The last sentence had been an add-on, she could tell. Something to soften the blow. She laid the note down and sat heavily. What had Cherry told him? How had she painted it? Whatever way served her best, she knew was the answer.
She pulled out her phone and was about to call Daniel when she had an image of Cherry there, listening at his ear. No, this was a conversation that had to be between the two of them. She sent him a text instead: ‘Daniel, I know you’re probably, and justifiably, upset and furious at me, but please will you let me explain? Can we meet later?’
The response was swift. ‘Tomorrow. Five at the flat. But I only have an hour.’
It wasn’t quite what she’d wanted to hear and her heart sank. At least Howard was away on a work trip so she wouldn’t have to explain why their son had suddenly left home.
Moses came in from the garden, delighted to see her at such an unusually early hour. He leaped up onto the worktop and rubbed his face against her knuckles as her hands propped her head up in despair. She scratched him behind the ears. ‘Oh, Moses, I’ve done something really . . . awful.’ She had. She’d started this by telling that monstrous lie.
FORTY
Wednesday 16 September
Cherry sat on the seat on the platform at Notting Hill Tube Station and waited for her watch to reach seven minutes past four. Then she stood. It was time to start heading up to the street. Daniel, she knew, was prompt, so would already be waiting and hoping she was still coming. She bounded up the steps so as to get just a little out of breath and then ran out of the entrance. There he was, standing outside an upmarket sandwich establishment, trying not to look as if he might have been stood up.
‘Sorry I’m a bit late,’ she said. ‘Tube was held up at South Ken,’ and he smiled, all doubts melting away.
‘No problem.’ They stood self-consciously, both smiling awkwardly at each other, feeling like they were on a first date. Strangely, it seemed a bit premature for kisses, even though just over a year ago they were sleeping together. This afternoon was a cinema visit, a mutual appreciation for Steven Soderbergh. Once they’d both admitted they were still single, the next, most natural thing was to arrange to go out. Cherry had had to think of something low key to ease them in, something that wouldn’t feel too strange, something innocuous that wouldn’t make him question whether he was doing the right thing. The film was about to leave the theatres and she’d said how it would be a shame to miss it, to which he’d agreed, and then she’d said she was thinking of going that afternoon, so if he needed a break from his studies . . . ? He didn’t think about it long and they made a plan to meet later. Cherry went home to shower and change. She wanted to look her absolute best, as she had big intentions for the afternoon.
They walked along the street towards the Gate Cinema, and at the kerb he put his hand out protectively as a car came flying round a corner and Cherry felt a rush of warmth, a fuzzy sense of attachment.
They crossed the road safely and headed towards the front of the building. Outside, the poster brought bad news.
‘It looks like it’s already gone,’ cried Cherry, even though she’d known this when he suggested the venue. Sitting silently in a cinema would persuade him to come out but was not going to resurrect their relationship.
He stepped closer. ‘What? It can’t have done.’
But it had. Something new about aliens had taken its place.
‘What about the Electric Cinema, just down the road?’
‘Good idea,’ said Cherry.
They hurried back to the Electric, but that was just as bereft of Steven Soderbergh’s genius, something else that Cherry had already known. Daniel looked sheepish and thumped his fist on his forehead. ‘I’m so sorry. I’ve dragged you all the way up here for nothing.’
‘Outrageous. How are you going to make it up to me?’
He smiled. ‘We could find another cinema?’
‘Or the zoo?’ she jumped in quickly. ‘I’ve always wanted to go.’
‘Really?’
She clocked his hesitation. ‘You’re not keen.’
‘If you’d like to . . .’
But neither of them moved. Cherry could feel the afternoon slipping from her control. Whatever they did, she had to decide now.
‘Tell you what, why don’t we just walk towards the park? It’s such a lovely day.’ She turned, not giving him a chance to refuse, and they set off towards Kensington. It wasn’t the most promising of starts and in quiet desperation she knew she was going to have to work harder. She suddenly thought a walk wasn’t such a good idea after all: they were awkward around each other and needed something to distract them, something to talk about. She turned excitedly to him.
‘Jazz.’
‘What?’
‘They do a bit of R&B too. And great fish and chips.’
‘Shouldn’t that be shrimp Creole?’
‘We could make a request.’
She held her breath and sent a silent thank you to her memory. She’d never penetrated the wall of friendship of the aloof and elite Abigail and Emily, but listening carefully to every conversation they’d had in that estate agency had been useful after all. More than once they’d raved about a bar with ‘the best’ live music but never thought to ask her along. She’d wistfully checked it online one night when they’d gone along after work and had been further put out by the fact it did look good, not too up itself or pretentious. She knew it opened at four; in fact, they’d probably even get a table this early on.
She looked at him excitedly. ‘Fancy it?’
Her enthusiasm was infectious. ‘Where is it?’
‘Ten minutes.’
‘Walk?’
‘Cab.’
He hailed one and they climbed in. Cherry gave directions and a few minutes later they were driving down a little back alley. Nestled between a wine shop and a jeweller’s was the bar.
Once they were inside, Cherry knew immediately it had been a good idea. They had a table to themselves, and there were just enough people already there to make it feel like a gathering of friends, people who through luck or skill had managed to skive off work early.
Daniel was looking at the menu. ‘Is it too early for cocktails?’
Cherry grinned and shook her head.
‘This place is great. How did you find it?’
‘It’s one of my favourites,’ said Cherry casually, as if she’d spent numerous nights hanging out there and was now sharing it with him.