call peaceful.’ Zack could feel himself smiling; it was the effect even thinking of his noisy, hyperactive, extended family had on him. ‘And there are dogs too. You should see us when we hit the beach.’
‘I hope you hand out earplugs to all the poor people trying to read their Salman Rushdie books in peace.’
‘Nobody reads Salman Rushdie on Fistral Beach, that’s the joy of it. We’re all oiks together.’
‘I could have seen you there.’ Ellie was shaking her head, marveling at the idea. ‘We could have been there at the same time. Isn’t it weird to think that? You might have thrown our ball back to us when it landed in the middle of your sand castle.’
‘I might have kicked sand over your picnic.’ Zack didn’t believe this. The first time he’d seen her outside the Ivy that day, his reaction had been so intense he was pretty certain their paths had never crossed before. But the idea that they could have been in such close proximity was still a heady one. OK, not heady, because back then she would have been with her husband, and he would more than likely have had some girlfriend or other in tow. Still, as she’d pointed out, it was a surreal thought.
As if reading his mind, Ellie said, ‘I’ve got loads of photos at home of us down there. Wouldn’t it be incredible if your family was in the background?’
They were almost home now, heading along Albany Street; in a couple of minutes they’d be back in Primrose Hill. Zack wasn’t feeling remotely casual but thank God it came out that way. ‘I don’t know what Jamie looked like.’
Ellie smiled. ‘He was lovely. I can show you photos.’
‘I’d like to see them.’ Casual, relaxed, no pressure.
‘You mean tomorrow? Or tonight? Because you can come back now if you want. I could get the albums out, show him to you. You can see what he was like.’
‘Would that be difficult? I don’t want you to feel pressurized.’
‘I just invited you, didn’t I?’ Her face softened. ‘I love talking about Jamie, telling other people about him. He was my husband, he existed, I was so proud to be married to him. Just because he isn’t here anymore doesn’t mean pressing a delete button and forgetting he was ever here.’
God, she was beautiful.
‘If you’re sure,’ said Zack.
Ellie nodded. ‘But you have to promise me one thing. When you see him, no laughing at his skinny legs.’
Chapter 32
It was the first time he’d visited her flat. Well, Tony Weston’s flat. Ellie had already explained that Tony was in LA. She apologized for the Lindor truffle wrappers on the coffee table, the empty Coke can on the arm of the sofa, and the assorted shoes she’d tried on and discarded before coming out tonight. Having kicked off her emerald-green stilettos and made coffee, she pointed him towards the sofa and handed him a small gray leather photo album.
‘Here you are. No jokes about my hair either.’
The faint scent of her perfume still hung in the air. He didn’t even know what it was. Zack turned the pages of the album and took in every detail in the photographs. This had been her life. Ellie and Jamie at someone else’s wedding. The two of them dancing at a party. Jamie jumping into a swimming pool, Jamie lying on a rug with a beer can precariously balanced on his bare chest, Ellie and Jamie sitting outside a sunny restaurant with Tony Weston, the three of them radiating health and fun and happiness.
Jamie had surfer-blond hair, an open, friendly face, and a killer smile.
‘He looks pretty cool.’ What else could he say? Could he ask her if she liked guys with dark hair too?
‘That’s only because you haven’t seen his legs yet.’ Ellie tucked her hair behind her ears. ‘By the way, I’m allowed to make fun of them. You’re not.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ Zack didn’t tell her about his knees; attempting to compete with a dead man for oddities in the leg department would be just cheap. ‘Can I ask one thing, though?’
‘Go ahead.’ She leaned across the arm of the sofa to see which picture he was pointing to.
‘Who’s the teenage boy in the skirt?’
‘Hey! What did I tell you? No teasing.’ Ellie made a grab for the album. ‘The hairdresser said having it short would suit me.’
Zack grinned. ‘Sorry. It did suit you. I just think having your hair longer suits you more.’