Page 112 of The Bad Mother's Diary

So we did. We talked about growing up in the village, and the woods and the fishing stream and all the things we both did as children.

I teased Alex about being the stuck-up rich kid and he teased me for being a chatterbox and wearing too many bright colours.

He said, ‘You were always the curly-haired blonde girl with the big voice and the bright pink cycling shorts.’

Of all the things he could remember … those cycling shorts!

And then he looked all serious and asked me if I remembered the rope swing.

I said, ‘The ten-foot-high one? The one that kid got knocked unconscious on? Of course I do. It’s still there, isn’t it?’

Alex said, ‘Do you remember the day I wouldn’t get on it?’

I said yes.

I remember that day very well, actually. Some older boys teased Alex for being a wimp, and he nearly got into a fight.

Alex said, ‘My father beat me with a cricket bat that morning. So hard I couldn’t sit down. That’s why I wouldn’t get on the swing.’

I was completely shocked. First, that his dad did that to him. I mean, posh families don’t do things like that, do they? And second that he was telling me, of all people.

I said, ‘That’s … shit.’

Because I couldn’t think of a better way to say it.

Alex said, ‘Do you remember the four-leaf clover?’

I laughed and said, ‘Yes!’

Fancy him remembering.

Alex was about to fight the older boys who were teasing him, but I found this perfect four-leaf clover and gave it to him. I told him it was special and he mustn’t break it by fighting.

It worked – Alex didn’t fight.

Alex said he was always grateful for the four-leaf clover. Because when you can barely walk, fighting is never a good idea.

Alex said, ‘I’ve never told anyone that before.’

I said, ‘About not wanting to fight?’

And he said, ‘No. About the cricket bat.’

I felt like the whole room got really quiet. Like there was no one else around. Just the two of us.

Then Alex leaned forward and kissed me.

It was amazing. Just AMAZING.

Like being swept away.

Fireworks exploded along the river in showers of gold and silver.

Then Alex pulled back and he said, ‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

I said, ‘Why not?’

He said, ‘You and Nicholas Spencer. You have unresolved issues.’

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