Page 104 of Be More Lucy

‘Perhaps he’s worried about Hannah and the baby,’ Em suggested.

‘Less than he was 24 hours ago, I’m guessing.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’ve not heard then?’ Lucy filled Em in on Mark’s latest news.

‘That’s awful.’ Em asked. ‘But it does mean he’s single again.’

‘I assume so, but it’s been very difficult to speak to him. Ever since you emerged from your interview with the registrar, we’ve not had any time alone to talk about it.’

‘Ah.’

‘What do you mean “ah”?’

Em looked sheepish. ‘I thought you were starting to get a bit tetchy with one another, so I’ve been on a mission to keep you apart to avoid a row.’

‘That explains the verbal diarrhoea in the car earlier.’

‘Verbal diarrhoea? I was just trying to keep everyone talking.’

‘Or not talking,’ Lucy sighed.Don’t get cross with Em.It’s not her fault.‘Your next mission, should you choose to accept it, is to use your matchmaking skills to get me five minutes alone with Mark. I need to know where I stand. I don’t know if he wants me back or not. I’m suspecting not.’

Don’t cry.She took a deep breath and counted to ten to fight back the tears. It would’ve been easier to deal with him being all lovey-dovey with Hannah than the current weird situation.

Em descended the ladder and hugged her. ‘It will all work out, I’m sure.’

‘It’s just I’ve been so lonely without him. And I don’t mean the lack of sex. I used to be self-sufficient emotionally, but he was such a good sounding board when I needed to talk. I know you are as well, but it’s not the same as having a partner.’

‘I know what you mean. It’s the same with Jack. Isn’t Harry any good?’

What was Em bringing Harry into this for? ‘Harry’s excellent on the business side of things, but that’s as far as it goes. I started to understand what a soulmate was for the first time in years when I was with Mark. I know we weren’t together for that long, but what is it they say? “When you know, you know.” I’d like that feeling back again.’

Lucy went back to the box of lights and picked up another set for Em to hang. ‘Sorry. I sound like a lovesick teenager. This is your special day. You shouldn’t be worrying about my love life.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ Em said. ‘I’ll text Jack to see if he can help.’

‘Mark!’

Mark was walking across the courtyard to Em and Jack’s flat. He froze. He knew that voice. The gods were not on his side today.

‘Caroline. Hello.’ He forced a smile. ‘What are you doing here?’ He hadn’t seen her for years and he’d wanted it to stay that way.

‘Same as you, I guess. Apparently, there’s some form of party going on.’ She laughed with that annoying squeak at the end that set his teeth on edge.

‘Yes, apparently.’

Caroline’s mother emerged from the passenger side of the Range Rover. ‘Darling, help me with my suitcase.’

‘Coming, Mummy.’ Caroline headed to the rear of the car.

‘Staying here tonight?’ She called to Mark as she opened the boot.

He couldn’t lie. It was obvious he would be stopping in his family home.

‘Yes.’

‘Catch you later then,’ she said. She gave him a wink as she headed towards the main house.

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