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Why can’t I ever find any frigging parking on Dukes Avenue? WHY? I’ve had to park half a mile down the road. Again. As expected, dinner with Daniel is off. I rang him from A&E and told him the news. He was sympathetic enough, even though he’s never met Gerry and Louise. “I suppose you won’t be coming over later, then?” he said. “Oh no, don’t apologise, of course, I understand. Look, Connie and I have just got in from our run. I’m about to cook us something to refuel. I’ll give you a call later this evening, say seven, yeah?”
Was it too much to expect him to leave Connie to her own devices and come to me? He could hear how distressed I was. I shoulder my bag and head for my flat. Oh, I don’t know, maybe it was too much to ask. Maybe I’m overreacting.
My black Manolos click along the pavement. A motorbike roars past me, charges up the road swerving through the traffic then disappears into the evening. I root around for my door keys in my bag. I can’t wait to get home, freshen up, and have something to eat. I’m flipping starving. I’ve been living on coffee all day. I’m sure I’ve got a slice of leftover pizza in the fridge, then as I look up I squint at two figures in the distance. They’re leaning against a familiar black Audi Q7 outside my front door. The woman is in a luminous pink top and black Lycra sports pants with a thick pink stripe running down the side, the man casual in jeans and a white shirt. They’re chatting, laughing. I narrow my eyes as I get closer. I recognise them immediately; a bolt of acid hits my stomach.
“Hey,” Connie rushes over to me. “How are you? Is everything okay? Sorry about your friend.” She pauses while I nod in gratitude, staring at the pavement. “Dad asked me to drop this off on my way to Mum’s.” She holds my purse up over her head. I’d forgotten about that. She barely looks twenty with her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. “Said it was really important you got it.” At least Daniel was thoughtful enough to get my purse back to me. “I tried pushing it through your letter box but it wouldn’t fit.”
My purple patent purse is so big it could double up as a clutch bag. “So, thought I’d just hang around a while. Good job I had your friend here to keep me company.”
“Thanks,” I manage, trying to ignore the out of focus figure behind her.
“Anyway, excuse my attire. I haven’t had a chance to shower or change yet. I probably stink so don’t come too close.” She laughs loudly and glances at Nick, who gives her a small smile in return. I look at him and for the first time, I don’t feel a thing.
“Audrey?” He moves closer, despite a few visible cuts and bruises, he’s still flipping good looking, in a dishevelled, rugged kind of way - no patch on Daniel, of course. “Gerry told me about the baby. I tried calling you at the hospital but it went straight to voicemail.”
“Thanks for bringing this over, Connie,” I say, ignoring him. “Would you like to come in for a cuppa?” I push the dwarf gate open and it shrieks annoyingly. I must get it oiled.
“Errrrm…no.” She looks at us dubiously, backing away, probably sensing the tension. “Gotta pick Lily up from Mum’s and then drop the car back at Dad’s, so better dash. Thanks, though. Are we still on for Thursday?” Connie and I had agreed to meet for coffee, discuss the details for Daniel’s surprise birthday party. I nod, wordless. “Great, I’ll text you to arrange time, etc. And, hey, Nick, don’t forget what I said.”
“Oh no, I won’t,” he says, taking a tentative step towards her, and I’m not sure if I imagine it, but I’m sure I see a dash of interest in her eyes.
“Fab.” She squeezes the key fob and the central locking responds with a thud, “Ciao, then.” She buzzes down the window, music blares into the street. “Speak soon,” she yells as she buckles in. Nick and I stand together, side by side, and watch as she speeds off into the evening, orange and red lights flashing in the distance.
“Nice girl,” he says, gesturing towards the departed car, “said she’s a model.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Your new bloke’s daughter, eh?”
I nod quickly, twisting my lips into a pout, staring at my feet and feeling awkward. Talking about my new boyfriend with Nick just feels weird. “What did she mean back then?” I ask cautiously, glancing at him briefly. “About you not forgetting?”
“Er…” He scratches his head, “I told her I was a photographer, and she just gave me her number in case any gigs come up.”
My stomach twists. There’s a moment of silence, and then, “I don’t want you to call her, Nick.”
He regards me for a moment and then whips out his mobile phone from his back pocket. “I won’t. I promise.” He runs his thumb over the screen, finds her details. “Look, I’ll delete her number now.” He shows me the screen Connie Taylor – Delete Contact. He taps on Delete and her details vanish. Slipping his phone into his shirt pocket, he looks at me hopefully. Am I supposed to be grateful for that?
“It’s good to see you,” he says lightly. Well, it’s not good to see you, I want to say. In fact, he’s the last person I wanted to see after the day I’ve had.
“Look, what do you want, Nick?”
He sighs, hands loosely on hips. “I wanted to make sure you were okay. Gerry said Louise is in a bad way. That you were upset too.” I nod, fold my arms, and he shakes his head. “I got your text cancelling tomorrow, by the way, and I completely understand.” I fired it off to him while I was waiting for Louise in A&E.
“It’s tough, but at least they’ve got each other. They’ll get through it.” I turn away and start walking down the path.
“Audrey, wait.” I feel his hand on my back. “Can I come in? Just for a while?”
We’re face to face on my doorstep. “No. I think you should just go. In fact, I don’t want you to contact me again – no calls, emails or texts, and no DMs on Messenger either. Nothing.”
“What?” he says incredulously. “You don’t mean that. Only this morning on Messenger you said you’d give me a chance to…”
“That was this morning,” I cut in, raising a hand, “things are different now. I’ve changed my mind.”
“Look, you’re just stressed because of today. I know you. Please, I only want a few minutes of your time, that’s all.” I push the key in my lock, ignoring him, and rush inside. “Audrey, wait.” He pushes his hand on the door before I can close it. “I’ll cut to the chase. I didn’t cheat on you, okay.” I raise an eyebrow at him depicting “I think you’ll find you did”. “Well, technically I did but…”
“I don’t want to hear it, Nick.” I raise my hands to fend off his words, blocking the doorway, but he’s on his knees.
“Please, Audrey, I’m begging you. Give me a chance to explain and then I promise I’ll leave you alone, you won’t hear from me again. Ever. I swear on my mother’s life.” I huff in exasperation as I step aside and he gets to his feet.
