work and look after a baby and run a household while your husband does bugger all can have that effect.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘So you keep saying.’
‘I should have chucked him the moment I found out he was married. I’m a bad person.’ Roo’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m doing my best to make up for it, I promise.’
‘Oh God, please don’t cry! I didn’t mean to upset you.’ Yasmin hastily shoved a paper napkin at her. ‘Listen, you heard me when Niall came in today. I don’t want him back! I’m better off without him. If he’s still seeing Vivica now, you can bet he’ll be chasing some other piece of skirt by Christmas. I don’t think one woman will ever be enough. He’ll always be on the hunt for the next adrenaline rush.’
The paper napkin was scratchy. Roo blotted the tears and willed herself to get a grip. ‘I think you’re right. But I’m still sorry. And I’ll never ever do it again.’
‘How did you find out about Vivica?’
‘I read a text from her on his phone while he was in the bathroom.’
Yasmin shook her head and tut-tutted. ‘Basic schoolboy error. He won’t be doing that again in a hurry.’
‘I thought you were going to whisk the towel off my face when he was in the salon.’
‘It did occur to me. But then Niall would just blame you for wrecking his marriage. No’—Yasmin smiled briefly—‘I prefer it this way. It’s like a bit of one-upmanship on my part. And I want you to carry on coming to the salon.’ She checked her watch. ‘In fact, we could head back there if you want. I can give you that pedicure.’
Roo checked her watch. One fifteen. ‘I can’t. I have to start my shift at two.’
‘This is what we haven’t been able to work out.’ Yasmin looked puzzled. ‘You’re Daisy Deeva. Why are you working in a charity shop?’
‘I told you. I’m trying to become a better person. I’m making up for all the bad things I’ve done.’
‘Seriously?’ A thought occurred to Yasmin. ‘Is that why…? No, sorry, doesn’t matter.’
‘Is that why what?’
‘The makeup thing. I just wondered.’
Roo nodded. ‘I gave it all away. And my good clothes.’
‘My God.’
Speaking of God… ‘And I’ve been to church. Twice.’ She’d stopped after the second visit when a bossy woman had told her off for click-clacking in her high heels across the echoey flagstoned floor.
‘Crikey.’ Yasmin looked suitably impressed. ‘All because of Niall.’
‘Not all. There was something else too. I nearly kissed Ellie’s boyfriend.’ There, she’d said it. Now Yasmin knew everything, every last bit of bad stuff.
Yasmin’s eyes widened. ‘Does she know?’
Roo nodded wearily. ‘Oh yes. I told her.’
‘Did she go crazy?’
‘No, she was relieved.’ Oh God, the tears were back. ‘She’d been wondering how to break up with him. But that’s beside the point; I didn’t know that at the time. And I still nearly did it.’
‘OK, don’t be offended by this.’ Ready to leave now, Yasmin reached for her pale blue leather bag. ‘But when I do eventually find myself another man, I probably won’t introduce him to you.’
Yet another wave of shame engulfed Roo. ‘I wouldn’t do anything, I swear I wouldn’t. This is what I’m trying to say.’ She was desperate to explain before Yasmin left. ‘I’ll do anything, anything I can to make it up to you—’
‘Roo.’ Yasmin stopped her in her babbling tracks. ‘Calm down. It was meant to be a joke.’
Chapter 47
Little Venice. The sun was blazing down out of a cloudless blue sky, glittering on the surface of the water and making Ellie wish she hadn’t sat on her sunglasses last night.
She’d walked from Camden Lock along the Regent’s Canal. Now here she was at last, at the intersection where it met the Grand Union Canal and Paddington Basin. Brightly colored narrow boats bobbed up and down, ducks swam between them with insouciance, and people were sitting out on their decks, drinking wine. It was a beautiful afternoon and the towpaths were busy with tourists and locals enjoying the unexpectedly good weather. Weeping willows blurred the outlines of the white stucco Nash houses beyond them. Shading her eyes, Ellie surveyed the scene and scanned the opposite bank.
There she was, wearing a flowing emerald-green dress and with her easel set up on the towpath. Ellie made her way to the blue iron bridge and headed across it. Would meeting Martha be strange? Would it be awkward? Would they struggle to find things to talk about?