horror anyway. Swallowing with difficulty, she said, ‘Then what?’
‘Actually, I was quite proud of myself.’ Yasmin’s cheeks dimpled. ‘I threw a can of super strength hair spray at him. I’m usually rubbish at throwing, my friends say I throw darts like harpoons. But I got him on the forehead. It was one of those brilliant moments when you wish there’d been someone there to video it. I’d love to have put it on YouTube.’
She appeared to be taking it incredibly well. Far better than Roo, whose heart was going twenty-six to the dozen.
‘So you’ve kicked him out of the house?’
‘No, I didn’t want to stay there. Me and Ben are back at my mum’s.’ Yasmin’s dimples deepened again. ‘It’s lovely.’
‘You don’t seem that upset.’
‘Truthfully? I’m not. Being married to Niall was like being a single mother anyway. He never made any effort. He’s selfish. I ended up doing everything. I’ll let you into a secret.’ Yasmin lowered her voice as another client headed past on her way to the tanning room. ‘I’m pretty sure this one wasn’t the first. I think he’s had other affairs.’
For a terrifying second, Roo felt the backs of her eyes prickle with tears. Stop it, stop it, don’t you dare do that… mentally she ordered the tears to sink back in.
‘You do?’
‘Oh yes. Anyway, never mind. I’ve only myself to blame. Niall was never what you’d call good husband material. I kidded myself we’d be OK.’ Absently Yasmin smoothed more aloe vera gel on to Roo’s eyebrows. ‘My friends tried to warn me, but I wouldn’t listen. It’s funny, isn’t it? I was so sure I could change him. I thought loving him would be enough. But it wasn’t. And he didn’t want to change. Why would he, when he could carry on having his cake and eating it and helping himself to chocolate biscuits too?’
Roo swallowed. She’d been one of the chocolate biscuits.
‘So… is he still seeing this girl?’ she ventured. ‘The ex-work colleague?’
‘No idea. He says not. But that’s the thing with Niall; he says lots of things. I just don’t listen anymore. There, the redness is fading. Do you want to sit up?’
Roo did as she was told. Was Yasmin putting on a brave front or was she genuinely taking the breakup in her stride?
‘Can I ask you something?’ said Yasmin.
The ground tilted. Oh God, what now?
‘Go on.’
‘The first time you came here, you had a ton of makeup on. But since then, you haven’t worn any at all. It’s not a criticism,’ Yasmin said hastily. ‘You’re still really pretty. I just wondered why you’d stopped, that’s all.’
At last, she could be honest.
‘I wanted a change. To be a different person.’ Roo stood up, followed her across to the pay desk, and took out her purse. ‘I didn’t like what I’d become. And makeup was my armor. I used to spend a fortune on eye shadows and mascaras… it was crazy. So I decided to give them all up and go back to being just me.’
‘Wow, good for you. Gosh, thanks.’ Yasmin’s eyes widened as Roo handed her the money for the threading plus a twenty pound tip. ‘Are you sure?’
It was guilt money, pure and simple. But it made her feel better; it was one of her prime reasons for coming here. And she had a lot more giving to do yet.
‘Absolutely,’ said Roo.
***
Zack was in Monte Carlo. Ellie had just received a text from him: ‘Helicopter fantastic. The only way to travel. Thanks for thinking of it. All OK at the office? Z.’
Smiling to herself, she pictured him in the helicopter, circling Monte Carlo, as excited as a small boy as he picked out the multimillion-pound yachts bobbing in the glittering aquamarine water of the harbor.
Ellie texted back: ‘Have sold your company and run off to Barbados with the proceeds. Byeeeee…’
She pressed Send, then began a second text: ‘OK, maybe I haven’t. Knew you’d love helicopter. No need for thanks, I am your brilliant PA. All fine this end. Have fun!’
As she was sending it, the post clattered through the letter box out in the hall. Ellie went to pick it up. Anything business, she opened and dealt with if necessary. Anything that looked personal, she left for Zack. But among today’s delivery was a postcard. On the front was a picture of boxing kangaroos. The lady kangaroo, complete with lipstick and pinny, was raising her front legs in victory. The man kangaroo, clutching a can of beer and a