“By the time I’ve finished work, I’m exhausted. Friday night I just want to stay in.”
“Well, there’s a reason to give it all up.” Isabella couldn’t quite understand why she worked—it wasn’t for the money; Laura loved what she did. It gave her a sense of identity and achievement, the fact she was successful in such a competitive, cutthroat industry. And most of all, it was hers. Her company had been a friend to her when Daniel was away studying and Howard was away at golf. She couldn’t think of giving it up.
She smiled at Isabella. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
“Oh, trust me, darling, you soon would.” She leaned forward mischievously. “Anyway, don’t you miss it?”
Laura laughed, but Isabella was not to be put off and waited for her answer.
“Oh, I don’t know, I suppose so.”
“I know the perfect man. I’ll set you up. Nothing too obvious. You can come to dinner, there’ll be a group of us and I’ll sit him next to you.”
“Who is it?”
“You don’t know him. He’s a colleague of Richard’s.”
To Laura, the thought of small talk with a stranger was as enticing as a visit to the dentist. “No thanks. Anyway, that would just make me as bad as Howard.”
“Oh, come on.”
“No, honestly. Anyway,” she said tantalizingly, “it’s not me going for romance at the moment. . . .”
Isabella leaned in. “Who?”
“He’s completely smitten. This could even be the real thing. . . .”
Izzy clapped her hands in delight. “Not Daniel?”
Laura nodded.
“What! Does this mean our great plans have been thwarted?”
“Completely blown away.” Their children had played together ever since they were babies. Brigitte and Daniel had waved rattles at each other as they lay on blankets, while she and Isabella had attended whatever postnatal class, playgroup, or personal-training session they were up to that week. They had always joked their children would marry.
“We met her last night,” said Laura.
“What’s her name?”
“Cherry.”
“Is that her real name?”
“Less of the sarcasm. She’s very nice.”
“Does she work?”
“She’s a real estate agent. In training.”
“Right.”
“We all have to train, Izzy.”
“Of course.”
Laura laughed. “You’re not really upset that our machinations came to nothing, are you? Brigitte will find a very fine man.”
Isabella sighed and brushed this away. “I know. So, tell me more. Where does . . . Cherry come from?”
