Page 103 of My Kind of Happy

Sam’s jaw dropped; he looked so wounded that my heart melted for him. ‘You’ve sent them away?’

I decided to give them some privacy. I picked up one of the large arrangements.

‘I’ll start loading up,’ I mumbled.

Sam caught my arm as I passed him. ‘Sorry. Again. I’ll be right with you.’

I tried to convey solidarity through my smile. ‘It’s fine. You take all the time you need.’

I could still hear them when I stepped out into the corridor and despite feeling guilty for eavesdropping, I slowed my pace.

‘My children have left the country and you didn’t think to let me know?’ Sam’s voice was low and angry. ‘What about school? When will they be back?’

‘Next week. Probably,’ Pandora replied vaguely. ‘I needed some space, OK? I needed to process what happened this weekend. Mum offered to help out.’

‘I’d have had them! Jeez, Pandora, you’ve overstepped the mark this time,’ he growled. ‘I’m going to apply for custody. I’m not dancing to your tune any more.’

‘You think I’m enjoying all this?’ Her voice trembled as if she was close to tears. I reached the service door which led to the car park but I didn’t open it. It was like when Freddie had begged me to watch a scary film with him; I couldn’t bear to watch but I couldn’t drag myself away either. ‘Us separating is stressful.’

‘We’re not separating. That implies a joint decision. You told me to leave last summer. You told me you wanted to try again. As we both know, you’ve always called the shots in this marriage. Until now. Goodbye, Pandora.’

He was on his way out. I quickly put down the flowers and opened the door. The doorknob turned easily, I held the door open with my bottom, picked the flowers up and noticed a flash of movement in my peripheral vision. I stood at the door and waited.

Poor Sam. I really felt for him, there was still so much anger and frustration in him towards his wife. Ex-wife, I corrected myself.

‘Steady, fella!’ said a jovial voice.

‘What the hell?!’ Sam yelled.

There was a series of thumps and some serious swearing and I turned back to see Sam and another tall skinny man with fine blond hair fronting up to each other and several cartons of my flowers in a heap on the floor.

‘Gareth bloody Weaver,’Sam said with considerable menace. ‘I might have known.’

‘Please be careful!’ I scooted down to them, heart in my mouth, praying that my precious blooms were still intact. If those Columbian roses ended up as a pile of petal confetti it would be the cherry on top of the worst cake ever. Also, shamelessly, I really wanted a closer look at the man Pandora had thrown away her marriage to Sam for. Surely he’d have to be something really special.

‘Totally my fault,’ said Gareth in such a posh accent I assumed he must be putting it on. He flapped about, all elbows and knees, trying to pick up boxes and making matters much worse. ‘Such a clumsy oaf, I’ll cover any damages of course.’

‘Of course you will.’ Sam’s face was expressionless. ‘A man who can afford to take on Pandora will be used to forking out large sums of money unexpectedly.’

Gareth guffawed until realising Sam wasn’t joining in and grimaced. ‘Yes, know what you mean. Here, please, I insist.’ He pulled what looked to be two fifty-pound notes from his wallet and handed them to me. The offer was tempting, I was considerably down financially after today’s non-event, but even so, one hundred pounds just for having my flowers knocked to the floor?

‘I, er, well, I’m not sure …’ I looked quickly at Sam for help; he gave the tiniest nod. I took the notes and tucked them into my pocket. ‘Thank you, very decent of you.’

‘Well this is awkward, but had to happen sometime.’ Gareth smiled tentatively at Sam and held out his hand. ‘Let’s be gentlemen about this.’

‘Gentlemen don’t have affairs with married women.’ Sam’s face was grim. He restacked the flowers and picked them up.

‘Married? Hold on just a minute.’ Gareth’s face turned puce. ‘Pandora was separated.’

Pandora emerged from the room in a rush and came to an abrupt halt when she saw both men together. ‘Oh.’

‘Here she is!’ Gareth beamed, holding his arms out to her. ‘Right, I’ve spoken to my solicitor about Edelweiss, we’re going to pursue these charlatans, even if it costs me ten times more than we’ve already spent. I will avenge you!’ He thrust his arm into the air like a red-faced, lanky superhero.

I was confused; did the man have no shame, being so open about his relationship in front of Sam?

‘Hmm.’ She stuck her nose in the air. ‘I’ll be waiting in the Rolls.’

‘Rightio, darling.’ Gareth bent down, lips puckered to kiss her, but she flounced past without a second glance. ‘Be right there, Kitten.’

Pandora’s retreating form made a noise not unlike a cat getting ready for a fight. A burst of laughter escaped from me before I could catch it. I covered it up with a cough.

‘I’ll do the same,’ I said, sending Sam a smile of solidarity. ‘Not the Rolls, obviously. The erm, van.’

The corners of Sam’s mouth twitched. ‘Be right there. After I’ve put Gareth right on a few things.’

I headed back to the doors to the car park, thinking that Sam had had a lucky escape and actually feeling a bit sorry for Gareth. Although, I reminded myself, he had a Rolls and a wallet stuffed full of cash, so not that sorry.