Falling for you

‘OK what?’

‘I’ll come back. We don’t have to move. We’ll start again.’

Oliver was gazing at her, his expression incredulous. ‘You really want to?’

‘Of course I want to. You’re my husband.’ She managed a watery smile as a great wave of relief swept over her. ‘You made a mistake, I made a mistake. Some people never make mistakes, but we did.

And we’re both sorry. That’s allowed, isn’t it? If I forgive you and you forgive me, we can try again – oh Oliver, I love you too ...’

This time Estelle couldn’t control the tears, because they weren’t only rolling down her own face.

Sobbing and laughing at the same time, she jumped up from her chair and fell into Oliver’s comfortingly familiar arms. He was still wet and muddy from the river, wearing his dark blue towelling robe, and damp-haired. Thanks to the rapidly drying blood, the hair on one side of her own head was a mass of spiky bits and matted chunks. But when you’d been married for twenty-eight years, Estelle joyfully discovered, it really didn’t matter how ridiculous you might look. After twenty-eight years, all that counted was what was going on in your heart.

Chapter 52

‘Right, that’s sorted then,’ Nuala announced. ‘The three of us, tonight, nine o’clock, Trash.’

Nuala had been wittering on for ages. Having tuned out long ago, Maddy came to with a start.

‘Hmm? What was that?’

‘Honestly, you don’t deserve a friend like me.’ With exaggerated patience, Nuala finished pricing the last few bottles of Tuscan olive oil. ‘I’m organising your social life, cheering you up, stopping us all ending up like this.’

‘ What?’ Now Maddy was definitely lost.

‘Extra-virgin.’ Bossily Nuala tapped the label on the rectangular bottle in her hand. ‘I mean, let’s face it, when was the last time any of us saw any action? It’s not natural! We’re young and in our prime! Which is why we should be going out to celebrate and have a bloody good night. It’s also about time you cheered up,’ she told Maddy. ‘The best way to get over a man is to find a better one, and Trash is the place to do it. Just nod and say, Yes, Nuala.’

Oh dear, had she really been that grumpy? Maddy experienced a spasm of guilt. Poor Nuala was doing her best; she was lucky to have her around. At this rate she was in danger of ending up a right Nellie No-Friends.

‘Yes, Nuala.’ Nodding obediently, Maddy wondered if Trash would be as classy as it sounded.

‘We’ll have abloody good night.’ They would, she’d manage it if it killed her. ‘What is it we’re celebrating, again?’

‘Tiff’s better. My shoulder’s better.’ Smugly Nuala waggled her sling-free arm like a ventriloquist who’s forgotten her dummy. ‘Jake and Juliet together at last, and I haven’t even been the tiniest bit jealous. I mean, it’s all fantastic news, isn’t it?’

Of course it was. Ashamed of herself, Maddy smiled. ‘Definitely worth celebrating.’

‘Great. I’ll just go and tell Kate.’

Already planning what she’d wear tonight, Nuala scuttled happily over to the Angel. It was almost three o’clock and the pub would be closing for the afternoon. A group of customers was trailing back to the last remaining car in the car park. By the way they were waddling, Nuala guessed they’d had lunch followed by syrup sponge pudding and custard.

They were American tourists, she discovered, overhearing them as they passed her on the pavement.

‘What a double act, those two in there,’ drawled the taller of the males. ‘Like Lucy and Desi all over again.’

‘I thought she was going to brain the guy with an ashtray,’ said his wife. ‘Did you notice if they’re married?’

Stifling a smile, Nuala reached the entrance to the Angel. Just wait until she told Kate and Dexter what the Americans were saying about them. Pushing open the door, she entered the pub and exclaimed,

‘Hey, you two, you’ll never guess—’

That was as far as she got. The rest of the words died before they even reached Nuala’s mouth.

Behind the bar Dexter and Kate sprang guiltily apart, but there could be no mistaking what had been going on during those brief seconds before her arrival.

Nuala gaped. Kate and Dexter? Dexter and ... and Kate? It was unthinkable, like discovering that Jake had been carrying on a torrid affair with, crikey, Princess Anne. In fact, given Jake’s wicked track record, that was actually less unlikely than the scenario she’d just walked in on.

‘God, sorry,’ gasped Kate. ‘Nuala, I meant to—’

‘Lock the door?’ Nuala tilted her head enquiringly.

‘No. Well, yes ... I mean ...’ Kate stammered, her face the picture of guilt.

‘Hopeless.’ Dexter rolled his eyes. ‘Can you believe it? This is the girl who isn’t scared of anyone or anything, and look at her now.’

But incredibly, he was saying it in a good-natured rather than an irritated way.

Unable to resist it, Nuala said, ‘You jumped away from Kate pretty smartish.’

He nodded, acknowledging the dig with a wry smile. ‘OK, but it’s something you needed to know.

Kate was the one who didn’t want to upset you.’

‘Upset me?’ Nuala echoed in disbelief. ‘Upset me? Damn right I’m upset!’