Something flickers across his face. ‘Dad was having an affair with someone from his office and your mum knew about it.’
How did Mum know about this? I blink several times. ‘Really? How did my mother know your father? He never came to watch you swim.’
He shakes his head. ‘That was the odd thing. Your mum had never met my dad. It was a shock. I mean, you can imagine my mother’s reaction when someone who didn’t know our family started saying these things…’
I gulp as the café goes on a nauseating tilt. Reaching out, I grab onto a chair. Why does this sound familiar? Did Mum have my curse as well? Surely she would have said something. Mum loved me. She wouldn’t have let me battle my curse alone. No, she did not have my curse. I shove the idea to the darkest depths of my mind.
‘Nelly, are you okay?’ Henry looks concerned. ‘Have I said something to upset you?’
I shake my head. ‘No. I need to get back. Thanks for the coffee.’
We say our goodbyes, and he promises to call into the bookshop again. I hurry back to work, telling myself repeatedly that Mum did not have my curse.
The bookshop is busy and the afternoon flies by. When I get home and enter the living room, Oliver is sitting on the sofa. He looks up as I walk over to my chair.
‘Hi, Nelly. How are you?’
‘Good,’ I say, which is a lie. Ever since my coffee with Henry, my mind has been awash with thoughts about Mum and my curse. I need to lock them away at the back of my mind and perhaps mention what Henry said to Aunt Polly.
He rubs his face. ‘I fell asleep on Jamie’s sofa. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I thought about coming home, but I didn’t want to break our agreement, so I stayed where I was.’
At least he’s now thinking of me and being considerate. I am also a little relieved that he didn’t go home with another woman.
‘Oh, okay, thanks.’
He passes me the book which is balancing on his knee. ‘It’s Miguel’s book.’
I gasp. ‘How did you get a copy?’
‘I spoke to my editor, who is Spanish, and she managed to get hold of a copy.’ His face lights up. ‘We can help Juliet. I will say this is my gift to her.’
‘But what if Miguel is happily married and…’
He stands up. ‘Nelly, we have to give a love a chance.’
His words echo inside my head.We have to give love a chance. This still sounds alien to me.
His dark eyes hold my gaze for longer than necessary. A fluttery sensation takes over my chest.
‘I’m going to cook some tea,’ he says softly. ‘Do you want some?’
‘What are you making?’
He smiles. ‘I took a screenshot of Barbara Plum’s chicken casserole and I have the ingredients.’ My heart swells.
32
We’re lying in bed, divided by our pillow wall. Our bellies are full of Barbara Plum’s chicken dish, and we have both agreed she achieved high standards of casserole-making greatness.
Through a gap in the curtain, I can see that it’s dark outside and there’s a sprinkling of stars.
‘I look forward to our chats over our pillow wall.’ The sound of his voice makes my heart beat faster. It gives me a rush of tingling sensations. Why do I feel like my body is being traitorous again?
A smile spreads across my face. ‘Me too.’
He sighs. ‘I’m sorry I missed this last night.’
Oh, God, his words are lighting me up inside. I’m surprised I’ve not turned into one of those lava lamps from the nineties.
