‘I was just thinking about something else.’
‘But you have your dinner tonight to look forward to.’
Charlie was clearly doing his best not to pry by changing the subject, bless him. Unfortunately, with that particular topic, he was still onto a loser.
‘Oh, yes. Dinner.’ My attempt at enthusiasm morphed into sarcasm.
‘Uh oh. Did the plans get cancelled?’
‘I wish.’
‘OK, I’m confused.’ He let out a little laugh and the sound of it made me smile, knocking me from my wallowing.
‘Long story,’ I said, my voice sounding much more like my own again now.
‘Good. I look forward to hearing it. Have you had lunch?’
‘Well, no, but—’
‘There’s a great deli near here. If you can get back to London Bridge, I can meet you by the ship in Hay’s Galleria – do you know it?’
I did know it.
‘Unless you have some other plans, of course. I mean…’
‘No. I really don’t. Actually, that sounds lovely. If you have time?’
‘As I’m going to be working all weekend, I think I’m entitled to a lunch break. So yes, I have time. Any preference on sandwiches?’
‘I’ll leave it up to you.’
‘Uh oh. She’s a risk-taker! I’ll have to make a note of that.’ He chuckled.
I smiled down the phone. ‘Just choose me something nice. I’ll pay you when I get there.’
‘No, you won’t. Lunch is on me. In celebration of your meeting going well.’
‘Thank you.’
‘OK. I’ll get there as soon as possible.’
‘Same here. See you in a bit.’
He disconnected and I returned my phone to my bag. Lunch with Charlie was an unexpected and very pleasant diversion before heading off to Dad’s place, and the ensuing dinner for four.
8
Charlie had his back to me, gazing out past the whirring mechanicals of the nautical artwork, onto the Thames. I reached up and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned.
‘Hi!’
‘Hello!’
His intense gaze was fixed on me, and I could see he wanted to say something.
‘What is it?’
‘You… I… I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this? But I think, knowing you, you’d want to know.’
