Much later, having been unable to resist a repeat performance, they lay entwined in bed, propped up with soft, feathery pillows, Lucy’s head resting on Rory’s chest. She placed the palm of her hand on his chest, nestling against the dark hairs that covered it, and felt the gentle thump of his heart beating. They talked about their past relationships, about Abigail, and about the string of girls that Rory had dated over the years since she had passed away, how singularly unimpressed he had been with them all. Not one of them had managed to capture his interest even remotely as much as Lucy had done. He told her that she was the first person he had met who he had been properly attracted to, who he had really, really liked, in all the years since his wife had died. Lucy smiled to herself, thanking God and her lucky stars that she had met this wonderful, kind man. In return, she told him about all her single years, and then about Alex, and the disastrous end that their relationship had had.
‘I can’t bear the thought of you going through all that,’ said Rory. ‘It must have been awful.’Hardly awful in comparison with what happened to you, thought Lucy. ‘But I’m secretly glad of course,’ Rory added, ‘because otherwise you wouldn’t be lying here next to me right now, and for that I am eternally grateful.’
‘Very true!’ said Lucy, smiling and reaching up to kiss him.
‘Any other skeletons in the closet?’ he asked, clearly sensing her hesitation.
She paused, wondering whether she should tell him about Jack. ‘Well… I promised I’d never tell anyone this. But in the spirit of sharing all of our deepest secrets… I did something last year which I’ve been feeling pretty awful about.’ She paused. ‘I had sex with someone at work, a guy called Jack.’ Taking a deep breath, she continued, ‘He was married.’
The hand that had been gently stroking her back stopped. She turned her head to face him. He was looking at her quizzically, unimpressed, waiting for further explanation.
‘I know it was wrong, I feel terrible. We were really drunk; he had just separated from his wife… One thing led to another and… I wasn’t thinking…’
‘Well,’ said Rory. ‘I’m glad that you added that bit about him having separated from his wife. I guess you could call me traditional, or blame my Catholic upbringing, but I’m of the old-fashioned belief that marriage vows mean something. I really can’t understand why people cheat. You have to try and put yourself in the wife’s shoes. How would it feel if it happened to you?’
‘I know. That’s why I feel so awful. I hope I never have to find out.’
‘Me too,’ said Rory.
‘Do you think I’m a terrible person now?’ asked Lucy, worried that she had blown it.
‘I think he is the one most at fault, and no… we all make mistakes. But I would hope, sincerely, that you wouldn’t be the cheating type. That that experience has put you off.’
‘I promise. It’s the last thing I would ever do.’
‘Okay then,’ he said. He held her in his embrace, stroking her hair and kissing her head. In his arms she felt totally secure, as safe as she had ever felt. She imagined herself staying there forever and could think of nothing she would want more. Eventually, they drifted off to sleep, still lying in each other’s arms, the moon watching wistfully on, bathing them in a silver pool of light.
