Page 36 of The Plot Twist

‘Liam? No. I mean, he knows Gigi is a problem, and I suspect he realises that me and Angie aren’t getting along as well as we used to. But he’s busy. Running his business. Living his life.’

‘Does he have a family? Is he married?’ Allie asked.

‘No, he’s been single for a while. Had a couple of bad experiences, I think. Not that he told us much about it, but he seems to have closed himself off from meeting someone. Which is something else for me and Angie to worry about.’

Allie bristled. ‘You know, it might sound crazy to you, Martin, but people can be happily single. Perfectly fulfilled. Happy on their own.’

‘Who are you trying to persuade?’ Martin asked dryly. ‘You or me?’

Allie harrumphed. ‘I’m justsayingthat maybe he’s concentrating on running his business at the moment, making that a success.’ She tried not to dwell on the fact that the disaster zone that was her personal life was not resulting in a stellar professional outlook right now. ‘Maybe he’s OK being single. I mean I am,’ she said somewhat defensively.

‘Are you?’ Martin queried.

‘Yes!’ protested Allie, ‘I’m definitely better off without my ex.’

‘No, that’s not what I meant. I meantareyou single.’

Allie peered at Martin. ‘Weird and somewhat personal question, Martin.’

Martin rolled his eyes and pointed at her laptop. ‘I couldn’t help noticing the other document you had up on there just now. Looks like you’ve started writing again… Looked like it might be personal too…’

Allie flushed a bright crimson remembering some of the notes she had been hastily scribbling that morning and berated herself for not minimising the page before she had let Martin look at her laptop. ‘It’s just, just some notes I’ve been writing, not personal no…’ she floundered. ‘I mean, well, look, there is this guy I like. But it’s nothing really … just, well … it’s kind of inspiring.’

Martin bit back a smile.

‘What?!’ she protested.

‘Nothing, nothing. It’s nice, that’s all. And great that you’ve met someone who’s inspiring you to write again. I’d hate to think you were totally reliant on my outdated version of romance for your book.’

‘You don’t think it’s bad?’

‘Bad? Why would it be bad?’

‘I just thought, maybe I’m using him. To inspire me?’

Martin looked at her curiously. ‘Are you single? Is he single? Are you both consenting adults? Then it’s fine.’

Allie felt surprisingly reassured by Martin’s pragmatic approach. He was right, she and Will were both consenting adults. She liked him, she thought he liked her. She needed to stop overthinking things, enjoy it and get some words written.

‘Anyway, I won’t embarrass you any more. Sounds like Liam might have started seeing someone as well. Yesterday I asked him if he wanted to meet for a pint and he said he was busy. I got the impression he was meeting a girl. Sorry,’ Martin stopped himself, ‘a young lady.’

Allie stifled a giggle. She could just imagine Martin describing his son’s girlfriend as a ‘lovely young lady’. And she wondered what the young lady would make of Martin, of his tweed jackets and lost glasses. If it were her she would be in awe of such an amazing writer, even if he was at the end of his career. But she knew that not everyone was as fascinated by writers as she was. She sighed, thinking how lucky this girl was and that she might not even realise it.

‘Well I’m pleased for him if he has met someone. Maybe that will give you and Angie one less thing to worry about. But on that note, we need to work out what you’re going to spend the next few days doing about your marriage, how you’re going to fix it and if you’re going to give me enough material to write my next book.’

‘Alright. So what should I do?’

‘You said you’re taking her to your son’s restaurant?’ Martin nodded. ‘Is that special enough?’ Allie squinted at him. ‘You’re not getting this for free?’

‘No, not at all!’ Martin protested. ‘Honestly. Liam is barely involved in the restaurant side.’ Allie continued to give Martin a hard stare. ‘Cross my heart,’ he said, which made Allie laugh.

‘OK,’ she replied still chuckling. ‘But make sure there’s champagne.’

‘Angie doesn’t like champagne.’

‘Martin!’ snapped Allie. ‘You know what I mean. Make sure it’s special.’ Martin nodded meekly. ‘And then report back to me, OK? I’ll think of somewhere fabulous and inspirational for our next meeting.’

‘I’m not sure whether you’re using this young man you’re seeing, but sometimes I feel like you’re just using me,’ Martin said, back to his morose self.

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