‘Illusion is really on trend, Cynthia, I promise you.’
‘Is he expensive?’
‘No, and withmymagical skills of persuasion, I reckon I can get him for a song… well… a trick… you know what I’m saying.’
Cynthia sighed and let the paper drop to the tablecloth. ‘It’s futile to oppose, I’m guessing.’
Hayley grinned. ‘You won’t regret it.’
Cynthia gave her a warning look over the top of her designer reading glasses. ‘No live animals.’
‘I promise,’ Hayley said, slipping the magician’s details into place.
‘So,’ Cynthia said, closing her folder and taking a grip of her wineglass. ‘You and Oliver.’
Hayley swallowed. They hadn’t talked about this at all. She knew Cynthia knew and she was sure Cynthia knew Hayley knew she knew but she didn’t know how to broach the subject. She had gone from terrible hygiene operative to fundraiser planner then to the girlfriend of Cynthia’s son in such a short space of time. They’d only talked business. There had been a lot to organise. And she had been avoiding it.
‘Yes, it’s becoming a thing since the embarrassing ice skating photos made the papers.’
Cynthia smiled. ‘I haven’t seen him look so happy in years.’
Hayley nodded and clutched her wine glass a little tighter. Oliver’s condition was at the forefront of her mind. She took a breath. ‘How did you do it?’
‘Do what?’
‘Love someone who wasn’t going to live a long life and not let it seep into everything.’ Hayley shook her head. ‘When he first told me, it didn’t make a difference. I care for him so much, it just seemed unimportant…’
‘And now?’ Cynthia asked.
‘Nothing’s changed, I still want to see where this is going and I feel more for him than I’ve ever felt for anybody, but knowing whatI know makes me question everything.’ She sighed. ‘Is this going to be the last burger we share together? Could this kiss goodnight be it for us? Should he be running around the park or should he be taking things easy? What happens when Angel eventually accepts him and gets too close?’
‘Never, ever think about it during sex,’ Cynthia stated.
‘Whoa!’ Hayley said, clapping her hands over her ears. ‘Table magician, table magician.’
Cynthia laughed. ‘Listen, although Ben and Oliver’s grandfather died young, before we lost Ben, we didn’t know about the gene. I’ve had most of my life not having to think about it. Which is why you have to persuade Oliver to do the sensible thing.’
‘The sensible thing?’
Cynthia sucked air in through her teeth. ‘I knew he wouldn’t have told you all of it.’ She shook her head, her set blonde hair moving only slightly. ‘There’s a chance he might not have the gene,’ she stated. ‘There’s a test.’
Hayley was mid-sip and she coughed, trying to hold onto her wine. ‘What?’
‘Last year, just before Richard died, we had a letter from a consultant, a heart specialist. His team had done extensive research into the condition and they had come up with a test that can detect the abnormality. They offered Richard and Oliver the chance to take it, to rule out or rule in the condition.’
‘And they didn’t take it?!’ Hayley exclaimed.
Cynthia shook her head. ‘Neither of them. Both extremely stupid and very selfish.’ She sighed. ‘I think, getting to sixty-five had surprised Richard already. He felt he’d had a good life and he was going to go out any way the good Lord saw fit. Oliver… well, he’s been convinced he’s dying ever since Ben died.’
Hayley shook her head. She couldn’t believe this. He had a chance. He might not have the gene and he wasn’t going to find outone way or the other. It was crazy. And he was selfish! Why wouldn’t he take the test? He could find out once and for all that he didn’t have this condition! She looked at Cynthia. ‘Did Richard have the defective gene in the end?’
Cynthia nodded sadly. ‘No one knows how he survived as long as he did but I’m grateful for it every day.’
Marvin’s Ice Cream Emporium, Downtown Manhattan
Today, in the middle of a snowstorm, ice cream was a big thing. Oliver let a breath go, watching it mix with the freezing air and twist with the exhaust fumes of the slow-moving traffic just in front of him.
Hayley was trusting him here. Showing him that what they had started together really meant something to her. He had his first official date with Angel and he was petrified. He had no idea how to be, or what to do and he was now competing with a new father on the scene who, from all accounts, was adapting excellently to his new role.
