Page 39 of The Suitcase Swap

Mike: Gauguin cut off Van Gogh’s ear and had child brides and Picasso referred to women as ‘machines for suffering’.

Sophie: Maybe we should avoid the Guggenheim, then?

Mike: No, ignore me, I’m in a bad mood. My laptop just crashed and I lost an hour’s worth of work.

On the second day, Mike’s mood had clearly improved, because he spent the whole day texting her silly questions.

Mike: Who would win in a fight, Betty White or Bea Arthur fromThe Golden Girls?

Sophie: Why are you even thinking about that?

Mike: I’m a man, Sophie. I spend at least half of my waking hours thinking about these things.

Sophie: Why were you even watchingThe Golden Girls?

Mike: I couldn’t sleep last night and it was on the telly. Answer the question.

Sophie: Fine, Betty White, because I think she would fight dirty and I respect that about her.

Mike: Would you rather eat a gallon of dill pickle ice cream or get stuck in the tube for two hours?

Sophie: Pickle ice cream. Wait, is it peak hours on the tube?

Mike: Peak.

Sophie: Ice cream. What’s worse than getting packed into a sweaty metal tube with annoyed people for two hours?

Mike: Getting packed into a sweaty metal tube with annoyed people for two hours and really having to pee the entire time?

Sophie: That’s just mean.

Mike: Do you think Barney misses me?

Sophie: Do I think the plant you’ve never met misses you?

Mike: Yes.

Sophie: Who wouldn’t miss you?

The third day was philosophical.

Mike: What I love most about Manhattan is the light. In the morning it’s all shards of golden and white reflecting on the buildings. It gives everything a dreamlike quality. I feel as though at any moment someone could bump into me, and I’d wake up back in London.

Sophie: I’ve felt like I’ve been on a movie set since I got here. This city is like sensory overload, but in a good way.

On the fourth day, she got an invite.

Mike: Do you have plans tomorrow?

She didn’t. She’d been spending a lot of time with her family, and she was sure Marisa could use some time to herself. There was a fine line between being there and beingsupportive, and smothering someone with attention. She tapped out a reply:Not really, no.

Mike: The project I’m working on, you know how I said it was to be a sort of take on the teahouse? I found a few local places that do tea. Thought it might be good to check out how the locals do it. Would you like to go?

Sophie didn’t hesitate.That sounds wonderful. I brought my own, but I’m homesick for a good cuppa.

Mike: Me too. I’ll send you the details. Looking forward to it.

And so was she . . . and not just because of the tea.

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