‘To moving on.’ Megan cheered and Kate responded by holding up her empty glass. ‘You know he’s still with her,’ she added after downing her shot. ‘After all that talk about wanting me back and making a mistake. I almost believed him.’ Her eyes started to tear up.
‘Really?’ I was shocked. ‘You’re better off without him.’ I placed a reassuring hand on hers.
The intercom buzzed but it took me a second to register it.
‘Let them in, Charlotte, we don’t bite!’ Kate said shrilly before patting Megan’s hand and saying, ‘Leave it with me.’
‘It’s a Monday night, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up about it being anyone exciting. It’s probably just a neighbour’s child after a few pounds’ sponsorship money or something.’ I made my way over to the intercom screen in the kitchen. It was Sam’s van again. How odd. I opened the gate. ‘Just the gardener, ladies,’ I said, before making my way over to the front door.
‘Twice in one day, Sam,’ I said when he appeared on the doorstep. ‘I’ll be starting to think you have a crush on me if this carries on,’ I joked, before remembering myself. I’d spent too much time with Kate, obviously. ‘Sorry, I’m just teasing. What’s the matter?’
He was still dressed in his work clothes, which suggested he hadn’t been home yet – odd given the time.
‘I left my tape measure outside earlier. Is it okay if I pop round the back and get it?’ he asked, already heading towards the back.
‘Yes, of course. Have you been working all day?’ I shouted after him.
‘Er, yes,’ he said without conviction as he disappeared around the corner. I wandered back into the kitchen to find a few more empty egg cups and a slightly rowdier Megan and Kate.
‘Where’s this gardener then, Charlotte?’ Megan said. ‘Might as well see if he can pass for eye candy.’
Kate was already standing at the trifold doors, looking out across the garden. ‘Right there!’ she answered. ‘I think I was wrong about older men. Younger men can be so . . .’
‘Delicious,’ Megan said, joining her at the glass door, taking in his solid, muscular frame.
‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you two. Shots crossed with a scorned woman and a bored housewife do not mixeth well. I’m putting the kettle on and we can all have a coffee,’ I said, filling the jug to enforce my threat. When I turned to get cups, they’d both disappeared, and it didn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out where they’d gone. I marched outside to find the three of them on the gravel driveway.
‘Oh, Charlotte, Sam is going to come in for a drink,’ Kate said as she spotted me.
‘I was just making coffee. You’re more than welcome to join us,’ I told Sam since I didn’t really have a choice. The entire night was bordering on disaster territory. I knew I should have kept Kate away.
Sam shot Kate a look of surprise. ‘Oh, she’s kidding, we won’t be drinking coffee,’ Kate said reassuringly, guiding him inside with Megan following. Reluctantly, I closed the door and went in too, still a little hazy as to how the evening had panned out the way it had.
When I got inside, Kate thrust a shot into my hand. ‘Loosen up, dear.’ Perhaps I did need to loosen up. After finding the receipt for my bracelet earlier, I’d felt a little rankled. It was silly because it just meant James forgot and that must happen all the time in marriages. He must have felt awful when I handed him that watch. But he had got me a rose and written the note so perhaps he simply hadn’t banked on expensive presents and I’d guilt-tripped him into splashing out. My stomach panged. I wish he’d have just spoken to me about it and been honest. Kate nodded at the glass, bringing me back.
‘I don’t suppose I have a choice since it’s three against one in favour of liver abuse. Cheers!’ I said, holding up my glass and drinking whatever the disgusting brown liquid was.
‘That’s better!’ Megan said.
The loud popping sound made us all spin around towards Sam, who’d opened the champagne, and I couldn’t help but notice Megan’s eyes widen as she watched him. I didn’t tell her he was married; instead, I let her enjoy the moment and saw it as therapeutic for her.
After a glass or two of fizz, I began to loosen up a little. Someone had put on some music and we were all chatting. Kate and Megan seemed to want to know the ins and outs of Sam’s life.
‘So, are you married?’ Kate asked eventually. She’d held off long enough. Megan’s eyes shot to Sam when she heard the question.
Sam allowed his shoulders to droop a little. ‘I am,’ he said after a small pause, which I thought was odd. His wife was gorgeous – why would he have to think about it? What was he playing at?
‘Oh, bad luck, Megan.’ Kate laughed. Megan blushed, despite the fact she’d drunk several shots.
Since it had cropped up, I had to ask. ‘How come you’re here then and not rushing off home to be with your wife?’ I assumed a typical case of needing peace and quiet, or that she’d gone away or something.
He took a swig of champagne – two words that should never go together in a sentence, but there was no other way to describe it. ‘To be honest, I’m avoiding her.’ He rubbed his forehead. ‘I think she’s having an affair.’
I couldn’t stifle my gasp. ‘No!’ was all I could say.
‘Oh?’ Kate’s interest was piqued now, and Megan looked up too.
Sam just nodded heavily.
‘Why would you think that?’ I asked eventually after the shock wore off.
‘Just tiny things really.’ He paused to take a breath. ‘Perhaps I’m being paranoid.’
‘Or perhaps you’re not,’
