‘Please?’ said Annabel, again she pointed to achair.
She could see his confusion, but refused to be swayed, she had to see this through. Taking the seat opposite, she clasped her hands in front of her as she rested them on the table. ‘We need to talk,’ she said. ‘Aboutus.’
Dan automatically mirrored Annabel’s posture as he straightened himself up in his seat. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘What is it you wanttosay.’
‘I don’t think we should see each other anymore,’ shereplied.
She watched him take a few seconds as if to absorb herwords.
‘Wow,’ he said. ‘I wasn’texpectingthat.’
Annabel took in his disappointment. She hadn’t meant to just blurt it out and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt his feelings. But it needed saying. To continue in what they were doing was causinghertoo much pain, which in the long run affected both of them. ‘I mean it’s not exactly working, is it?’ she said. She tried to sound light, hoping this might soothetheblow.
Dan regained his composure and finally looked her square in the face. ‘I agree,’hesaid.
Annabel’s chest all at once felt tight. His sudden coolness came as a surprise. ‘You do?’ sheasked.
Dan nodded. ‘Things are gettingcomplicated.’
‘Theyare?’
Nowheappeared to gather histhoughts.
‘I’ve been meaning to tell you.’ He shifted in his seat. ‘I just didn’tknowhow.’
Annabel waited for him tocontinue.
‘I’ve met someone,’ hefinallysaid.
21
Annabel continuedto push her food around her plate; she knew Katy and Rebecca had meant well. She also knew they were right, ending her arrangement with Dan didn’t mean she had to stop having fun with friends and family. However, turning up, intervention style, to drag her out into the big, wide world hadn’t really been a good idea, no matter what theirintention.
After realising she should have stood her ground more and simply point blank refused, Annabel wished she was back in the confines of home. At least there she didn’t have to pretend she was having a good time, she could be as miserable as her heartdesired.
She had to give them their due though. So far, Katy and Rebecca hadn’t once mentioned the state of play with Dan. Up to now, topics had included anything but. They’d covered the weather, morning sickness, and the fantastic sales on the high street; their current conversation centred on the latest new movies, which ones to see and which to avoid. Not that Annabel had anything in particular to contribute. She hadn’t watched a film on the telly recently, never mind taken herself off to the bigscreen.
She zoned out of Katy and Rebecca’s chit-chat altogether and glanced around at her surroundings. Waiting staff, dressed in their all black uniforms, busily flittered about. Cheerful throughout, they delivered the restaurant’s take on home cooked food to some tables, while clearing empty plates away from others. She took in the décor. With its open fires, wooden flooring, and cottage-like theme it looked pleasant enough. Warm and cosy even, thanks to the autumnal colour scheme. A quick peek out of the window, however, revealed its true colours. The adjacent cinema complex and ten pin bowling centre did nothing to counter the fact that a country pub without the countryside didn’t work. The place was trying to be something itwasn’t.
A bit like herself really, thought Annabel, as she sat there with an empty smile on her face while nodding and shaking her head in all the right places; she tried to give off the right vibe without an ounce of authenticity. Not that anyone else seemed to notice the façade, she acknowledged; neither her own nor thebuilding’s.
Annabel found herself thinking about Dan. She wondered if he was coping alright; after all, his mother’s condition was bound to have worsened. She recalled his face the last time they talked. He seemed disappointed to hear her breaking off their arrangement, but at the same time had to acknowledge it was probably for the best. Apparently, he’d been coming to the same conclusion himself since meeting Maeve. Annabel didn’t tell him that she’d seen them together, she didn’t see the point. He’d accepted their arrangement had come to an end and she supposed, in the end, that was all that mattered. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Finally, she could put a name to the long legged, long haired blonde. Annabel pictured them together. They made a handsome couple and she hoped things worked out for the two of them. The proverbialhappy ever afterbeing the least Dandeserved.
‘Are you going to eat that?’ asked Rebecca. ‘Or just keep playingwithit?’
‘Sorry?’ said Annabel, her attention suddenly caught. She followed her sister’s gaze to her plate. ‘Apologies, I’m just not very hungry.’ At last, she set herforkdown.
‘Why don’t you just call him?’askedKaty.
‘Callwho?’
‘You know who,’ saidRebecca.
‘Dan.’ said her friend. Not that she really had to point out the obvious. ‘That is who you’re thinking about,isn’tit?’
Annabel picked up her wine glass. It seemed she’d spoken too soon with regards to their silence on the subject. They both might not mean to go on, but as far as she was concerned, they were beginning to sound like a broken record. Why couldn’t they just accept her dealings with Dan were a thing of the past, no matter how many times they suggested otherwise? ‘Like I keep telling you, I’ve made my decision and there’s nogoingback.’
Much to Annabel’s annoyance, her sister rolled her eyes not even attempting to hide herfrustration.
