Page 38 of Love, Accidentally

‘Of course not!’

‘So, he chased you. Tell me.’

‘He started by coming with me on breaks. We got on really well, and things developed from there.’

‘I need you to be more specific.’ She’s not giving an inch.

‘Fine. We started meeting for lunch, and yes, I was attracted to him. I wanted him, and he made it pretty clear he wanted me too. It wasn’t long before we were having lunch and then going back to my flat afterwards for sex. Is that specific enough for you?’

To her credit, if my blunt speech has hit home, she’s not showing it.

‘And what was this for you? Just a casual fling, scratching an itch, or were you falling for him?’

‘I wanted more. I’m not a casual fling person. It was one of the few things we argued about.’

‘Why?’

‘Because he said he couldn’t give me more. He spun me this whole story about his mum being frail, and how he had to be around for her. That’s why we only ever had lunchtimes and afternoons together, because he said he had to get back to relieve the carers.’

‘Clever. And of course you both work shifts, so you were free to meet up in the middle of the day, when I would have been at work.’ She stares at me for a long time without speaking. ‘You know this has happened before,’ she continues eventually.

‘I do now.’

‘Lucy, the one in Milton Keynes. She’d totally fallen for him. I think she hoped he’d leave me for her. God, the tears and histrionics. So exhausting. I had to take out an injunction in the end to stop her calling at all hours of the day and night, begging to speak to him. In hindsight, I probably should have let her have him. Would have saved me a hill of heartache. What are you planning to do?’

‘About what?’

‘Luke, of course. Are you hoping that I’ll quietly bow out, leaving you two to build a little love nest together? Risky strategy, given his past history, but you might think he’s worth it.’

‘Luke and I are done,’ I tell her firmly. ‘I’m only here because Richenda pretty much made it impossible for me to refuse. After today, I never want to see him again.’

‘Tricky, given that you work together. How are you going to manage that?’

I sigh. ‘I don’t know. I’ll have to figure something out.’

Our conversation is interrupted by a ping from my pocket.

‘Is that him?’ she asks as I pull it out and look at it.

‘Yes,’ I tell her. ‘He says there’s an issue with his mum’s carers that he needs to sort out urgently, so he might be a bit late.’

She laughs bitterly. ‘At least he hasn’t forgotten his manners. Don’t keep the lady dangling.’

‘How do you manage to stay so calm?’ I ask her. ‘I’d be tearing the place apart.’

‘Oh, I’m fuming underneath, don’t worry. But I learned early on in life that screaming and shouting don’t get you very far. Also, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know you or anything about you. What you’ve said sounds completely plausible and, given his past history, I’m inclined to believe you. But how am I to know you’re not a complete fantasist, making this up, until I see the two of you together and hear what he has to say? Why do you think I insisted on this being a face-to-face thing? Richenda told me about your whole fake courier act and you have to admit that does make you sound a tiny bit unhinged.’

Before I can explain or she can elaborate any further, the doorbell rings and my heart leaps into my mouth once more as I hear Richenda greeting her son.

17

‘Honestly, Mum,’ I hear Luke’s frustrated voice saying as Richenda lets him in. ‘If you can smell gas, why don’t you just call the gas people? There’s nothing I’m going to be able to do about it, and I was on my way to an important appointment.’

Across the room, Cindy lifts her eyes to meet mine and I see a flash of anger in them.

‘I just don’t want to bother them if I’m imagining things,’ we hear Richenda telling him. ‘It won’t take you long and then you can be on your way.’

‘Fine. At least tell me all the lights are off. The last thing we need is for you to blow yourself up.’

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