Page 28 of The Happiness Project

My ears prick up and I take a quick glance at my bingo sheet, which I’ve hidden at the back of the book. I don’t have that phrase but a look up at Sarah tells me she has and she gives me a tiny smile.

‘Well, I’m going to surprise you too,’ says Peter. ‘I loved the crime-solving aspect, and I really thought I knew who’d done it but the ending was a complete shock.’

I can’t actually concentrate on the discussion now as I’m so obsessed with winning this bingo game. I catch a glance of Patty out of the corner of my eye and she has a hand clamped over her mouth trying to hold back her laughter.

‘Angie, what did you think?’ asks Sarah.

Immediately, I wonder if this is a trick question and she’s simply trying to get me to say one of the expressions on her list. I try desperately to think of something that Patty won’t have. I ponder some possibilities:

‘I loved the characters and felt I really knew them.’

‘I thought she really brought the landscape to life through her descriptions.’

‘The segue between the two timelines really worked for me.’

I doubt Patty would have thought of using the word segue, but I also know that she hasn’t read any of it so decide to read out a section that I thought was beautifully written. I do just that and see Sarah gleefully ticking something off her sheet. How could that have happened? Wanting revenge, I ask her how she found the book. She hesitates, knowing the stakes are high at this stage then says, ‘I’m not sure I’m qualified to critique really, being so new to the group. I’d rather just listen to your views.’

Aha! She thinks she’s been clever but the newbie at book clubs often professes their inadequacy — it’s as big a cliché as any other and I have it on my list. I cross it off and know we’re neck and neck.

‘The other thing I thought,’ says Peter in a slow contemplative manner as Sarah and I have pens poised, ‘is that the lead character was completely believable.’

‘BINGO!’ I shout, as does Sarah and everyone else in the room. It’s followed by howls of laughter.

‘You’ve been playing us,’ I say, realising what has happened.

‘Patty told us what we had to say.’ Caroline is wiping the tears from her eyes. ‘Watching you two getting more and more competitive was hilarious.’

I hit Patty with the book this time and claim a G&T for both Sarah and myself. We regroup and discuss the book properly, after which we retire to the bar. I quickly become engrossed in a conversation about Mum’s bucket list with Peter and Ed while Patty, Caroline and Sarah chat together.

We all head to bed shortly after midnight and as I get to my room, Patty tells me she has something to tell me. I invite her in and sit on the bed, taking off my boots as she clears her throat and then begins.

‘I was talking to Sarah about the day you got stood up.’

My shoulders drop.

‘I really wish you hadn’t,’ I tell her. ‘It’s private.’

‘It’s probably a good job that I did.’ Patty sits down beside me and takes hold of my hand.

I hold my breath, saying nothing. Patty gets out her phone and brings up pictures of the New Year party.

‘I was telling Sarah about Jack and showed her this photo of the four of us together. She instantly pointed at Michael and asked whether he was the man you’d been waiting for. I told her it was and she said she recognised him. He came into the café a couple of times later that week with a woman, someone he looked very close to.’

Chapter Fifteen: The Hills Are Alive

After very little sleep, I sneak out of the hotel to watch the sun rise above the mountains that surround this beautiful village. A watercolour sky of pinks and golds contrasts against grey-green fells, and in the distance I see a sprinkling of frost on the higher fells. It’s certainly chilly and I hug myself, although in doing so I’m glad to be feeling something other than despair. I consider that word and decide it’s probably too harsh but I don’t know how to describe it. Disappointment? Defeat? Whatever it is, I should be grateful to Sarah for telling me about Michael and stopping me making a fool of myself by calling him.

‘How are you not freezing to death?’ says the voice of Patty behind me. I turn round to see her swathed in a woollen blanket that I last saw on one of the library chairs. She steps beside me, holds it open then enfolds me in it too. I’m instantly warmed by her body and the blanket — it’s lovely.

‘What are you thinking about, Bo?’ she asks.

I sigh and snuggle into her. ‘I was just wondering how many of these mountains we have time to climb before we head home.’

‘Well, I know the answer to that one. Gingerbread shop v. mountain — not a hard choice to make. Now come on inside, there’s a full English waiting.’

She bundles me back into the hotel, where the aromas of breakfast contrast with the fresh air outside. Both are wonderful in their own way.

My friends are already around our table, where coffee is being poured and toast being buttered. Sarah gives me a sheepish glance, so I walk towards her with confidence and sit down beside her. I squeeze her hand and whisper, ‘Thank you for telling me. I needed to know.’

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