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‘She came home from hospital a different person, really. She and Dad made the decision to leave the church, and things were different after that. Less strict, a bit more freedom. Then Luke came along when I was fourteen and she drifted back to the church again, and then the whole thing with Dad kicked off.’
‘I’m really sorry. That sounds rough.’
Hannah nodded. ‘After Dad left I spent most of my spare time at the tennis club, cleaning the changing rooms in exchange for my subs. I’ve been ladies’ captain since I was twenty-two. Apart from this season, which I’ve taken off.’
‘And where do you work now?’
‘At a country club a few miles away from my place. Very exclusive, lots of golfers and rich women who are terrible at tennis. I’m the office manager.’
Rob looked impressed. ‘Do you ever coach?’
‘Only the kids during school holidays, if I absolutely have to. I hate them all.’
‘I love coaching kids,’ laughed Rob. ‘They’re less know-it-all than adults.’
‘You haven’t met these kids. Absolute monsters.’
‘You didn’t go to university?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘Dad was gone by then and Mum was heavily into the church again. Things were less strict than before, but some rules for women weren’t negotiable. Family first, no sex before marriage, no co-habiting, no going off to university and getting wild ideas.’
‘So you married . . .’
‘Graham. He was part of the community, and we’d been friends since we were children. Sensible, dull, as desperate to escape as I was. He was my first choice because there was no other choice. He’s the only man I’ve ever . . . been with.’ Hannah blushed involuntarily, wondering whether Rob was already questioning his choices.
‘And what happened, if you don’t mind me asking?’
Hannah glanced at him, marvelling at how easy he was to talk to. ‘I found out last month he’d got his assistant pregnant. Apparently that wasn’t the only affair he’d had.’
‘Shit. Not so dull after all.’
‘It was a relief, really. A legitimate reason to finally call it a day.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘Either living with his mother, or with his pregnant girlfriend. I have no idea which. Luckily the house we lived in was mine.’
‘Have you changed the locks?’
Hannah laughed. ‘No, but my brother is house-sitting right now, so it’s fine.’
‘So what happens next? When you get back?’
Hannah thought about the question, taking in the landscape of hotels and apartments and orange groves as she drove the windy coast road, occasionally catching a glimpse of azure-blue water to the south. It was a good question, but life beyond this trip felt hazy. She’d come to Spain to adjust to being alone, and now she was on a road trip with a gorgeous man who she’d only met a week ago. ‘I have no idea. Can’t think about that right now. What about you? You ever thought about getting married?’
Rob shook his head and laughed. ‘Not even close. Don’t get me wrong, I love women. Actually, maybe I love women too much.’
‘Or maybe you just love too many women,’ laughed Hannah, remembering what Trish had said about how many women Rob had slept with. It felt like a void between them, a fundamental difference between her and Rob that could never be bridged. It was hard not to feel disappointed, somehow.
‘Only ever one at a time, though,’ Rob said quickly. ‘And only the kind of women who want the same thing. I don’t want you to think I’m a bad person.’
‘I’m not judging,’ she said, glancing at him. ‘What are your plans after this summer?’
Rob cleared his throat. ‘I’ve got a Head Coach job lined up at Bath University, there’s a big sports academy there. It’s due to start in October, so I was going to do the full season here.’
‘So what will you do for the rest of the summer now?’
Rob shrugged. ‘Get a job back in the UK, I guess. Do some casual coaching, maybe. I’ll work it out.’
