Page 25 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
‘South Gloucestershire,’ Jennifer blurted. ‘Originally.’
Angela stood up. ‘I almost forgot the wine. I’ll be just right back. Then we can have a heart to heart.’
Jennifer was tempted to do a runner while Angela was in the kitchen, but the food was too good, it looked too chilly outside, and after her failed attempt to talk to Amy at the weekend, it was perhaps about time to get her thoughts off her chest.
‘Here we are,’ Angela said, coming back and setting two glasses of red wine on the table, before sitting back down. ‘Cheers to damaged friends.’
Jennifer lifted an eyebrow as they clinked glasses. ‘You too?’
Angela smiled. ‘Divorced. Been over ten years now, so I’m all good. I got the café and the flat upstairs, he got the rest.’ She shrugged. ‘It happens. We’d grown apart. He was older, about to retire, and wanted to move overseas. I stalked him on Facebook a couple of years ago and he was out in New Zealand.’
‘What about … um—’
‘Children?’ Angela shook her head and sighed. ‘It didn’t happen. We wanted them, but for one reason or other … it just never came to pass. Jonathan and I have no ties except the years we spent together. The memories are good, and perhaps in other circumstances … but my life is here. This is my home. Did you know it’s rumoured that one of my ancestors planted Big Gerry? Or at least was at the planting ceremony.’ She smiled. ‘I kind of consider myself to be that tree’s protector.’
‘I’m sure if he could speak, he’d tell you how pleased he was,’ Jennifer said.
Angela leaned back and sipped her wine. ‘So. Your turn.’
‘Ah … I’m not sure where to start.’
‘At the beginning. Or in the middle, if that makes a better place.’
‘I was with someone before I came here. Mark.’ Jennifer paused. It sounded strange to say his name out loud after so long. ‘We were living together in Dottingham.’
‘Oh, I know it. Horrible little place. Best thing about it is the motorway entrance ramp on the way out.’
‘It’s not that bad,’ Jennifer said, struggling to recall anything she had actually liked about it. Perhaps Angela was right.
‘So, Mark.’
‘Yes, ah … we were living together, had been for a couple of years. We met in a bar in town. He was a stockbroker. Lots of money. He drove a Tesla, shopped at Waitrose—’
‘There’s a Waitrose in Dottingham now?’
‘No, when he was off on business trips. He said he hated the shops in Dottingham. Too many poor people.’
‘Was he having an affair?’
‘Not that I know of.’
‘Did he—’
‘No! He never touched me. He was always polite, treated me well, bought me whatever I wanted, it’s just….’
‘He wasn’t really there.’
Jennifer nodded. ‘That’s it in a nutshell.’
‘He looked through you, like he was living in a different world, and you were only part in it?’
‘How did you know?’
‘Jonathan was the same near the end. That’s why I let him go.’
Jennifer sighed. ‘It sounds like you might understand.’
‘Try me.’
