‘Are you ill?’
‘Not ill, no.’
Anna suddenly felt guilty that she’d been so wrapped up in her own life recently. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got time for a drink and a chat, have you?’
Daisy sighed as though letting go of pent-up stress. ‘Actually, I’d love to. If you’ve got time, that is?’
‘Of course I have.’
* * *
Finally they were seated at a table in the Angel, a bottle of wine and two glasses in front of them.
‘I’m really sorry, Daisy,’ Anna said. ‘I know I haven’t been a very good friend. I’ve been so busy, but I’m here for you if you want to talk to me.’
Daisy poured the wine and took a large gulp. ‘Thanks, Anna, I do appreciate it. A lot has happened and I haven’t wanted to be a burden, not when everything is going so well for you.’
‘Daise, that’s madness. I know what it might look like, but I’m always at the end of the phone. Don’t ever feel you can’t talk to me.’
Daisy smiled. ‘Thanks. Truth is, Tom and I are over.’
‘What!’ Anna gawped at her. She knew it wasn’t a good look, but she couldn’t help herself. ‘I thought you two were solid.’
‘So did I.’
‘What happened?’
Daisy laughed bitterly. ‘Same old story. He went out with his mates, got drunk and ended up in bed with some girl.’
‘And how did you find out? Did he tell you himself?’
‘Nope. Tried to pretend nothing had happened, until someone tagged me on my socials with a picture of them together.’
‘Ouch.’
‘Exactly. So, I confronted him and he admitted everything. Said it was a drunken mistake that would never happen again, that he was really sorry. It was me he loved, yada, yada, yada.’
‘And you don’t believe him?’
Daisy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘The thing is, Anna, he only confessed when he had to. If someone hadn’t tagged me, I’d have been completely oblivious.’
‘Maybe he’s telling the truth and it was a mistake — but once the trust is gone . . .’
‘Exactly. You’d never have trusted Mark again, would you?’
‘Never. But Mark wasn’t even sorry in the first place. And then he tried to do the same thing to Jemima. Probably even used the same lines. He’s completely untrustworthy.’
‘I have thought about forgiving Tom. I really wanted this to work, and I thought he was the one, but I just can’t. I’dconstantly be on tenterhooks, wondering what he was up to whenever we weren’t together.’
‘Yes, I can see why you’d think that.’ She knew how that felt, even though Daniel had repeatedly assured her she had nothing to worry about. She pushed the thought aside. Today wasn’t about her. ‘And I know it’s little consolation, but maybe it was better to have happened now, rather than when you’d moved in with each other.’
‘True. But now I’m right back to square one. Still living with my mother.’ Daisy shook her head. ‘Oh, listen to me, I’m so fed up with thinking about it. I’m even boring myself. Changing the subject, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why did you have your exhibition at The Whigmore? Was it to stick one up at Mark?’
‘Not really, no,’ Anna said. ‘I didn’t want it there. I didn’t even find out until just before the event. Charlotte who does my PR organised it all.’
‘Fancy that! You have come up in the world.’
‘Hmm, yes. Don’t get me wrong, she’s really good at what she does, and she’s getting me loads of exposure, which I need, and which I certainly wouldn’t get without her contacts, but . . .’
