s name.
    “Well, just let me get away with Hayley for a bit. You can stay here while I’m gone.”
    “Okay, I guess so. How about we agree to talk properly the day after you get back? And whatever you decide, that’s fine. I’ll accept it.”
    “Really?”
    “You’ll realise you miss me.”
    I wasn’t sure I would, but I just shrugged my shoulders.

Chapter Eleven
     
    After he left, I called Hayley and said if she was still up for it, a week somewhere warm would be wonderful. She said she’d already planned the week off work in the hope I’d call, and we arranged to meet the next evening to look on the internet and find somewhere to go.
    After our phone call, I couldn’t stop thinking about Aiden. If only he weren’t my husband’s brother. If only Ross hadn’t begged me earlier. I tried to imagine their parents’ faces if Aiden told them he was with me now. They’d be angry, I decided. Let them be, I thought. This is Ross’ fault, not mine.
    I got out my phone and wrote a text.

    Hi Aiden. Going away with Hayley like you suggested. I will think long and hard, but just so you know … I can’t get your kiss out of my mind. Night night. Love, Jenny x

    He replied a few minutes later and I smiled to myself as I read it.

    Good. Get some space. I’m sorry I did that, I couldn’t help myself. You have no idea how irresistible you are. But whatever you decide is going to be fine with me, and I hope we’ll always be friends. Even if you take Ross back, please don’t worry about me. You’ve got to do what’s right for you. But until you know what you want, know this: you’re so special and you deserve happiness. Sorry for waffling on. Here if you need me, otherwise talk to you when you get back x

    I smiled and went to sleep dreaming about that kiss.

    “So I’ve got an idea,” Hayley said to me the next day when we met up for a coffee and to talk about potential holiday locations.
    “Okay, hit me with it.”
    “How about the Isle of Skye?”
    I looked at her for a minute, wondering whether she was joking. The Isle of Skye looked beautiful and it was just the sort of place I might have planned to go to for a walking holiday with Ross, pre-cheating revelation.
    What threw me was that it wasn’t Hayley’s sort of place at all. Hayley liked the sunshine. And cocktails. Lazing by the pool and swimming in the sea. Hills and rain and midges did not mix with my friend.
    “Are you serious?”
    “Yes. I know it’s not that exotic, but look.” She took her iPad out of her bag and showed me a bunch of photos she’d saved of mountains, lochs and sea views. “Doesn’t it look beautiful?”
    “Stunning,” I agreed, “but the sun is shining in all these photos. What if it rains the whole time?”
    “Well, we can buy some waterproof cagoules or something.”
    “I’ve already got one.”
    “Excellent. Well, what do you think? We can go hiking and stuff.”
    “It sounds great, but not your sort of thing. I don’t understand?”
    “Well, this trip is all about you. We could even take Wentworth.”
    “But it’s your time off and your money, too. Plus I was imagining