‘And you’re sure there wasn’t a hint of … you know.The old magic between you?Because seriously, I don’t want you to risk being upset again …’
‘There was absolutely no old magic!’I protest.And I mean it.The magic was in the hope.And that hope is long gone.
Katie insists on cooking dinner, and even though it’s a Monday, Jeanne opens a bottle of wine ‘to toast your musical adventure’.It started raining just after I got home and now the beautifully designed kitchen feels very cosy.I twirl more bucatini onto my fork.
‘You know, this house is even nicer than Tadhg’s fancy Georgian gaff,’ I say.
‘I know we can’t just arrange to meet him in a local pub or anything,’ says Katie.‘But do you think … Could we invite him over some evening?Would that be inappropriate?’
A week ago the idea of Tadhg Hennessy calling over to Katie and Jeanne’s Edwardian terrace would have been laughable.Unthinkable.But now … maybe?Yes, I’d feel a bit odd asking him.But I think about how well he and Katie got on back in the day.I’ve always felt bad that my and Tadhg’s bust-up torpedoed that friendship.I owe this to Katie.
‘I don’t think it’d be inappropriate,’ I say.
‘Of course not,’ says Jeanne.‘There you go.Invite him!’
‘But will it be weird for you?’Katie asks me.
‘I mean, this whole thing is weird,’ I say truthfully.‘But actually, maybe all of us hanging out together rather than it just being him and me alone in a studio would make it … slightly less weird.’
‘Excellent,’ says Katie cheerfully.‘Check if he’s free on Saturday.I want to see him ASAP in case the two of you have another fight and I don’t get another chance for twenty years.’
I throw her a look but I say, ‘I’ll ask.And thanks, both of you.For everything.’
‘No need to say thanks.’Jeanne waves a hand dismissively.‘We’re now living vicariously through you!It’s like we’re all having a little adventure.’
I laugh.‘Yeah, right.’
‘Today you played music with Tadhg Hennessy,’ says Jeanne.‘I spent the day trying to persuade a client that we couldn’t put ‘just a few centimetres’ of her extension in her neighbour’s garden.’
‘And I had to talk about 1923 prisoners of war all day,’ says Katie.‘You’re adding some glamour to our lives!Ooh, were there paparazzi outside the house?’
‘No,’ I say.‘Though there were some fans hanging around the Crescent park.’
‘Attention,’ warns Jeanne.‘There are some crazy fans out there.They might think you’re his new girlfriend.’
‘I doubt it,’ I say.‘I was wearing a parka.’
‘What difference does that make?’says Katie.
‘Rock stars’ girlfriends don’t wear parkas,’ I say.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ says Katie.‘Oh my God, did any of those kids take your photo?Or film you?Did you notice them waving their phones at you?’
‘No!I mean, I don’t think so …’
‘How did we not think of this?’cries Katie.‘You could be all over the tabloids tomorrow!You could be his next mystery brunette!’
‘Do you really think I could?’I take a gulp of wine.
Jeanne’s face lights up.‘Maybe you should wear a disguise tomorrow.I have a wig you can borrow …’
‘I am not going in disguise!’I say.‘It’ll be grand.’I imagine a photo of me emerging from Tadhg’s front garden appearing on a tabloid website.I imagine all of the media fuss that would almost certainly follow.I think of my old colleagues who avoided me when I was let go, and I think of Dave and his new girlfriend and all Dave’s friends who I don’t see anymore since he dumped me.I imagine them all seeing a perfectly recognisable picture of me under a headline like ‘Tadhg Hennessy’s new mystery woman’.
You know what, maybe I could live with that.
Chapter Sixteen
2019
