Sapphire Read Online Free Page A

Jay. ‘Why have you got the hump?’ Sam demanded, as Sapphire sat down and poured herself an extra large glass of Pinot Grigio.
    ‘He’s lovely, why are you giving him a hard time?’ Jazz backed her up.
    ‘He’s the nicest guy you’ve ever been out with.’ Sam continued.
    The two of them were worrying away at her like a pair of terriers. Why couldn’t they just drop it?
    ‘Will you both just zip it!’ she exclaimed.
    Jazz glared back at her. ‘I’m not at work now, you know. You can’t boss me around. I’m off the fucking clock!’
    Sapphire lifted her glass, ‘Cheers, here’s to what would have been my fifth wedding anniversary tomorrow. How do you think my ex-husband is celebrating?’
    Both Jazz and Sam looked appalled, ‘Shit Sapphire, I completely forgot,’ said Sam.
    ‘So had I, until just back then at dinner.’ Sapphire sighed. ‘I didn’t mean to be such a bitch, it’s just whenever I think about Alfie and what he did it makes me feel so angry.’
    ‘Have you ever considered therapy?’ Jazz suggested.
    Sapphire let out a snort of laughter, ‘That is so not me!’
    ‘I know, Sapphire, but it might help. You’re good at putting on a front that you’re hard and you don’t need anyone. But everyone needs someone.’ Sam put her hand on Sapphire’s arm.
    ‘Oh my God, are we going to have a group hug?’ Sapphire joked. She was saved from any more comments from her well-meaning but seriously annoying friends by Jay walking in with dessert and coffee.
    While Jazz, Sam and Jay chatted about who they were backing on
The X Factor
, Sapphire was silent, lost in thought. She was remembering just how shocking it had been to discover Alfie had been unfaithful – and not only that – in their marriage bed. It was like he really wanted to rub her nose in it. Alfie had pleaded with Sapphire to forgive him, that it hadn’t meant anything, then tried to shift the blame on Brooke, his lover, that it was she who had pursued him, that it would never happen again. For a short time Sapphire had wavered, wondered whether she should try and forgive him, after all lots of otherwomen had in her situation. But then came the bombshell: Brooke was pregnant and Sapphire was no longer in a forgiving mood. Once Alfie realised that she wasn’t going to forgive and forget he turned nasty, told her it was her fault, that she was emotionally cold, incapable of loving anybody. Cruel, hurtful words that had burned deep into Sapphire’s mind.
    ‘So, who do you want to win, Sapphire?’ Jay tried to pull her back into the conversation.
    ‘God, no idea,’ and then because she knew she had to put on an act she forced herself to joke. ‘The young fit one of course.’
    That night in bed, Jay went to put his arm round her. ‘You know it was true what I said, I’d never cheat on you,’ he told her, holding her tight.
    Instinctively Sapphire found herself moving away, ‘Sorry babe, I’m too hot,’ she lied, seeking out the furthest corner of the bed.
    Maybe Alfie was right and she was emotionally cold and incapable of loving anyone.

Chapter 2
    SAPPHIRE FELT ON edge the following day and her mood was not improved by knowing she had to go round to her mum’s for dinner that night. All she really wanted was to go out with Jazz and Sam and drown her bitter memories in vodka, but she knew her mum would guilt trip her big time if she didn’t go. It always felt like something of a duty call as she had never been that close to her mum. Her dad was the one she had always had the connection with but he had died suddenly of a heart attack when Sapphire was fifteen.
    Sapphire hadn’t only had to cope with her grief but it turned out that her dad was heavily in debt, though he appeared to be successful, providing his family with the big house and pool and two foreign holidays a year. Deep down Sapphire blamed her mum for the debt – even as a child she had seen how her mum always wanted expensive things and had nagged her