“Actually?” I really feel a slight tremor in my voice. “Did he ask you out once more?” I smile at a toddler who’s wobbled as much as our desk. He stares again at me with a deadpan expression, twisting his left ear with one hand and clutching the leg of a worn-out teddy bear with the opposite. He is aware of. He can really feel my rigidity. Kids and animals have a sixth sense, don’t they? I shut my eyes and take a gulp of air. I’m being paranoid. I’ve bought to tug myself collectively.

“Jensen, depart the women alone,” says his mom, scooping him up in her arms and giving us an apologetic smile.

Tina smiles on the mom after which turns her consideration again to me. “Nah, I solely noticed him for a couple of minutes, however I stated I’d give him a name and he appeared REALLY happy, didn’t he Lou? We exchanged numbers.”

“You do know he’s nonetheless married,” Louise replies cynically.

“Divorcing, babe.”

“Yeah, properly he’s not divorced but. You’d be the ‘different lady’ when you began relationship him now.” I give a nervous little chuckle. It’s getting fairly sizzling in right here. Jensen has now thrown himself onto the ground and is screaming the place down.

“Oh, chill out, Lou, will you.” Tina winks at me as Jensen wails within the background.

“Oh, come on, sufficient about bloody Ronan,” Louise interjects and I really feel my muscle groups chill out. “Is Jess okay with you for just a few days, Audrey? Francesca will solely be staying per week.” I nod, inform her it’s nice. “You okay? You appear a bit agitated. If it’s an issue…”

“No, no, it’s not Jess, that’s nice.” I start, after which go on to inform them how Connie coaxed me into ready for a supply at Daniel’s flat, how he went berserk when he discovered me there, and about my go to to Aliki’s.

“Oh my God.” Tina’s hand shoots to her mouth, she’s on the sting of her seat.

“That’s terrible, honey.” Louise lays a hand on my arm, “No marvel you’re so upset. And right here’s us babbling on about our excellent news. What’re you going to do? I imply you don’t actually know the info, do you? There is likely to be a wonderfully good clarification for all this.”

“Sure, but when he’s mendacity to her already,” Tina says, “I’d reduce my losses if I had been you, Hun.” Tina’s all the time been crew Nick.

“Simply give him an opportunity to clarify earlier than you make any rash selections,” Louise says, giving Tina an irritated look.

“So, what’s the most recent with Nick, Louise?” Tina asks “Has his slut had the infant but? He seemed properly peeved final evening.”

“Tina!” Louise snaps, her face tight. “Audrey doesn’t want reminding about what that bastard did to her.” My abdomen twists as Louise continues to slate Tina, her incipient fury effervescent away on the floor.

“Yeah, I do know, I do know.” Tina holds up her arms. “Sorry, Audrey. That was a bit insensitive of me. I simply bought a bit carried away.”

“Carried away?” Louise says incredulously, “You make it sound prefer it’s…”

They’re each speaking directly, over one another, as if I had been invisible, their voices louder and louder in my ears.

“Oh, will you please simply shut the fuck up!” Shit, did I simply say that out loud? A heavy silence hangs within the air, a stillness, as if somebody has hit the pause button. They’re each watching me, mouths agape, cups in mid-air.

I inhale deeply, taking within the scent of recent espresso. “Oh, God, I’m sorry,” I mutter, urgent my palm towards my brow, “it’s been a tricky twenty-four hours. In fact, I’m not okay with Nick and the infant. However he’s apologised and I’ve accepted. I don’t need to maintain speaking about it.”

Tina grins at her ringing cell phone, Ronan, little doubt, by the look on her face. Louise seems to be at me gravely over her espresso cup, selecting up on a vibe, and I deflate into my seat, shrinking into my shoulders – she is aware of me so properly.

32

“You look horrible.”

“That dangerous, huh? I’ve had a tough couple of days, haven’t been sleeping properly.”

“Nicely, I can’t keep lengthy,” I stress as we stroll alongside the golden leafed path. I like Highgate Woods right now of yr, there’s simply one thing magical about it.

“I do know,” Nick says, sounding grateful, “Thanks for coming. And at such quick discover too.”

His textual content buzzed by way of this morning whereas I used to be nonetheless in mattress having a much-needed Saturday morning lie in.

Can we meet in standard place at 12.30? It’s pressing. :/ xx

I didn’t have the center to show him down. It wasn’t his fault that Connie turned up unannounced, was it? What was he purported to do if she barged into his flat, throw her out onto the streets? That wouldn’t have gone down properly with me both.

We stroll in companionable silence, leaves swishing round our toes. A sixty-something jogger trudges previous in black shorts and worn out trainers, his blue vest soaked in sweat, his gray, wiry hair damp towards his leathered pores and skin. Jesus, the place does he get the vitality from? I virtually crawled away from bed this morning.

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