‘Debenhams have thirty per cent off just now,’ she replies, ‘I’m sure you can get them something there. It must be hard to see your ex so happy, but it’ll be your turn one day!’
I’m actually giving them a hideous vase Helen gave me for Christmas last year, but I thank Leanne for her helpful suggestion, ignore her hopes for my future and get back to work.
*
Rose has picked up Grace so I head to her house after a day of mostly coffees and procrastination. The kids play in the living room while Rose and I chat in the kitchen. I fill her in on everything that’s been happening since we last met.
‘That Dylan guy sounds like a puzzle!’ she says. ‘He sounds like an enigma . . . wrapped in a mystery, wrapped in a wanker.’ She switches on the kettle, then opens a box of biscuits and places them in front of me. ‘And how are you feeling about Peter’s wedding? For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a good thing.’
‘I’m feeling . . . all right about it actually.’ I stare into the box, deciding on my first of many shortbread fingers. ‘It’s funny, since I’ve been involved in the whole Dylan/Tom fiasco, Peter’s wedding has hardly crossed my mind. In fact Peter has hardly crossed my mind full stop.’
‘That’s because he’s no longer the last man you had feelings for. It’s funny how a new romance will put an old one in perspective, eh?’
I grin. ‘He wants me to meet him, you know? Dylan. He sent me a mysterious note . . .’
‘Mysterious? Hang ON.’ She sticks her head round the kitchen door. ‘JASON, WILL YOU STOP PLAYING WITH THAT KEYBOARD? IT’S TOO NOISY.’
She walks over to the kitchen drawers, shaking her head. ‘I’m sorry I ever bought that bloody thing. I’d hide it but he loves it. Every time he plays it, it sounds like Jean-Michel Jarre is having a stroke . . . Sorry, you were saying – Dylan wants to meet up?’
‘Yes. On Friday, at midnight. What should I do? Meet him after the reception or just ignore him?’
‘I take it Grace is staying at the hotel?’
‘Yes, they’ve booked rooms for the night. She’s kipping in with Peter’s dreadful Aunt Victoria.’
‘Then go! You’ve nothing stopping you,’ Rose says, removing cups from the dishwasher. ‘Go and see what he wants.’
‘But he’s behaved so badly!’ I object. ‘He’s so rude to me! Do I really need someone like that in my life?’
‘Listen, I thought Rob was an arrogant sod when I first met him, but it was all bravado. Now I think he’s the most humble, lovely man I’ve ever known. If you have a feeling about this Dylan guy, then see where it goes. You have nothing to lose.’
‘Except my sanity.’
‘Sanity is overrated. Just meet him.’
‘And my dignity.’
‘JUST MEET HIM.’
‘I WILL THEN.’ I stuff another biscuit into my mouth before I change my mind.
‘You’re doing the right thing, and if I don’t see you before Friday, good luck at Peter’s wedding. I hope it all goes smoothly. Whatever happens with this other guy, just be thankful that you’re not the woman getting hitched to that lolloping clown.’
Lolloping. This makes me laugh more than it should.
*
Grace has only been in bed fifteen minutes when Helen knocks on the door. She’s brought with her a litre of vodka and a stern look.
‘Can you recommend a new dentist?’
Shit. She knows. ‘Don’t be so melodramatic. I was going to tell you tonight. How did you find out?’
She steps on my toe as she walks past me. ‘I called Tom to invite him to dinner again, and he told me that it might be awkward because you weren’t seeing each other any more. Actually, he said that you weren’t really his type and he’d tried to let you down gently. He hopes you aren’t too cut up about it.’
He dumped me? I smile. Good for him. I deserved that.
‘I’m fine, Helen. Life goes on and I—’
