I looked at him open-mouthed, as we strode up my garden path, until Adele and Marcus tumbled out of Adele’s cottage, arm-in-arm, kissing as they did so, right in front of our eyes.
Marcus coughed loudly and smiled and nodded as they pulled away from one another, both red-faced, flushed with happiness, and with love in their eyes.
‘All right?’ Alec said.
‘Yeah. Great,’ said Marcus. ‘You?’
‘Not bad.’
Marcus glanced at me. ‘Hello, Noelle,’
No words would come out so I smiled and nodded.
‘Erm. You remember Adele, Alec?’ Marcus pulled her closer.
‘Yes. Hi Adele. You okay?’
‘Hi Alec. I’m more than okay, thanks. Hello, Noelle. I’ll be in with you soon to start work.’
Marcus smiled at her lovingly as I watched on in silent disbelief, but also thrilled to bits.
‘Uh-huh,’ I nodded and quickly unlocked my front door.
‘See you later,’ Alec said, following me inside and grinning at me as I closed the door behind us.
‘Do you always have so much to say when you bump into your neighbours?’
‘Drop the sarcasm. I was surprised. Okay? Those two haven’t spoken one word to one another for almost two years and now look at them?’
‘I’m aware of that. And I was looking at them. I haven’t seen Marcus this happy in years. I didn’t know Adele that well because my wife and I had other friends we hung out with more than Marcus and his mates in those days, but I always thought she was nice. And I didn’t believe any of that crap Cara said about her.’
‘Your wife?’
I don’t know why I was surprised by that. I knew he was married or something from that phone call yesterday, but suddenly everything he’d said and done on that bridge just now came back and slapped me in the face like a massive and rock-solid ball of ice.
‘My wife?’ He furrowed his brows. ‘Why has that surprised you? Marcus told you my situation.’
‘Marcus told me nothing. I didn’t even know he’d called you, remember? But how dare you say all those things and make mefeel the way you do! And yesterday, if I’d dropped that towel and laid down on my bed, you’d have had sex with me, wouldn’t you?’
‘Yes. No. I … I don’t know, to be honest. Were you … were you considering dropping that towel? Because believe me I was hoping you would. Even though I wasn’t sure what I’d do if you did.’
‘You’re unbelievable! And you just told me you weren’t trying it on with me! You’re nothing but a liar.’
He glowered at me. ‘I am many things, but a liar is not one of them. I haven’t lied to you. I’ve actually been more open and honest with you than I have with any woman over the last five years.’
‘Five years? You’ve been seeing other women for five years?’
‘No. I only started seeing other women about three years ago. But I’ve never felt anything for any of them like I felt for you yesterday. And I feel for you today, if I’m being honest. Which I am. I’ve told you how I’m feeling, and that’s pretty terrifying for me.’
‘I bet it is. You’re really something. Make your own coffee. I’m going for a walk. Call me when you’re done and I’ll pay you. And then I never want to see you again.’
‘What? Why? What have I done now? Talk to me, Noelle.’
‘No. Talk to yourself.’
I stormed off leaving Alec looking utterly dumbfounded and scratching his head as if he had no clue what had just happened.
Obviously, the moment I got outside, I phoned Madi and regaled her with the whole sorry tale.
