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‘The usual, I’ve asked for a table outside.’ She looked at Percy. ‘You’ve lucked out, my friend. It’s a lovely day,’ Caroline nodded towards the window, ‘we can walk.’
‘But where’s your car?’
‘I came up by train so I could have a glass of wine or three.’ Caroline grinned. ‘Might even go shopping afterwards.’
‘OK, what’s happened to you? Where’s my sister, what have you done with her?’ Stella laughed.
Caroline nodded. ‘Yes, very funny. Come on or we’ll be late.’
30
They strolled along the river to the restaurant, arm in arm, Percy in front. The sky had clouded over a little since the morning, but the sun was still warm. They caught up on the essential stuff, running through each of the children in turn, discussing how their father and Susie were. Stella asked Caroline about Philip and got the usual answer. According to Caroline, Philip was fine. Philip was always fine, thought Stella, but Caroline had a way of changing the conversation so that it never went any further when it came to discussing her and Philip’s relationship.
They reached the restaurant just before two o’clock and were shown to a table outside overlooking the river. Within minutes, a waiter brought two glasses of sparkling Italian wine to the table and, soon after that, a small plate of bruschetta. They lifted their glasses and looked at one another.
‘To my sister,’ said Caroline.
‘To mine.’ Stella smiled.
They took a sip.
Stella put her glass down. ‘So, what made you come all this way, really. Come on, I know you. You’ve either got something to tell me or you’re worried about me. Which one is it?’
It was Caroline’s turn to smile. ‘Both.’
Stella’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’ She couldn’t help but laugh.
‘You go first. I want to hear all about Mull. How was it? How was the mystery woman?’
Stella sat up and coughed. ‘Well, there’s been a development. Quite a big one.’
‘You’ve finally heard from him?’ Caroline nearly choked on her wine.
‘More than that, I’ve seen him.’
‘Seriously?!’
‘Yes, I saw him this morning.’
Caroline’s mouth hung open. She was, for once, speechless.
‘I know. It’s a bit of a shock, but it all happened so quickly. I found some things out and, well, basically it left me with no option but to ask him for a divorce. I met him today to tell him what I want.’
‘Wait, back up. What’s happened? How did you find him?’
‘One of the mums at school. Long story short, she was in a meeting and the woman Simon’s now with took a call from him. She saw his name flash up on the screen and said from the way they spoke, they’re clearly more than friends.’
‘Oh, Stella, I’m so sorry. What a cliché.’
‘She’s one of the investors in the business. Annabel Collins.’ Stella still found it strange to say her name out loud. ‘Although, weirdly, knowing that he’s left me for someone really wealthy makes it a little bit easier.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘I know it sounds ridiculous, but in Mull I found out stuff from Emily, the woman I met, about his past and his behaviour. He lied about his family. He left her because he found out she couldn’t have children. He cleared out her life savings as a parting shot. It was the deposit she’d saved to put towards the house they were hoping to buy together.’
Caroline shook her head in disbelief. ‘I cannot believe we’re talking about the same man I’ve known for more than a decade. I mean, you know how I felt about him but still…’
‘I know, it’s terrible. But knowing he’s done all these things sort of helps me understand what he’s done to me. It’s nothing he hasn’t done before. Somehow, for whatever reason, he’s able to move on from one life to another when he sees something better on the horizon. With Emily, it was children. With me, it was, I think, money.’
