What did I think? I felt a bolt of pure envy as I immediately understood George’s vision for this place.
‘Huge four-door Aga here…’ I said, moving over to where I would place said stove.
‘Six-door.’ George grinned, folding his arms as I inspected the place.
‘Red,’ I said.
‘Navy,’ he countered.
‘Bifocal doors.’
‘Bifold.’ George laughed once more, taking my hand in his excitement. ‘Massive island here.’ He threw the hand not holding mine to the left. ‘Bank of ovens, coffee maker over there…’
‘Ovens as well as an Aga?’
‘Absolutely. My Victoria sponges and Agas are not the best fit.’
‘Oh, very funny!’ I turned, but could see George was serious. ‘How doyouknow? Don’t tell me you have an Aga in your apartment?’
‘Kamran lets me bake in his kitchen.’
‘You bake?’
‘I do.’ George reached for his phone, immediately snapping off the light switch and reaching for his keys as a volley of messages came through. ‘Sorry, need to get off, Jessica. I’ll drop you back down at your car. You’ll still have time for a drink with the others.’
Why did I feel utter disappointment that George was so suddenly eager to get off?
We drove, almost in silence, back down to The Dog and Duck.
26
‘What d’you mean, she’s not here?’
Friday morning, and I stood in Mum’s kitchen, staring at a bleary-eyed Dean. Knowing Dean was unlikely to offer anything more nutritious than a bowl of Coco Pops and past-its-best-date milk for Lola’s breakfast, I’d whizzed up bowls of Greek yoghurt, berries, honey and nuts for her, Joel and myself. Once I’d sat with Joel and we’d eaten ours, I spent a good twenty minutes on a maths revision paper he was struggling with before he made his way through two huge pieces of toast and marmalade.
And I’d come round to Mum’s to collect Lola.
‘She was here with you last night… Wasn’t she? Dean!’
‘Of course she was. That friend of our Lola’s – Ruby – came to pick her up’ – Dean squinted at the phone permanently attached to his hand – ‘fifteen minutes ago.’
‘An eleven-year-old is driving now, is she?’ I fumed. ‘And you let her go without consulting me?’
‘Some woman anyway. Not Ruby’s mother, I don’t think. Attractive girl, foreign, nice smile, very nice smile indeed, fit…’
‘What?’ I breathed deeply, trying to keep my temper. ‘What sort of foreign?’
‘What do you mean, “what sort of foreign?”’
‘Dean, you think someone south of Barnsley is foreign. Was she the housekeeper? Who the hell was she? Ruby’s mother is dead apparently. And…’
‘Yes, Lola said. She must have been the housekeeper then. I think so. Look, I’m late for work and I’m not showered yet. You know I like to be down at the garage by seven thirty to open up. It’s nearly nine, with me unable to leave Lola.’
So, what was the problem? Surely it was great that Lola was off to stay with her friend from school. Meant I didn’t have to take her up to Mum or down to Patricia. Instead, my daughter was off to her friend’s for the day and what was wrong with that?
‘Lola said you knew about it,’ Dean was saying, heading for the shower.
‘Well, she would, wouldn’t she? This isnotwhat sharing custody is all about, Dean,’ I snapped. ‘You should have rung me.’
