Page 10 of The First Mistake

‘Yes, but her teacher had a word with me this morning about a falling-out they had yesterday. I just want to make sure there’s not something more going on.’

‘Good idea,’ he says as he pops an olive in his mouth and pulls me towards him. I immediately stiffen as I picture David doing the same thing. ‘And how areyou?’

‘I’m okay.’

‘You can’t go getting yourself in the state you were in earlier, it’s not good for you.’ He doesn’t know the half of it. ‘The children are going to hurt themselves, they’re going to have arguments with their friends, they’ll fall out and make up again. That’s all part of growing up.’

I smile tightly. ‘I know, but it’s just ...’

‘I understand, but you’ve got to learn to relax. Nothing’s going to happen to them.’

‘You can’t promise me that,’ I say, looking at him intently.

‘Nobody can, but that’s life. I just want you to enjoy yours.’

I pull away and take a long slug of my wine. I can feel his eyes boring into me.

‘So, what were you doing at Temple Homes today?’ he says.

I busy myself with looking for a colander to strain the rice I’ve cooked. ‘A new client,’ I say, far too abruptly. ‘They need some interior solutions.’

‘Isn’t that David Phillips’s company?’ he asks casually.

‘Mmm,’ I say, bending down to find a chopping board that I don’t need.

‘Wasn’t he your first boyfriend?’ It sounds like he’s talking through a smile, but I’m too nervous to look.

‘Er, yeah,’ I say, not sure whether I feel guilty about meeting him, dressing for the occasion, or the memory of his hands on my body, even though they weren’t invited.

‘Was ithimyou met?’

I nod.

‘That must have been a bit weird,’ he says, half laughing. ‘How did that go?’

I wonder whether I should tell him what happened, knowing that if I do, he is more than likely to go straight round there. I think better of it and let David off the hook, at least for the time being.

‘It was fine,’ I say. ‘It was a long time ago.’

‘So, no funny feelings in your tummy,’ he asks, teasingly.

‘Not on my part,’ I say honestly. ‘He’s old, bald and divorced, not an attractive proposition.’

‘I bet he took one look at you and rued the day he let you go.’

I throw him a withering look.

‘I mean it! I bet he’s thinking of you right now. He’s probably lying in his single bed, remembering all the things you used to do, pretending he’s doing them to you all over again.’

I shiver involuntarily. That’s too close to the truth to be funny.

‘Do you think we’ll get his business?’ he asks. ‘It might be a nice little earner on the side. Something that can run alongside the Japan project.’

‘I don’t know if it’s something we should do,’ I say. ‘We’ll have our hands pretty full with Japan, if we get it.’ I put the chopping board back. ‘So, come on, tell me, how did it go?’

‘Well,’ he starts, unable to keep the smile from his face, ‘I think it’s all looking pretty good.’

‘So, they liked what you showed them?’

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