Edward had met Helen about seven or eight months after Anna had left. Helen hadn’t had children, and the boys often complained about her not understanding something or other.
Sam had rolled his eyes. ‘Helen’s redecorating,’ he’d said.
‘Where?’ Anna had pictured the house, the colours and wallpapers she and Edward had chosen.
‘Everywhere. She’s giving it a new lease of life, apparently.’
Anna had smiled tightly. She didn’t care what happened to that house, but it was her sons’ home, the place where they’d grown up, and she hoped Helen would be careful with their feelings when it came to updating it to suit her tastes.
‘What does Dad think?’
Thomas had turned from where he was standing by the kettle. ‘I think he just does what he’s told.’
‘And how’s school?’
Thomas was doing his GCSEs, Sam just finishing year nine. They were both doing okay. Sam had struggled, over the years, with friendships more than academic issues, but things were more settled now. He had two best friends, one boy and one girl, and the three of them seemed to be kind to one another, to have each other’s best interests at heart. For Thomas, things had been easier. He was into football and had always had a crowd of other boys around him. Now, he had a girlfriend, Lauren, and Anna liked her a lot.
‘Only a few exams left,’ Thomas had said. ‘Lauren’s going to come over here on Saturday if that’s okay. We’re going to revise together.’
‘Of course. And you, little one?’ Anna had asked, turning to Sam.
Sam had screwed up his face. He hated it when she referred to him being the baby of the family. But he was, and he always would be. ‘Fine,’ he’d said.
Anna hadn’t been sure whether that was the whole story. If it wasn’t, whatever was troubling him would come tumbling out at some point, she was confident of that. He was an open book, and they were close, and she loved that he confided in her. About sixmonths ago, he’d told her that he thought he was gay, and she had kissed his forehead and thanked him for telling her, and that had been that.
It was hunger that brought Anna back to the present, dragged her from her thoughts of her sons. She glanced at her watch. Almost one. She had a look in the fridge and didn’t much like what she saw there, so she decided to take herself out for lunch. There was a new café near the common that she’d been meaning to try.
As soon as she stepped inside, Anna recognised the man behind the counter, or thought she did. Was it really? Was it possible? There was a queue, and Anna craned her neck this way and that to get a better look, all the while trying to make sure he didn’t notice her. It was James. One-perfect-date, didn’t-call James. It was. She was sure of it. She pulled her phone from her pocket, sent a message to Nia.
I’ve found James.
James?
THE James. Perfect James.
WHAT? WHERE?
That new café by the common. He works there.
IN FOOD!
Oh my god, yes!
AND?? What happened?
He hasn’t seen me. I’m still in the queue. What should I do? I feel like I can’t breathe.Should I leave?
DO NOT LEAVE. This man is THE ONE. He must be!
Anna laughed and slipped her phone back in her pocket. She couldn’t believe Nia was approaching fifty and still talked about there being a ‘the one’ for everyone. Although, Nia had met Aidan late in life, and they were blissfully happy. Anna didn’t believe in ‘the one’, but she believed in being happy, in taking chances, in constantly working at your life to make it the best it could be. She was at the front of the queue. She raised her eyes, looked at James.
‘Hi.’
‘Hi,’ he said, his voice friendly. ‘What can I get you?’
So, he didn’t remember. Anna was more disappointed than she’d expected.
‘Brie and bacon panini please, with salad. And a coffee. Latte.’
