Page 94 of Mad About You

Harriet’s eyes shimmered and Jon nodded. He waited for her to continue. She sensed in the ensuing pause he wanted more discussion about Scott: no way, not now. Not with Roxy’s caramel-coloured hair in his shower plug hole.

This was the crux of it: Jon had legitimate complaints, but his recent behaviour had blown them out of the water. Expecting her full disclosure now, it was the equivalent of breaking the lock on someone’s diary and then hoping they trust you with their innermost secrets. Some lines crossed can’t be walked back.

She went to let herself out.

‘Harriet?’ he said, as she left.

Jon leaned on the wall and smiled a broken smile.

‘The thing is. I’d still take you back.’

‘Yes,’ Harriet said, ‘I know. Treat Roxanne well, won’t you? She’s not got friends looking out for her anymore.’

43

‘Something interesting on your phone? You’re engrossed,’ Sam said, watching Harriet type, before manhandling a slice of mushroom, thyme and Coppa into his mouth, with mixed results.

‘Interesting isn’t exactly the word,’ she said. ‘More astounding, yet completely predictable.’

Cal gave Harriet a brooding look.

Harriet looked back at her handset.

Roxanne

Harry, I feel awful for how that came out. You know how I am, I jump and don’t think. I’ve ended it with Jon. Can we talk? I want to make this up to you. R xxx

Harriet wasn’t sure how she felt about this: schadenfreude? Some. Mostly still pretty devastated. She forwarded it to Lorna.

Lorna

Well well well if it isn’t the consequences of Roxanne’s own actions. Hope pawning that bracelet makes it worth it. You going to reply?

Harriet

Nope. Nothing left to say, is there?

Harriet noticed that Cal’s look remained inscrutable. What did it convey …? She tried to categorise it. Wary? Almost suspicious.

‘Anyway,’ she said to Sam, turning her handset face down. ‘The situation has now concluded.’

‘That’s a hell of a yarn!’ Sam said. ‘Vivid storytelling.’

‘All true,’ Harriet said.

‘Jon’s involved, I’m guessing?’ Cal said.

‘He was.’

Harriet and Cal exchanged another atypical and loaded glance. She remembered Cal’s pact with Jon and Jon’s feverish obsession (‘when news of your marriage reaches me,’dear lord). Did Cal think … she might get back together with him? Did Cal care?

Cal had accepted Harriet’s offer of a takeaway, with the caveat that he’d said he’d see Sam, and was it alright for him to join? Harriet said of course, after the usual ‘as long as I’m not spoiling anything more interesting you had planned’ bargaining.

‘They’ve forgotten my mozzarella sticks,’ Sam said, flipping the lids on all the boxes in turn. ‘It’s at times like this it’s lucky I’m such a spiritual person. I am able to see the bigger picture. Free pizza.’

‘You draw great strength from your faith, it’s good to see,’ Cal said. ‘I forgot to say, Harriet, I went to your friend’s restaurant! Lorna’s. The place in Headingley?’

Aye did ye now, Harriet wanted to say, waggling her specs. Cal didn’t offer who with, as Harriet expected. Maybe she was a few women ago.

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