‘Oh my god, Jess, what did you do?’ Phoebe opened her eyes in amazement at Jess’s revelation, as they sat at the kitchen table.
‘Well I was so shocked to see him just standing there in front of me, after all those years, I blushed to the tips of my roots, and started to stammer like a teenager.’
‘Did anyone notice?’ Phoebe interrogated.
‘Luckily, I don’t think so, I pretended to drop the tea towel I was holding on the floor and managed to recover myself.’
‘Did he look the same?’
‘Well he’s put on a bit of a weight. His hair is cropped closer to his head as he’s receding a bit but apart from that it was the same old, or should I say young Daniel Harris.’ Jess hesitated and continued. ‘Of all the chances of him meeting Charlotte though, isn’t that the weirdest thing?’
‘So did you find out how they met and everything?’ Phoebe should have been a CIA agent!
‘God no, I was so shocked to see him, plus, I was still reeling from Sam’s confession that I was actually quite rude. Sam went into overdrive about Lemon, as he obviously knew Dan from old. So, I just sneaked upstairs, packed a bag for me and little miss, and here I am.’
‘What, you didn’t even say goodbye?’
‘I just said it was good to see them and I hoped we’d meet in better circumstances next time, and that was it. It was weird though, as Dan actually didn’t seem that shocked to see me.’
‘Well you know what he’s like – nothing fazed him before did it? He probably thought nothing of it.’ Phoebe chipped in and continued. ‘Oh, Jess. What a shocker of a weekend, poor you.’
‘I know, I could be front page in the tabloids today. Husband sex betrayal shocker with young office nymphet. Ex toy boy of wife now dating adulterer’s daughter.’
Phoebe laughed. ‘It actually really is quite unbelievable. Anyway how you feeling about Sam? I’m so sorry.’
‘Oh, Phoebes, I’m just so hurt that it’s been going on for so long. I feel so betrayed. It’s worse, because really, Sam isn’t like that. He’s never been a womaniser. Part of me realises it was my fault in a way. He’s so gentle, and the fact that he succumbed to that dirty bitch... well it makes my stomach churn.’ She took a slurp of tea and carried on. ‘And if he says he’s never going to do it again, I actually will believe him. You know what he’s like, Phoebes. He will keep his word I know he will. God, it’s so difficult!’
‘You really have to weigh up the pros and cons here, Jess. You’ve got a lovely home and Freya adores you both.’
‘I know, I know. But somehow if I stay with Sam I do think I’ll be settling. I know I’m fifty now, but I’m a young fifty. I’ll meet someone else I know I will. But, I want the passion back Phoebes. We’ve never had that, and do you know what, now this has happened, I think it gives me good reason to take the chance, and find complete happiness – without Sam.’
‘Jess, please don’t be rash. You’ll be in effect a single parent. Sam is a good man. I’m sure you can work it out. Look why don’t we get an early night, we’re all tired and emotional today. You can think again in the morning.’
Jess walked slowly up the stairs and peeped in at Freya, who was sleeping soundly on a camp bed next to Annabel. She got herself ready for bed, feeling completely torn. She lay awake for hours, worried not by her precarious future with Sam but instead by the intense feeling that she’d had at the sight of Daniel Harris.