He glances at his watch. ‘Oh, yes, I guess it’s that time. Are you going there now?’
I nod.
‘Shame,’ he says. ‘I was going to suggest a coffee.’
‘That would’ve been lovely,’ I say. ‘But I really have to go.’
‘How’s Darcy?’ he blurts out, his face taut, distressed.
‘Darcy?’ I let out a breath. ‘Still pretty upset I think. She misses you, Mike.’
‘Really?’ His eyes light up, which I find pretty odd considering he walked out on her.
‘Do you think…’ he begins. ‘Do you think she might… take me back?’
I frown, confused. ‘I thought you wanted a divorce?’
‘What! A divorce? No. Why on earth would you think that?’
‘Darcy said you asked for a divorce. I’m sure she did.’
‘You must have got that wrong. I’m losing my mind here, Louisa. She kicked me out of the house with no explanation. She won’t see me. She won’t even let me see Tyler.’ His voice cracks and I can see how much it’s costing him to not break down in front of me.
I put a hand on his arm. ‘Mike, she told me you walked out on her. She was devastated.’
His eyes cloud with confusion. ‘But—’
‘Mike, I’m really sorry, I have to go and get Joe. I can’t be late for pick up.’
‘Of course, of course. But you must be mistaken. I would never leave Darcy. She’s the one who wanted me to go.’
I don’t know what to say. This is a completely different version of events to the one Darcy told me. So one of them must be lying, and I know who I’m inclined to believe.
‘Can we meet later?’ he asks. ‘Will you come over to my place?’
I open my mouth to think of an excuse. I really don’t want to get in the middle of this.
‘Please,’ he says, sensing my reluctance. ‘I’m desperate here. Just for half-an-hour or so.’
I nod. ‘Okay.’
Mike takes a business card out of his wallet and scribbles an address on the back. ‘I’ll be in all evening. Here’s where I’m staying. My mobile’s on the front.’ He presses it into my hand with a squeeze. ‘Thank you.’
‘Okay. See you later,’ I say with a tight-lipped smile, wishing I’d never agreed to it.
I head back to the beach car park at a brisk pace, knowing I’m going to be late for Joe. Even so, I have to call Jared to let him know what’s happened. I stop for a moment to rummage through my bag for my phone. My bag swings back in the wind, tipping my purse, keys and hand gel into the sand. I scrabble about, picking them back up and end up dumping half the beach back into my bag. Finally, I locate my phone in my coat pocket and call my husband.
He picks up his mobile after one ring.
‘Hey,’ he says. ‘Everything okay?’
‘You’ll never guess who I just bumped into?’ I say as I jog up the sandy steps onto the promenade.
‘Who?’
‘Mike.’
‘Darcy’s Mike? Did he say anything aboutCreate? About the lease?’
