‘James is an irritant. He won’t leave me alone. He’s turned up in the village after years away and Lottie reckons he’s some finance superstar, higher profits than anyone else in the game, but from what I can work out he’s just an arsehole. Completely self-obsessed, no moral compass. Unfortunately, he’s also decided that I’m the girl he must have to fulfil some weird childhood dream, but it’s got nothing whatsoever to do with me; it’s all about his ego and the fact that I’m not interested. We had lunch the other day, I made it quite clear nothing would happen and he seemed to get it. I feel so embarrassed because I did actually sleep with him once before, when I was eighteen, and now it makes me feel just urghh. Not the most romantic story in the world.’
‘Oh, bless you, love. Our eighteen-year-old selves don’t always make the most sensible decisions. Am I right in thinking he has delivered a floral basket or gift of some kind every day for the last week and a bit?’
Pippa sighed, ‘How do you know that?’
‘If you will live in the middle of a village…’
‘Fair point. Yes, he does. To be honest I’ve never eaten so much fruit in my life. And the flowers are at least masking the smell of Lottie’s formaldehyde. I still wish he’d sod off. Like I say, we had a semi-reasonable chat at lunch, I thought he had got the message, and he went back to London. But then he started sending gift baskets, so he obviously hadn’t been listening. Mum thinks it’s all wonderful.’
‘He’ll get bored eventually, but you could always get Lottie to dig a bit deeper. If he’s as vile as you think she might be able to find something that will shut your mum up. I heard about her new hobby by the way, the animals.’ Lynne made a face. ‘I’m sure it will be a passing fad but if not, if you get her investigating you may get a bit of a break.’
‘Hmm, I do hope so.’
‘So this James is no good, now tell me about new Mr McDishy.’
‘Mr McDishy?’ Pippa’s laugh flew out of her mouth making the baby startle. Both women froze, but the best-behaved baby in the world ever merely sighed and carried on sleeping.
‘Yep, don’t be coy. I hear everything, you know.’
‘Oh, I know.’
‘So, go on then. Spill.’
‘Well, I don’t know what you want to hear. We work really well together.’
‘Are but are you playing too? Oh, my goodness, look at you going all quiet. I’ve known you do and say many things that most people wouldn’t dare to, and now here you are, all shy, fiddling with your buttons – nice dress by the way – and not making eye contact. You’ve got it bad.’
Pippa brought her hands back to her side and then shoved them under her bottom on the seat so they didn’t give her away any further. Lynne giggled even more.
‘Oh, there’s nothing I like in life as much as a little bit of romance. This is great. But I can see that now new shy Pippa Parkin’s in the room I’m going to have to ask questions if I want any decent answers. Was that a groan? Wow!’
‘I don’t know. What do you want me to say?’
‘Okay, I’ve seen him. He wasn’t what I had pegged for your usual type, but he did have the most beautiful eyes. Even a happily married woman could get lost in those.’
‘Oh my god, yes. They’re gorgeous, all brown but flecked with amber, warm, you know? And his eyelashes, I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like he has three sets there are so many. It’s just not fair. And when he laughs, I can’t help but smile every time I hear it. I don’t even have to be in the same room; it still makes me grin like a lunatic just knowing he’s happy and on the other side of the wall. You should see him with the kids. He’s so sweet. I was a bit worried that having a male teacher would mean he was a bit less forgiving, and I was worried about how it would pan out, especially with the babies in our class, but I was so wrong. He is patient and kind; he doesn’t make judgements plus he designs the most amazing things with them in the construction corner. You should see the marble run he made with Billy, Harry and Alfie out of cardboard tubes and Sellotape. It took over most of the classroom. I have never seen those boys so engaged. They sent cars down it as opposed to marbles. It was awesome. And for the May Fayre we’ve been put in charge of the space hopper races and I know we’re going to have such fun and I can’t wait—’
Pippa stopped as she saw Lynne’s face, eyes big and mouth open.
‘What?’
‘You’re besotted. Absolutely besotted. I never thought I’d see the day that commitment-phobe Pippa Parkin opened her heart.’
‘No, I’m not! And I haven’t opened my heart. You do say ridiculous stuff. And I’m not a commitment-phobe. What is it with you and Lottie? You know that I just want to besure. I want to get it right and that takes a lot. I can’t see that happening with Kam. We’re too different.’ She cast an anxious look at the crib, aware that she her agitation had made her a bit loud. ‘Oh, shhh sorry. Your baby is really good at sleeping.’
‘He’s really good at everything. He’ll be speaking Russian by the time he’s two.’
‘Ha! Like Marion Marksharp’s boys.’
‘No, nothing like Marion’s boys. Say that again and I’ll ban you.’
‘Okay, nothing like them at all. Nothing at all.’
‘Anyway, don’t try and divert me with talk of the cutest, most handsome and cleverest baby in the world. You should see how sweet he is when he feeds; he took to it like a natural. His little hands all bunched up and… no, no, stop me now or I’ll turn into one of those mums that can’t talk about anything without bringing it back to how perfect their offspring are.’
‘Well, he is pretty perfect.’
‘True. As it seems is Mr Choudhury. I don’t buy this “we’re so different” malarkey. Has anything happened yet?’
