An hour later, after the client left, he came over. ‘You look like you could do with a break.’ He nodded towards my laptop.
‘You know how it is. New job …’ I decided to show off. ‘I’m a partner with Hollis and James. And it’s a man’s world out there.’ Then I paused, because that was unfair. ‘Actually, they’re not too bad in that respect.’
Vague amusement registered in his eyes. ‘Can I get you another drink?’
I hesitated, my eyes flickering to his left hand, noting an absence of a wedding ring, then at my almost empty glass. ‘Why not?’
While he went to the bar, I finished what I was writing, then put my laptop away just as he came back carrying two glasses. I remember him holding out his hand. ‘Matthew Roche.’
‘Fiona.’ He’d need to do more than buy me a drink if he wanted to know any more about me.
His eyes were steady as he took my hand in his and I’d felt electricity spark. Racking my brains, I tried to think if we’d met before. As we talked, it became evident how eerily similar we were. Both of us were ambitious, wanting to create a comfortable life, but we’d both known adversity and broken away from unsupportive families. Matt had hinted at his, but about mine, I’d remained silent.
‘So, Matthew Roche. Are you married?’
‘No.’ But he said it too quickly. ‘And it’s Matt, by the way.’
‘Single? Attached?’ I watched his demeanour change, as he seemed to close up.
Then he sighed. ‘It’s complicated.’
Folding my arms, I sat back. ‘Right.’ Then I got up. ‘Thanks for the drink. But I don’t do complicated, I’m afraid.’ It was one of my rules. Single men only. Life was too short, time too stretched, for anything else.
‘Please don’t go.’ His eyes blazed into mine. ‘Hear me out. I want …’ He sighed. ‘I really want to talk to you.’
I knew I should be walking away, but something struck a chord with me and pulled me back towards him. There was an honesty in his gaze, my gut instinct telling me Matt wasn’t a selfish, conniving man – over the years, I’d met enough of them.
‘OK.’ Slowly, I sat down again. ‘Tell me.’
So he did, about the woman he was involved with, who he was marrying in three months. How he was only beginning to realise he’d made a mistake.
I still couldn’t be sure he wasn’t spinning me a line. ‘What are you going to do?’
He looked miserable. ‘I have to tell her.’ He hesitated again. ‘But it’s not that simple. She has problems.’
‘You still can’t pretend.’ I was shocked. ‘You can’t marry someone just because you’re worried about them. Unless you love her … then of course, that’s completely different. And it means there’s no point in us having this conversation. But it sounds as though she needs professional help.’
But he was already shaking his head. ‘I don’t usually talk about it, but she’s unstable. You wouldn’t think it was possible if you met her, and I know it sounds extreme, but I’m really worried she’ll try to kill herself.’ He sighed. ‘I really thought I did love her. But things have changed between us. If we argue …’ He broke off.
‘What?’ I was insistent. If he wanted me to hang around, I needed to know everything.
‘She does need help. She can get really fucking angry. I mean, smashing-things-screaming kind of angry. And the trouble is, if I told anyone, they wouldn’t believe me. They think she’s gentle, quiet Amy who’s had it tough since her bastard of a husband left her.’ I remember his hollow laugh. ‘Her ex was one smart guy to get away from her, believe me.’
‘And I should believe you because?’ Only half-teasing, I looked him in the eye.
‘If you don’t, this is a waste of time.’ His voice was abrupt as putting his drink down, he stood up.
‘Hey, I wasn’t entirely serious. I’m a divorce lawyer. Believe me, I’ve heard everything.’ I also knew better than most people that you can’t judge anyone based on appearance. But I was curious about this Amy. I’d grown up around here. I might have known her. ‘What’s her family name?’
‘Reid. She has a daughter, Jess. Nice kid. Really nice – another thing that makes this so difficult.’
I didn’t know any Amy Reids. He clearly wasn’t faking how badly he felt. It was coming off him in waves. But I knew too that you can’t build a life on something that doesn’t exist. And I found myself liking him. The way he had strength, yet compassion. That night in the bar, as I walked away, I knew that whoever Amy was, this man deserved so much more.
*
For some reason, I wasn’t altogether surprised when I saw him again – in my office. ‘Mr Roche.’ I was overly polite as he walked in. ‘I had a feeling it was going to be you.’
‘I hope you don’t mind. I thought that as you were a lawyer, you might be able to shed some light on something – in a legal capacity, obviously.’ Even though he was hedging, he clearly knew what he wanted to talk about.
I watched his face. ‘I can try. You do know I’m a divorce lawyer?’
As he shook his head, I wasn’t sure if it was an act or not. ‘You did tell me. I can’t believe I’ve forgotten. I’m an idiot. Look, I won’t worry you with it.’
But I was curious. ‘You might as well ask me, I might be able to point you in the right direction.’
‘This is strictly in confidence …’ He hesitated. ‘I wouldn’t want Amy to find out I’ve come to see you, but it’s her house. She refuses to discuss selling it. She always says she needs the garden for her work. But
