Ellie began unwrapping the flowers. ‘Emotional. Paula cried buckets. Everyone kept reminiscing about the past. They’re worried about how I’m going to cope without them. I just felt guilty because it was my decision to leave and I’m really looking forward to the new job.’ She had already told Tony this over the phone, but it bore repeating. ‘He still doesn’t know about Jamie, by the way. I’m not going to tell him.’
‘That’s fine.’ Tony nodded. ‘Don’t look so worried. Whatever’s easiest for you.’
He made coffee while she arranged the flowers in a bowl. Before heading out to meet the film producers, he told her about the project. ‘They’re pitching it as Lock, Stock meets Gavin and Stacey. They want me to play a lovable gangster who runs a line dancing club, keeps Chihuahuas, and has people shot if they annoy him.’
‘I’d watch that.’ Ellie snipped a couple of inches off the stem of a yellow gerbera. ‘So are you definitely going to do it?’
‘Maybe. We’d be on location in London, Cardiff, and Reykjavík. We’ll see.’ He added sugar to his coffee and stirred. ‘By the way, I had an email from Todd the other day. He’s living back here now.’
She concentrated on the flowers. ‘I know. He emailed me too.’
‘Have you seen him?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Don’t know.’ Ellie shrugged and snipped another stem. ‘Just haven’t.’
‘Do you hate him?’
‘Of course I don’t hate him!’
Tony backed off. ‘OK, no pressure. Just asking. So when am I going to meet this new friend of yours, then? The one who lives across the street?’
‘Whenever she can tear herself away from her new man. Or when he’s otherwise occupied.’ Unable to hide her disapproval, she added, ‘With his wife and baby.’
Tony said drily, ‘Oh dear.’
Damn, what was she saying? Ellie bit her tongue; it was common knowledge that Tony had been unfaithful while he’d been married to Jamie’s mother. Hastily she said, ‘Roo’s not had much luck with men. I don’t want to see her get hurt, that’s all.’
‘What’s he like?’
‘No idea. Fantastic, according to Roo. Who knows?’ The doorbell went and she felt a rush of relief; no more foot-in-mouth moments, no more talk of Todd. ‘There you go, that’ll be your car.’
***
At lunchtime on Saturday, Ellie caught the tube to Camden then headed along Parkway in the sunshine. Before leaving the flat earlier this morning to pay a visit to his tailor, Tony had said, ‘By the way, I’ve booked us a table at York and Albany. One o’clock.’ And when she’d protested that there was no need, she could rustle up something to eat here, he had shaken his head. ‘If I was staying in a hotel, we’d be meeting up somewhere decent for lunch, wouldn’t we? So let’s carry on doing that.’ Straight-faced, he’d added, ‘Not that your fried eggs on toast aren’t exquisite.’
He had a point. Tony enjoyed fine food and they both looked forward to eating out. As Ellie reached the restaurant, her stomach rumbled. She was ten minutes early, but maybe Tony was already here.
He wasn’t, yet. She made her way downstairs to the Ladies’, faffed about with her hair for a bit, and redid her lip gloss.
Heading back up the stairs, she saw a new arrival sitting at a table by the window. Her scalp prickled and her mouth went dry. Oh God, no. At that moment, alerted by the sound of her heels on the wooden floor, Todd turned to see why the footsteps had so abruptly stopped.
From the expression on his face it was clear he’d had no idea either. He was as shocked as she was. He looked older, more grown up. And he was wearing a dark green shirt and navy trousers that didn’t quite go. Gathering herself, Ellie loosened her hold on the banister rail and approached him.
‘Hello, Todd.’ Did she look older too?
‘Hi, Ellie.’ He rose awkwardly to his feet. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’
‘Well, I’m guessing this isn’t a coincidence. Tony asked me to meet him for lunch.’
Todd was evidently still wondering if he should try and give her a hug. ‘He asked me as well.’
Trust Tony to take matters into his own hands. And he wasn’t even here yet. Taking out her phone, Ellie called his number.
‘Hi, sweetheart. Is he there?’
‘Yes. Are you joining us?’
‘Ellie, just have lunch with him. Will you do that for me? And don’t worry about the bill.’ Tony’s voice was soothing. ‘All taken care of.’