a full-time artist?’
‘I had,’ he nodded, ‘but Erica only listened to what she wanted to hear and she said my plan to make a living from my sculptures was just a phase.’
‘What on earth made you fall in love with her?’ I frowned. ‘It doesn’t sound to me as though you had anything in common at all.’
‘I wasn’t in love with her,’ he quickly said. ‘I know that now.’
‘So, what attracted you to her then? What made you want to marry her? She must have had something going for her if you were prepared to enter into a life-long commitment.’
Mine and Peter’s relationship had been all about business and work connections, but clearly that wasn’t the case for Finn and Erica.
‘If I’m being completely honest,’ he said, ducking his head, ‘then I have to admit that it was one-upmanship. Having someone in my life that someone else wanted. Someone who I truly believed had picked me over them.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘Zak,’ he said, letting out a long breath. ‘It was the way Erica spoke to Zak which turned me on to her.’
As soon as he said those words, it all became clear.
‘She was always putting him down and shrugging his attention off in favour of mine. For the first time in my life I had something that he wanted, something he couldn’t take away from me. That was what I built the foundation of our relationship on.’
‘I see.’
‘I know it wasn’t healthy and I know how awful that makes me sound,’ Finn carried on, ‘but that’s the way it was. I’m just being honest with you.’
‘Believe me,’ I quickly told him, ‘I’m not judging you. Peter and I hardly had the right foundations to build a romantic relationship on, did we?’
‘I suppose not.’
‘So, what happened next?’
‘Well, almost before I knew it, I had proposed and the date was set. Zak tried to warn me off but I ignored him, assuming he was jealous. However, the night before the wedding I did have a taste of what was to come, even though I didn’t see it. Erica and I argued again about my plans to leave the business.’
‘She still couldn’t accept your decision?’
‘Not to begin with, but before she left the room, she apologised for not taking me seriously, which was a shock because she never said sorry for anything, and then she promised to do whatever she could to make me happy.’
‘And then the next day, she left you at the altar,’ I said, shaking my head.
‘Exactly,’ said Finn, his tone suddenly lighter. ‘So, she did come good in the end.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking about it more rationally recently, and she did fulfil her promise, didn’t she? I might have felt like the biggest fool standing there waiting for a bride who was never going to arrive, but at the end of the day, she had done whatever it took to make me happy. She didn’t marry me.’
That had to be the most positive spin I had ever heard anyone put on anything.
‘I suppose…’
‘And now,’ Finn said, making both Nell and I jump as he stood up and rushed from the room, ‘I want to celebrate.’
He quickly reappeared, carrying a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket and two flutes.
‘Where did you spring that from?’ I gasped, as he popped the cork.
‘I brought it over this afternoon and hid it in the cupboard under the stairs,’ he grinned. ‘Are you using that cupboard by the way? It’s full of stuff.’
‘I am,’ I told him proudly. ‘I think I’ve finally conquered my claustrophobia demons, or some of them anyway.’
I’d still made sure the door was properly propped open before I stacked my bits and pieces inside.
‘But never mind that now,’ I said, shaking my head, ‘you were saying about the champagne.’
‘I’ve been saving it for the perfect moment.’
‘And this is it, is it?’ I laughed. ‘What exactly are we toasting?’
We clinked glasses and he looked at me intently.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘I’d like to raise a glass to Erica.’
I raised my eyebrows, which made him laugh.
‘Because,’ he hastily explained, ‘had she not left me, I wouldn’t have found out that Prosperous Place, or you, existed and that would have been a tragedy. Erica’s desertion helped me find the courage to become the man I am today, and I’m very grateful for that.’
‘When you put it like that,’ I laughed again, ‘I feel I should be the one making that toast myself.’
‘I thought you might want to raise a