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‘That’s not what I heard.’

‘Bloody Melanie - didn’t you think it would have been better to ask me? Anyway, it’s only been two months. How serious could it be?’

‘I seem to remember that we were pretty serious after two months.’

‘Hmm, I suppose that’s true. But take my word for it - it’s not serious. So what happened? Melanie says he was fooling around all that time.’

‘With the same woman too. I met her, would you believe? But the irony is that he had ended it…just at the time we…so I wasn’t imagining that. It’s just that it went on so long. I can’t forgive him that.’

‘So you’re not going back?’

‘The thing is he’s so desperate, it’s pathetic. At first Mum wanted to kill him but now even she is saying maybe I should give him another chance…for Isabel and all…as I said it’s complicated. But no, I’ve decided I can’t do it any more. And now I’ve found there is something I need to talk to you about - soonish if possible. No obligations - just a chat - but it’s not something I can talk about on the phone. Are you free this Saturday?’

‘No sorry, we’re going to the races. It has to be soon, does it?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m out tomorrow night too, but I could see you this evening - just for a drink after work, if you’d like.’

‘Umm, I think I should be able to manage that but not before six-thirty or so. I’d like to get Issy settled down before I head out. We’re still staying with my parents at the moment. Where do you want to meet?’

‘Is the Exchange in Balmain okay?’

‘Okay, six-thirty then. I’ll only call you if there’s a problem.’

It’s now mid-March and we’ve been back about seven weeks. The conversation with Alex happened only two days ago, on a Thursday morning. That evening I met him at the pub as planned. It’s been an unseasonably cool March and light rain had been falling all day. I was pleased as it gave me the chance to wear my new dove-grey trench coat over a black jersey shift dress. I’d picked up the coat for a song in Hong Kong and it was my favourite new purchase. I’ve always fancied the secret agent look so I pulled the collar up and pretended I was on an assignation. I suppose I was in a way.

I was on time, Alex a little late. I ordered a drink and perched on a bar stool near a window, feeling self-conscious the way I always do when I’m alone in a pub. It was quite unlike Alex to be late and until that moment it hadn’t occurred to me that he might stand me up, but before I could work myself into a proper panic he called to say he’d been caught in traffic and was five minutes away.

He walked through the door a few minutes later, wearing my favourite suit of his, a charcoal pinstripe, his hair damp and heavy from the rain. He looked unspeakably gorgeous and my stomach contracted in a sad little mix of want and regret at the sight of him.

I’d vowed to myself that I would remember everything, but even in our short time apart I’d forgotten how beautiful he was.

‘Hi,’ he said. ‘Mind if I get a beer first? Bad day. You okay for a drink?’

‘I’m fine.’

I was not the only one who noticed him. Three young blondes, so similar looking they might have been cloned, started tittering amongst themselves when they saw him approach the bar. At the urging of the others, one of them spoke to him.

He walked back to me, beer in hand.

‘I see you have a fan club,’ I said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Those girls.’

‘No, she only wanted to know what the time was.’

‘Well seeing both her friends are wearing watches, I think she might have had other ideas.’

He glanced around and said, ‘Oh…you’d think I’d have learnt by now. This is all a bit strange, isn’t it? You’re looking good by the way.’

‘Thanks.’

‘And you’ve got another job. I hear they are a good company to work for.’

‘It’s just a maternity leave position but it’s perfect for now. I still need to decide what I want to do long term. I’m looking after an antidepressant, which makes a change from limp willies I suppose and a lot more relevant to my personal situation.’

‘You’re not depressed, are you?’

‘Considering