nothing to say to you,’ Ethan says, rattled. ‘Get out of my way. I’m going to find Leena.’
‘What do you want with Leena?’
‘What do you think?’ Ethan snaps.
‘I’ll have a guess,’ Jackson says. ‘You still think you have a chance with her. You think Leena will come around and forgive you – you’re her blind spot, aren’t you, and you can get away with pretty much anything. You don’t see why now should be any different.’
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Jackson shrugs. ‘I hope you’re right about that. Good luck to you, mate, but I hope she tells you where to shove it.’ He turns to me. ‘Eileen, shall we?’
‘Let’s,’ I say, and we head on through the crowd, leaving Ethan behind.
‘So,’ Jackson says to me, ‘who do you think is going to find Leena first?’
I scoff. ‘I’m Eileen Cotton and she’s Eileen Cotton. I’ve lived her life and she’s lived mine.’ I tap the side of my head. ‘It’s a sixth sense, Jackson. You wouldn’t understand.’
‘No?’
‘No. It’s a complex bond, like the one between a—’
‘We seem to be heading to the gin bar,’ Jackson remarks.
‘Where would you be if you’d just found out your ex was at your friend’s engagement party? It was this or in front of the bathroom mirror, fixing her hair – ooh, doesn’t she look beautiful !’ I breathe, catching sight of her at the bar.
She’s wearing a long black dress that leaves her arms bare; there’s a striking silver bangle on her wrist, but that’s all the adornment she needs. Her hair is stunning – worn as it should be, loose and large and full of life.
I glance at Jackson. He’s staring at Leena. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs. You’d have to be a fool not to tell what that man is thinking.
‘Leena,’ Ethan calls out to our left, pushing through the crowd.
I curse under my breath. ‘The little weasel!’ I hiss, trying to shove Jackson forwards. ‘Quick, before he …’
Jackson holds his ground and shakes his head. ‘Not like this,’ he says.
I huff, but stay where I am. At the bar, Leena’s brushing Ethan off. Her cheeks are flushed – she’s getting up now, trying to walk away – towards us …
‘Look, Ethan,’ she says, spinning on her heels just a few feet away. ‘I gave you a free pass, didn’t I? I didn’t even know I’d done it, but you did. I decided you were the guy for me and that was it. Well, turns out that pass does expire, Ethan, and there is a line, and you fucking crossed it.’
‘Leena, listen to me—’
‘I don’t know what was worse! Sleeping with my arch-bloody-nemesis or telling me my grandmother was losing her mind! Do you know how messed up that was?’
‘I panicked,’ Ethan wheedles. ‘I didn’t mean—’
‘Do you know what? Do you know what? I’m almost pleased you slept with Ceci. There. I said it. I’m glad you cheated on me because thank God I came to my senses and realised you weren’t right for me at all. Not this me, not the me I am now, not any more. We’re done.’
And with that she turns to storm off and walks right into Jackson.
He catches her arm as she stumbles backwards. Their eyes meet. Her cheeks are flushed, his lips are parted. Around us the crowd shifts, closing Ethan from view, leaving a small quiet island just here. Just the two of them.
Oh, well, and me, I suppose.
‘Jackson?’ Leena says, baffled. She looks him up and down. ‘Oh, wow, you look …’
I breathe in, hand at my heart. Here it comes.
‘Weird,’ Leena finishes.
‘Weird?’ I blurt. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, girl!’
They both turn to me then.
‘Grandma?’ Leena looks between me and Jackson, then glances over her shoulder as if remembering Ethan. Her eyes narrow. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Nothing,’ I say quickly. ‘Jackson just fancied a trip to London, and so I thought, oh, there’s a party this evening and …’
Her eyes are narrowed to slits.
‘Oh, look,’ I say brightly, as a member of staff heads out of the storage room to the side of the bar. ‘Just come this way a minute.’ I grab Leena and Jackson by the hands and pull. Thankfully they follow me. I lead them into the storage room.
‘Wha—Grandma, where are we—’
I duck out and close the door behind them.
‘There,’ I say, brushing my hands down on my culottes. ‘Not many seventy-nine-year-olds who could be quite that nimble, if I do say so myself.’ I tap a nearby