Page 39 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘Paul and I broke up.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Jonathan and I thought he was great.’
‘Yeah, well,’ I reply. ‘You know, it happens.’
‘Anyone new on the scene?’
I shake my head. ‘Nah, I think I’m done with men for a bit.’ I stare out at the harbour at the fishing boats bobbing about on the waves.
Claire waits before speaking again. ‘You know, Rob is coming to the wedding on Saturday?’
I look back at her across the table. ‘Is he?’ I try to sound unfazed by this news. ‘That’s nice.’
‘He’s not bringing anyone.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Like a plus one.’
‘Neither am I. So?’
‘Nothing.’ Claire shrugs and looks at the waiter bringing our drinks to the table. ‘Thank you,’ she says as he puts them down in front of us.
‘Let me know if you want anything else, won’t you?’ he says, before he moves on to another table.
‘What did you mean before?’ I ask. ‘Come on, Claire. I know you, remember?’
Claire sighs. ‘Yes, you do. And I know you too, Frankie?’ She raises her eyebrows at me.
‘What?’
‘It’s just . . . it always seemed like such a shame that the two of you never got together, not properly, anyway.’
‘That was a long time ago now,’ I say with as much indifference as I can manage.
‘Only five years,’ Claire insists.
‘A lot can change in five years, Claire. Besides, we were just kids then. He was simply a schoolgirl crush.’
She shrugs. ‘Maybe. He’s at Cambridge now, isn’t he? Do you know what he’s studying by any chance?’
‘History and modern languages, I think?’
Claire smiles. ‘That’s very specific.’
‘What is?’
‘That you should know the exact degree he’s taking.’
‘No. . . ’ I insist. ‘I think my mum must have mentioned it, that’s all.’
She nods in the same knowing way Mum did earlier.
‘Claire, leave it,’ I tell her. ‘Just because you’re about to get married and have a baby, it doesn’t mean everyone has to be partnered up too. Don’t turn into one ofthosepeople.’
‘What people?’
‘The ones who, once they’re married, spend all their time trying to get everyone around them hooked up with someone. I’m happy as I am right now. I’ve got an important year coming up at college with my final show; the last thing I need is to be worrying about relationships. It will be nice to see Rob on Saturday, that’s all, in the same way it will be great to see all the other mermaids. Who else is coming?’
