Page 72 of The Bordeaux Book Club

‘I’m sorry. I should have told you, after involving you in it all. Turns out it’s all completely innocent!’

‘Yes?’ Grace said. ‘Well, that’s good.’

‘Yes,’ Leah agreed. ‘He’s… well, basically he was a bit lost… maybe depressed? And he wanted to sort it out. Didn’t want to bother me. Found a life coach, of all things. Adeline.’

‘The woman?’

‘The woman.’

‘He didn’t tell me because of some sort of need to protect me,’ Leah said. ‘Didn’t want me to think he was weak. He’s with hertonight, actually.’ She glanced at the clock. It was half-past nine. He’d gone out at six. How long had his appointment been?

Grace looked at her.

‘Oh, God,’ Leah said.

‘What is it, love?’ Grace’s voice was soft.

‘Hearing it out loud,’ she said. ‘It’s not real, is it? I mean, it’s not… plausible.’

‘Well…’ Grace said. ‘It’s… it could be true.’

‘I’m such an idiot!’ Leah flung the towel against the kitchen counter. ‘What am I doing, endorsing my husband meeting up with a young, gorgeous woman? Waving him off with my blessing. He’s having an affair, isn’t he?’ She felt tears well in her eyes, but they were tears of anger. At least for now. ‘And I told him I hope it goes well tonight. Gave him my blessing!’ The words came out of her mouth forcefully. ‘Grace, I’m Charles fucking Bovary!’

‘What?’ Grace was lost for a minute. ‘Oh, now come on. Don’t say that. You don’t know for sure.’

‘Don’t I?’ Leah said.

Her friend walked forward and wrapped her arms around Leah as she sank into her and sobbed. Grace’s hands, wet with warm water and suds, soaked her T-shirt, but she didn’t care. Because she felt suddenly, and without doubt, that she’d been an idiot. She’d been so desperate for things to be OK that she’d accepted Nathan’s flimsy excuse. She hadn’t questioned seeing him go into an apartment. She hadn’t insisted on meeting Adeline. She’d tried instead to be supportive.

Somewhere, a door shut loudly. ‘Shit. George,’ Leah said, stepping back and wiping her nose. ‘Do you think he heard?’

Grace shook her head. ‘He won’t have,’ she said. ‘And even if he did, you’ve nothing to be ashamed of. It’s that husband of yours who has questions to answer.’

‘Properly this time.’

‘White, two sugars?’ George said, handing a steaming mug to Grace. ‘And strong, but sugar free,’ he said, handing Leah hers.

The pair had decamped to the bench on the front porch and were soaking up the last few rays of the setting sun. George had kept himself scarce since Leah’s outburst in the kitchen, and she still felt embarrassed that he’d probably heard her. But he’s family, she thought, remembering Grace’s words. At least, sort of.

‘I’ll just…’ George said, indicating the door.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Leah said. ‘You both probably need to get going.’

He shook his head. ‘No rush,’ he said. ‘Happy to take the weight off, read the news. Take your time.’

Leah sipped her tea. It was hot and strong and hit the back of her throat in just the way she needed. She straightened up. ‘He’s a nice guy, isn’t he,’ she said.

‘Yes, I really think he might be one of those rare creatures,’ Grace told her.

‘What he said about being “too nice”. I really felt for him.’

Grace nodded. ‘I know. Poor lamb.’

They were silent for a moment.

‘So, what are you going to do?’ Grace asked, looking at her pointedly.

‘Well,’ Leah took a huge sigh. ‘I’m going to have to confront him. Properly this time.’

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