“See? You’re getting it all wrong.”
“But what did I actually ask her?”
“It’s notwhat. It’show. First you tell her you’ll wait until you’ve won the tournament, then you send her sexy messages, turn up at her house, bring her dessert…”
“It’s not like she turned any of that away.”
“But she’s a woman, and she’s probably wondering why you’re suddenly so interested in her, when a few months ago you were sleeping with a different woman every week. She’s the head teacher of your old school. Admit it: you’d be asking questions too, in her position.”
I don’t answer him. I don’t like it when other people are right.
Tyler looks at his watch. “I really have to go, now. Can you manage?” He gestures towards the trolley.
“Of course.”
“You’ve only got junk food in there. Do you have a list, at least?”
“I’m winging it.”
Tyler studies me. “Have you ever gone food shopping by yourself before?”
To be honest, my assistant used to do it all for me; he even used to buy my condoms. But I don’t mention that.
“I’ll be fine.”
Tyler leaves me standing there with my trolley full of useless crap, in a half-empty supermarket. I look around and realise that Ican’tdo this by myself. And things can only get worse from here.
Having nothing better to do, and no desire to go home and run into my dad, who’ll drag me out into the fields with him, I leave the shopping in the boot of my car. It’s a nice, warm day, overcast but with no sign of rain; so I decide to go for a walk through town.
I stick my hands into the pockets of my jacket and head towards Main Street – which has barely changed over the years. The shops are almost all the same as they were twenty years ago; apart from a few new brands which have made their way in from elsewhere, the shopkeepers have kept up the town’s tradition. Family businesses have stayed in the family, as expected around here. Maybe it’s exactly what my father expected of me.
This is a strange time in my life. I don’t know if it’s because I came back home, or because of my daughter and everything that happened with her mother. Maybe it’s a combination of everything; or maybe I’m just ageing, grumpy and alone, just as Mary Hannigan predicted before leaving town.
I cross the main road which takes me into the heart of the city, The Diamond. I stop at the sight of a familiar figure outside, watering the flowers outside her shop.
I approach her and lift the cap from my head.
“Good morning, Iris.”
She turns slowly towards me.
“God, you’ve aged, boy.”
I laugh, planting a kiss on her cheek. “You look radiant, as always.”
“Does that really work on women?”
I shake my head and follow her inside her shop.
“This place hasn’t changed at all.”
“Just like everything around here.”
I smile at her; I’ve realised only recently just how true that is.
“It took you a while to come and say hello.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ve been a little caught up lately.”
