Page 10 of Love Letters on Hazel Lane

‘No, she’s not, but she hasn’t done much dating.’

‘Well, then. Oh yes, and don’t appear too keen.’

‘Perhaps that’s where I went wrong with the last guy, Dan. I really liked him, but he cancelled our last two dates. I haven’t seen him in over a fortnight. And he’s stopped returning my texts.’

‘Forget him then,’ said Kate. ‘Move on.’

‘How about you? Met anyone interesting recently?’

Kate sighed. ‘There was this one guy – Rob. We dated for a while and I was so into him, but he was obsessed with fitness. I mean, I like to keep in shape, but he was out running or in the gym every single night. I barely saw him. Since we split, I’ve had loads of dates, but nothing serious. When were you last in a serious relationship? Ever been married?’

Jo took a sip of her Coke. This was something she preferred not to talk about. ‘I was married but it didn’t work out.’

‘How come?’

‘He was…’

Did she reveal the truth? Or the version that she usually told people?

The usual version, she decided. She’d only just met Kate; it was too early to divulge the full horror of those years with Si. And in any case, well, it never sounded as bad as it actually was. Si had never hit her. He raised his voice sometimes, but only if she’d been very annoying. He was sometimes a little too insistent when it came to sex, claiming that Jo was frigid if she wasn’t in the mood. He criticised her, but said it was for her own good. It had been such a confusing time; he was so convincing. Even now, Jo still wondered if he had been trying to help her, as he always used to claim.

‘We just wanted different things,’ Jo said. Yes, it was best to stick to the usual version.

Kate nodded. ‘Who left who?’

‘I left him.’

It sounded so easy; it had been anything but. It had taken her months to pluck up courage. There’d been the practicalities to sort – she’d opened a separate bank account, squirreling away as much as she dared, hoping he wouldn’t notice the extra cash withdrawals, and she’d arranged to stay at Gemma’s – but the emotional side of leaving her marriage had been by far the most difficult. He’d told her so many times that she was nothing without him that Jo believed it. She spent many a sleepless night wondering how she’d cope without him. She couldn’t have managed without Gemma’s support.

Suddenly, Jo realised that Kate had asked her something and was waiting for an answer. ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch that,’ she said.

‘I said, what was he like?’

‘He was…’

How to describe him? He was gorgeous. Out of her league, she’d thought when they’d first met. He oozed charisma. Everyone liked him. When they met anyone new, Jo always clocked their surprise that this attractive, popular man had such an ordinary woman on his arm. Afterwards, when it was over, she’d realised that was probably why he’d chosen her. He wanted someone who wouldn’t draw any attention away from him; he liked having the spotlight on himself.

She’d been easy to manipulate too. Her parents had by then taken early retirement, pursuing their dream of moving to a Scottish island, and Jo only saw them once a year at Christmas. There wasn’t a rift; there’d been no big argument. It was just that Angus and Susannah had never really understood their bookish daughter. Jo often wondered if things might have been different had she had a closer relationship with her parents or a wider circle of friends, but as it was, there was only Gemma sounding the alarm about Si, and Jo had ignored her.

‘He was…?’ Kate prompted.

‘Gorgeous-looking. He made me feel special. At least at first. But… it doesn’t matter. Let’s talk about something else. The future, not the past. I want to meet someone new. Someone who’s kind to me. But I always seem to choose wrong ’uns. Not that I get loads of choice. I mean, there are a lot of men on Buzzz, but most of them aren’t interested in me.’

Kate frowned. ‘I don’t see why not. Show me your profile.’

Jo took out her phone, opened the app and clicked onto her profile, before handing it over. Kate shook her head as she started to read and the furrows on her forehead deepened. ‘I like watching box sets – especially ER – and reading romance books. ER?’

Jo glanced around the café, hoping no-one was listening in. ‘It’s an American medical drama. With George Clooney.’

‘I know what it is.’ Kate continued, ‘I enjoy eating out and especially love cakes. Honestly, Jo. And your photos…’

‘What’s wrong with them?’

‘They don’t do you justice. You have to sell yourself. Overhaul your profile. Include some interesting hobbies, and better photos. Have you been anywhere exotic? Machu Picchu? The Great Wall of China? Uluru?’

Jo shook her head. Llandudno probably wouldn’t cut it.

‘How about putting that you’re interested in art?’ Kate said. ‘I mean, who doesn’t love looking at a few waterlilies or a vase full of sunflowers?’