Page 26 of Be More Capybara

But he’d already gone back upstairs.

Helen opened Nigel’s profile page again and looked through his connections. He’d acquired several hundred over the years. She sorted them into alphabetical order and scrolled down.

There was only one Madison - Madison Styneson, Founder and Creative Director of the Sloane & Avery Gallery. And she looked drop-dead gorgeous. Helen sighed.

You should stop there. This is not making you happy.

She drummed her fingers on the laptop. Her inner voice was right, but sod that. She searched for the Sloane & Avery Gallery. The first hit gave her the gallery’s website: very professional, showcasing expensive paintings in what looked like a posh location just off Madison Avenue, of course. And the icing on the cake: a full-length photo of Madison Styneson, mid-40s, perfect figure, expensively dressed, subtle makeup with possibly a hint of Botox, and not a varicose vein in sight.

17

NIGEL

‘Since when have you been interested in interior design?’ Mark asked as he walked behind Nigel in the drawing room.

‘Since I decided to check out Helen’s interior design company.’ Nigel continued scrolling through the gallery on Helen’s website, Helen Simpson Interiors.

Mark reversed and leaned over the back of the sofa to get a better look at Nigel’s laptop screen. ‘She has much better taste in furniture than she does in men.’

Nigel guessed that was a dig at him, but given the situation Helen had described with her ex, he was inclined to agree. However, Mark had just given him the perfect excuse to suggest he involve her in the treehouse project. And he seemed to be in a buoyant mood, so he might take it seriously.

‘I know I’m keeping my nose out of your business, but what do you think about talking to Helen about designing the interiors for your new treehouses?’

‘That’s actually not a bad idea. Send me the link. I’ll get Lucy’s opinion.’

Mark grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl on the side table and walked out again.

Nigel smiled to himself. Mission accomplished. Hopefully, Mark would give Helen a call. Now all he needed to do was sort out that tennis club booking.

He texted Helen’s website URL to Mark, then wrote a text for Helen:

Re the treehouses, I’ve passed your details onto Mark. Great website by the way. I’m working on the tennis. Our court is not up to the job anymore (See pic) But I can book an indoor court down the coast on Friday. What time works for you? It’s about 30 mins drive away.

He attached one of the photos he’d taken earlier showing the Grange’s dilapidated court in all its glory and pressed Send. Hopefully, she’d reply more quickly this time.

He was in luck. Three dots appeared straightaway.

Thanks re Mark and the website. What a shame about your tennis court. Anytime Friday works.

He took a deep breath. What had he started?

18

HELEN

Carrie FaceTimed Helen the following morning. Helen was regretting giving the game away that she’d been researching Nigel.

‘I’ve only just seen your message.’

‘Why were you looking at Nigel’s LinkedIn profile?’

‘Because he said he’d resigned from his job, so I was just curious what that job was. And that’s when your happy smiling face popped up on his page.’

‘You don’t have to say it like you’re accusing me of having a torrid affair with him.’

‘I’m not. I’m just surprised you hadn’t mentioned it before, that’s all. “You’ll never guess who connected with me on LinkedIn today” - that sort of thing.’

‘I don’t remember connecting with him.’