Page 78 of When We Were Young

‘Are you still dating Dylan’s friend?’ she asks.

Jesus, straight in with the personal questions.

‘Sort of. How about you?’ I deflect. ‘Are you seeing anyone?’

‘I have a date on Friday night with someone I met on Tinder.’

‘You’re on Tinder?’

‘You’re not?’

I shake my head.

‘What app do you use?’

‘I’ve never used a dating app.’

Magda blows out her cheeks. ‘How do you meet people?’

‘I don’t.’

She frowns. ‘How did you meet Dylan’s friend?’

‘I used to work at a primary school. His daughter goes there.’

‘You should go on Tinder.’

‘Ooh no!’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m not sure. I’ve never even considered it.’

‘We will set up your profile after dinner.’

I’ve had three red vodka drinks before the food’s ready. Magda has cooked Thai green curry. She lets Alfie eat in his room.

‘Did you consider an abortion?’ she says, as I fork a mouthful of curry in. I almost choke.

As I chew, she leans in and whispers, ‘Idid.’

‘You did?’

She nods. ‘That’s the reason I came to the UK. I went to the clinic. I sat in the waiting room.’

‘What happened?’

‘I had paid for it. I was sure it was the right choice. Then, suddenly, I was not sure. I walked out. I walked for hours. And when I got back to the place where I was staying, I knew I would have a different life. Not the life I had planned but it was the right decision for me.’

‘What about Alfie’s dad? Is he involved?’

She shakes her head. ‘I never told him I was pregnant.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because he was married.’

‘Did he have kids?’