Page 11 of The Shape of Your Heart
‘So it’s still going on?’
Rita shrugs. ‘It’s an on-and-off thing. I should probably end it.’
‘If you’re not sure about him, maybe you should. Next?’ I glance at Sasha.
She sighs. ‘There was someone for a while – quite a while, as it turns out. And before you say anything, he wasn’t a client. I met him at a party. He was there alone – he told me he was married – unhappily, he said. Don’t ever believe a man who says that to you, because it’s incredible how easily they lie. He said he was waiting for the right moment to tell his wife it was over between them, but of course, when all this time passed…’ She shrugged. ‘I realised it was all talk and he had no intention of leaving her. A bit like Rita said – another classic – a selfish, egotistical man who thought he could get away with shagging two women. And for a while, he did.’
‘Bastard. You’re better off without him.’ I turn to Alice. ‘You’re being very quiet.’ Seeing the small smile that plays on Alice’s lips, the strangest feeling comes over me. ‘There is someone, isn’t there?’
She hesitates. ‘I wasn’t going to say.’
‘Why not?’ Sasha and Rita say in unison.
Alice turns to me. ‘After what you’ve been through, it would be pretty insensitive of me, wouldn’t it?’
‘No,’ I mumble. ‘It wouldn’t. It would be great. You deserve someone lovely.You deserve to be happy.’ She does, but it makes me miss Liam even more. I wipe away the tear that rolls down my cheek. ‘Honestly, take no notice of me… Who is he?’
‘Well, he’s a junior doctor who wants to be a surgeon. So yes, he’s a little younger than me. His name is Adam – we’ve been seeing each other for six months – and so far, it’s really good.’ She looks around at us. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘Because you didn’t tell us?’ Sasha sounds put out.
‘I thought if it crashed and burned, it was easier not to. But now that we haven’t, I have told you.’ She smiles. ‘Eventually!’
‘So it’s serious.’ Rita is stunned. ‘I can’t believe we didn’t know this. We need to meet him, don’t we? Any other secrets, while we’re on the subject?’ When no one says anything, she goes on. ‘Right. I’m starving. Let’s eat.’
* * *
The rain holds off and Sunday is a chilled day, spent lazing in the garden. But on the day that should have been my first wedding anniversary, it’s impossible to staunch the flow of memories – of getting ready, of how happy and carefree life had felt; of driving to the church with my father, only to find out Liam wasn’t coming.
‘I know it’s a tough day, Callie.’ Coming over, Alice hugs me.
Tears fill my eyes. ‘Yes.’
All morning, I’m conscious of their thoughtful glances, their love. But even with my sisters here, I’m restless, unable to settle, the day passing slowly until late afternoon, it’s time for them to leave.
‘I wish you were coming with us.’ Sasha hugs me tightly.
‘I’ll be fine here.’ As Alice and Rita come over, I hug them all back, until I extricate myself from their arms. ‘I know I tried to put you off, but thank you so much for being here. It’s been fun.’
Rita pretends to wince. ‘Did I hear you sayfun?’
But it has, I’m realising, in more ways than one. My sisters, the sea, surfing, all of them have worked a kind of magic. Standing there, I watch them cram themselves into Rita’s car before waving them off, feeling oddly bereft as they drive away.
* * *
After they’ve gone, I drive to the beach. The tide is low, the cove quiet and reaching the sand, I slip my shoes off. As I walk, I search for treasures, collecting the tiniest pieces I can find – broken shells, fragments of slate, tiny stones.
Heading back up the beach, reaching a place where the sand is drier, I sit down and start designing. I start with an elaborately curled A, for Alice, followed by S and R, so deeply engrossed in my work I don’t notice someone watching me.
‘That’s cool.’
The voice startles me. Looking up into a pair of clear brown eyes, I realise it’s the guy I saw last time.
‘Thanks. It’s a thing I do.’
‘D’you want these?’ He holds out a handful of tiny shells.
‘Thanks, but I think I’m done.’ Adding the last shell fragments to my R, I get up. ‘You should have a go.’
