Page 84 of Wife After Wife
“You want us to move in together already?”
“Would you rather go on sharing with Megan and Charles? Don’t you feel like a gooseberry?”
She’d miss those two. But she wouldn’t miss the sound of Megan’s moans in the night, when Ana had been so full of longing for Harry.
“I wonder when they’ll get married?” she said. “I suppose Charles’s divorce will take a while.”
“Cassandra will be only too glad to divest herself of the negative energy she hasn’t purged via coffee enemas, or whatever it is they offer at Welshness.”
“At what?”
“Her retreat in Wales, for losers in leather sandals. I’m worried they’ll turn Maria into a witch.”
“I thought Katie was Catholic. How does the New Age stuff fit in with her beliefs?”
“God only knows,” said Harry.
“Funny.”
“I don’t care what Katie does. I just don’t want Maria to turn against me.”
“I might be her stepmother, one day.”
“Jumping the gun, aren’t you? We’ve got to make it through years of living in sin first.”
“Sounds delicious. Lovely, lovely sin.”
“Indeed. So, you want to come live in sin with me, then?”
“I do.”
•••
On Monday, as Ana made her way to her desk, heads swiveled, some surreptitiously; others, like Terri’s, overtly.
Nate was the first to drop by. “Good party, wasn’t it?”
“Yes... and yes.”
“What’s the second yes for?”
“Yes I confirm I’m having a proper thing with Harry.”
“That wasn’t my actual question, but thanks for telling me.”
Why was he looking uncomfortable? He’d seen them together at the party.
He pulled up a chair. Why was he pulling up a chair?
“Ana. A bit awkward, but—”
“What is it, Nate?” She regarded him coolly.
“You know I’ve taken a personal interest in your career. You’re the best designer I’ve ever worked with.”
So far, so warm glow.
“Don’t blow it by shagging the boss. A married man with a kid.”
