The One That Got Away by Lucy Dawson Read Free Book Online Page A

such a long time, but I didn’t like to intrude. I thought you’d talk if you wanted
     to – nothing’s worse than those insensitive types who say “So, when are we going to hear the patter of tiny feet?” every time
     you see them!
I
thought you and Dan,’ she lifted her little boy up again and began to jiggle him about, trying to get him to use his legs,
     ‘were one of the most sorted, together couples I knew. I did, didn’t I? Yes I did!’ She beamed at her son who regarded her
     thoughtfully and then poked her in the eye with the half-gummed breadstick. ‘Whenever you brought Dan along to work dos and
     stuff, you both seemed so in sync … like …’ she blew a raspberry on his tummy, ‘I don’t know, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.’
    ‘Pre him dying I hope?’
    ‘Paul Newman
died
?’ Her jaw fell open. ‘
Nooo
! When was that?’
    ‘About a year ago.’
    ‘Oh how sad. I liked him. That’s the problem whenyou have kids,’ she sighed heavily. ‘You just don’t have time to do stuff like sit around and read the papers any more.’
    I bit my tongue. Thank God I’d scrambled like crazy all morning at home with unending emails and half a presentation just
     to make dashing over to hers possible. It had absolutely been worth it …
    ‘So?’ she said and waited.
    ‘So what?’ I tried to play dumb so she’d have to spell it out, but she had the hide of a rhino and wasn’t the least bit embarrassed.
    ‘Are you having problems?’ She looked at me sympathetically. ‘Going through a rough patch?’
    ‘No. We’re very happy.’ ‘Well, IS everything all right medically then?’ she probed further.
    ‘Yes!’
    ‘But …’
    ‘But nothing, I do want them, but I really like just spending time with Dan, we’re in a rented place right now, work’s tough
     and—’
    ‘Moll, I’m going to stop you right there,’ she interrupted with a deadpan look. ‘There is
never
a good time, believe me. Dan’s got the right idea,’ she said, performing an astounding U-turn. ‘Throw caution to the wind;
     just do it.’
    ‘He wasn’t
doing
anything!’ I said, becoming exasperated. ‘We will have them, I just want to have a bit longer as we are at the moment, that’s
     all. It’s probably a bitselfish of me but …’ I shrugged and looked up at her. She had her eyebrow raised.
    ‘Well, not really, if that’s what you want,’ she said eventu ally, clearly thinking I was very selfish indeed. ‘Actually,
     I’m not that surprised – I mean, you don’t exactly hide your light under a bushel, do you? Hmmmm,’ she continued disapprovingly,
     lifting her son up and sniffing him. ‘Has someone just done something a bit stinky?’
    Yes, frankly, they had. I resisted the temptation to lean over, grab the breadstick and beat her with it. What did she mean
     by that? I was selfish
and
bolshy?
    ‘Come and talk to me while I hose this one down. I think it’s gone all up his back …’ She stood up and carried her little
     boy out as I set my coffee cup down carefully on the table.
    ‘So tell me then,’ she mused loudly from the other room. ‘When
do
you think you’ll fancy getting all grown-up on us?’
    My mouth fell open with astonishment and I mutinously booted a soft toy duck up the bum as I got to my feet. I didn’t want
     to tell her
anything
. Except that I’d decided I didn’t like her any more. Luckily my phone rang and, gratefully, I answered it.
    ‘Sorry, Anita,’ I said, appearing in the bathroom moments later as she looked up from the changing mat, ‘but that was Pearce,
     he needs some background info for a meeting. I better get going.’
    ‘Oh?’ her voice became flirty. ‘And how is the lovely Pearce?’
    ‘Same old. Busy having his pick of the women. As I’m sure you remember,’ I added tartly, before I could stop myself.
    She wasn’t remotely abashed though. ‘Do I ever … if I wasn’t married and with this one …’ She raised an eyebrow and smirked.
     ‘Say