phone. ‘All right, I understand, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.’
‘You should invite another girl.’
‘I don’t want to invite another girl, I want to invite you.’
‘But it doesn’t make sense to wait for—’
As always, his reply was cheerful but firm. ‘Penny, I’ve been waiting for you for over six years now. I can wait another day. You never know – miracles do happen. I’m not giving up that easily.’
She hung up, embarrassed by what Igor had said, which had made her blush a little, and noticed that Marcus was still watching her. He leaned on the table with one elbow, chin on hand, and fiddled with his cigarette, nervously flicking it against the Formica.
‘Hi,’ she said simply. She was sitting with her back against the wall, facing into the room, and couldn’t help but notice that the looks of all the other customers, without exception, were aimed at him. Smiles, elbow nudges, murmurs, salacious comments for sure. One chick was licking her yoghurt spoon slowly and suggestively. Penny wondered if Marcus had noticed, and what Francisca usually made of it: could she bear this weight of desire that exuded from all the strangers who looked at him, as if they wanted to strip him naked with their thoughts – and then with their teeth? But then she realised that Francisca no doubt attracted similar looks wherever she went, from any red-blooded male under the age of ninety. They were alike in that way – such a stunning couple.
‘You been to the hospital?’ Marcus asked, breaking the silence in a strange voice, as if the growl of a wolf lay barely concealed behind his attempt at kindness. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Yeah, more or less.’
‘I could have driven you. Just ask me next time.’
‘I wish I could say how kind you are, but the tone of your voice is scaring me.’
Marcus lit his cigarette, paying scant attention to the ‘No Smoking’ sign that shone in red letters like a traffic light on the wall right over his head.
‘Were you talking to Igor?’ he asked her between two inhalations of smoke, while Penny picked at the remains of her cheesecake.
‘Yeah, I was.’
‘I tried calling you all morning, but you never answered.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. My phone was on silent in the hospital and I didn’t hear you.’
‘But you heard Igor calling.’
Marcus leaned across the table. He was about to say something to her, and from the look on his face she knew it wouldn’t be nice, but Sherrie arrived at just the right moment and interrupted him.
‘My boy!’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m so happy when I see the pair of you together! But you need to put out that cigarette – you can’t smoke in here. Tell him, Penny. Smoking is bad for your health.’
‘I’m afraid if I told him that he’d smoke twice as much just to spite me,’ Penny said. ‘Listen, how much do I owe you for the cake?’
‘Nothing, baby girl, but can you guys do me a big favour? I got a little delivery from eBay. Could you drive it over to my place if I give you the keys? But be careful – it’s fragile and made of mirrored glass, and if you break it you’ll have seven years of bad luck!’
Marcus, the cigarette still lit between his lips, nodded slowly. While he was busy talking to Sherrie, he reached across the table to squeeze Penny by the arm to stop her from leaving, and his touch seemed to bring out the sun to warm Penny’s blood in spite of the rain.
Sherrie lived right by the sea. She’d ordered one of those huge disco balls, straight out of the Seventies, with glittering sequins and mirrors. Having warned them again not to break it, Sherrie looked apprehensive, like a mother who doesn’t know if her child will be safe.
During the car journey, the rain continued to fall in sheets. After a few moments, as if he had been holding in a question for far too long, Marcus asked, ‘So what did he want?’
‘Who?’
‘You know who. Igor.’
Penny shook her head imperceptibly and stared out the window. ‘Why are you so obsessed with him?’
He ignored her question, and his sharp look gleamed with anger. ‘Did he ask you out?’ he insisted.
‘Yup.’
‘When? Where?’
‘I don’t ask for reports on your every movement.’
‘Well, I’m asking for yours. What are you going to do?’
‘Nothing. He wanted to meet tomorrow night. I told him no.’
Marcus gripped the steering wheel more tightly. Penny