Page 19 of Be More Octopus

Em laughed. 'I can't ask him outright, can I? He'll either think I've got the hots for him or realise that I've googled him, which also means I'm interested in him.'

'You are interested in him!'

'Not in that way. I'm avoiding men for a while, remember? Especially attractive ones - they're just trouble.'

'How long's a while? I think you're starting to cave in.'

Perhaps Em was. Spending a few hours with Jack had been enjoyable. No working out what his motives were, or dodging overly familiar wandering hands like on her first date with Connor. Apart from that brief moment when he walked away from the shipwreck, Jack seemed remarkably straightforward, just wanting to enjoy the moment. She wouldn't object to a few more afternoons like that. He was good company.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

'What do you think of my godson?'

The warm early evening light streamed through the drawing room window. Nancy was back from her rock climbing course. She was sitting in the wing-backed chair, looking out over the garden while Em worked on her portrait. It was nearly finished, but Em wanted to make a few minor adjustments before she allowed Nancy to see it.

'Jack? He's lovely.'

'I gather you've done a good job of looking after him while I was away.'

'He's been looking after me.'

'He's a good boy. Don't tell him, but he is my favourite godchild.' Nancy made it sound like Jack was seven. She adjusted the cushions to make herself more comfortable. 'I'm glad I was able to help him.'

'Help him?'

'Yes, by giving him somewhere to hide away from that dreadful wife of his.'

Em paused her painting. So Jack was married then. But 'hide' and 'dreadful' weren't words you'd expect someone to use when talking about a happy marriage.

'Sounds like you don't like her.'

'I did at the start - we all did. Isabella was perfectly charming. She appeared to adore him, and he was besotted with her.'

Em squeezed some more white paint onto her palette. 'So what happened?' she asked, trying her best to appear nonchalant.

'My son Mark happened. I'm ashamed to say he fell for Isabella's charms, foolish boy. Poor Jack caught them in bed together.'

Shit! That explained Jack's mood after talking about Mark at the shipwreck yesterday. How awful for him.

Double shit - the shock had caused Em to put completely the wrong colour on Nancy's cheek. Wiping it off would make it worse. She'd have to wait for it to dry then paint over it.

'So he left her?' Don't sound too happy at the prospect.

'No. She persuaded Jack it was all his fault. He'd been busy writing a book, and he wasn't devoting enough time to her, so she had no choice but to seek solace in the arms of his best friend. Feeble excuse - what's wrong with reading or yoga? That's how a normal person would have kept themselves entertained.'

Nancy leaned forward towards Em. 'If I'm being uncharitable - and I usually am where Isabella is concerned these days - I'd say she used Mark deliberately. She seems jealous of anyone who takes Jack's attention away from her.'

Just like Em's mother was with her father. She wouldn't wish someone like that on Jack.

'How's Mark?'

'I don't know. We had a massive argument about it. I haven't spoken to him for nearly two years, sadly. Neither has Jack, as far as I know. Mark left his legal practice and moved to Spain. Judging by his Instagram feed, he's hiring out jet skis during the day and bartending in the evening - a waste of a good education. So there you are. She's hurt two of the most important men in my life, and they've both lost their best friend. The only good thing is Jack's finally seen the light. He's trying to divorce her. '

'Trying?' Surely divorce wasn't that difficult these days.

'She's contesting it. Claims to still be in love with him. Desperate to have him back and similar rubbish.'

'Why do you think it's rubbish?'