Lisa didn’t know if it was anger at herself for having let that exact thought enter her mind or Nathan’s too-casual dismissal of Sam having the ring that was making her feel cross; either way she was aware her voice was too shrill as she spoke. ‘She fancies you, youknow. She could have taken it.’
‘She doesn’t fancy me. Her interest in me is purely as Alex’s—’
‘She does. She takes every opportunity to let me know. If you can’t see it, you’re blind or stupid.’ Lisa couldn’t believe her tone. After her beautiful day she was now sounding petulant.
‘Honestly, Lisa, she doesn’t fancy me. Not now.’
‘So you admit she did.’ Lisa looked into Nathan’seyes, searching for answers.
Raised tones meant Dom and Florian had made themselves scarce.
‘Yes. But that was a long time ago, when we were teenagers. Soon after you left. She was a couple of years below us at school. I went with Brett to her sixteenth birthday party. He thought it would cheer me up. It didn’t. I was feeling miserable and went upstairs; she cornered me, wanting … a birthdaypresent, I guess.’
Lisa felt jealous at the thought of Sam alone with Nathan – her Nathan of all those years ago. She gripped his hand more tightly.He’s here now, with you.
‘Anyway, I left. She and Brett got together and have been together since.’
‘Sam and Brett! Why didn’t you just tell me that?’
‘At first I didn’t say because I thought it would be a surprise for you to see Brettonce he came to join them, and then—’
‘Alex is Brett’s! I knew he looked familiar.’ Lisa thought about the day she had seen him on the green with Sam; his smile was just as she remembered Nathan’s friend Brett’s at school.She’s Samantha Austin.Lisa recalled Sam’s name on her driving licence as it fell from her bag.So they’re married.‘But it makes no sense.’ Lisa wondered if she had seenpictures of Sam on Brett’s Facebook page, but she had been intently looking for Nathan the night she searched his page and more than a little drunk. ‘I knew Brett at school too. Why didn’t you just tell me?’
‘It’s stupid, I know. But Sam was half-naked in my flat … you didn’t recognise her, and seeing you both together, I felt … guilty, I guess.’
‘Guilty? Why? You said nothing happened.’Lisa realised she had no right to sound accusing. She had left Nathan, after all. What he did during the time they were apart was not her business. She looked across the darkening valley. People in their chalets were going about their business; no matter what was occurring in the world, people’s lives moved on.
‘She kissed me and wanted to go further … but I wasn’t ready. She didn’t tastelike you. She didn’t smell like you. I hated her for not being you, but more than anything I hated myself for losing you. Brett doesn’t know what happened.’
Lisa didn’t speak. She sat, taking in Nathan’s words, holding his hand.
‘When she was pregnant, she told me she had wanted the baby to be mine. How messed up is that? I couldn’t tell Brett; he was happy.’ Nathan laughed an empty laugh.‘He wanted me to be his best man, and then Alex’s godparent. I couldn’t say no. How could I have explained that?’
‘Alex’s godparent?’
‘Yes.’
‘She said you delivered him, is that right?’
Nathan laughed. ‘I think you’ve misheard. I was there. I drove them. Brett had been drinking. And if sitting in the hospital canteen counts as being at the delivery I was there, but actually deliveringAlex. No. I don’t even want to imagine that.’ Nathan mock shuddered.
Lisa hadn’t realised how much that thought had been bothering her, nagging at the back of her mind; hearing Nathan deny it, caused relief to flood through her and a breath to escape her. Lisa took a moment to absorb what he had said. The fact she knew she hadn’t misheard Sam’s words made her more sceptical about her actions.‘And does Sam love Brett at all?’ At school Lisa hadn’t been his biggest fan, but she didn’t like to think of him in a one-sided or loveless relationship. Nobody deserved that.
‘Yes, they’re happy together, most of the time. Brett’s job takes him round the world, so they move about and that can be tough. But the two of them are well-suited, and Alex is a good kid.’
‘And where’s Brett now?’
‘Now? He’s at my place with them. He’s been doing a deal in Manchester. Sam and Alex wanted to stay down south and catch up with her family, so Brett asked if I could put them up for a bit. I told you I was letting the flat to an old friend, it was supposed to be a clue.’
‘And that old friend was Brett, not Sam?’
‘Yes. And letting isn’t really the right word. They’re just staying withme for a while. I think they’ll be off again soon – maybe in the next couple of weeks.’
‘Really?’ Lisa tried not to sound too pleased at the news. Brett was Nathan’s friend, and Alex was … well, his godson, but, despite what Nathan thought, she couldn’t help feel that Sam still had feelings for him. And with all that she had said about being in Nathan’s flat, Lisa couldn’t help but wonderif Sam had taken the ring.
Nathan looked at Lisa, his eyes dark in the moonlight. ‘So, fiancée, shall we sit here talking about this, or shall we go to bed and celebrate our engagement?’
Lisa smiled at the wordfiancéeand raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. What was the point of talking about things that had happened so long ago, especially when it was her thirtieth birthday and herengagement day? The past was behind them, their future was growing healthily inside her, and the here-and-now was charged with desire and full of the promise evident in Nathan’s wickedly enticing smile.
‘Hmm, well, perhaps as I’ve technically got two engagement rings, we should celebrate twice.’ She giggled.
Nathan stood before her and put out his hand. Lisa welcomed being pulled to herfeet.
‘Besides, that step was really giving me a numb bum!’
