Page 70 of Love Unlocked

‘Or is it just nonsense and coincidence?’

Prunella blows her nose roughly. It reminds Melody of Derek. She needs to do this for Derek and Belinda, because despite what Belinda says, she believes her mother can be herself and be in a loving relationship. Melody believing in that is quite something, a revelation. She needs to do this because she has to stop quitting, she needs to feel the passion and not be scared to see it through, which counts for podcasts and relationships.

‘I brought printouts for both of you. Everything I’ve just said and more. I have copies of the love letters from Joseph Plunkett to Grace too. I went to the National Library yesterday and read all of their correspondence. We should read them on the podcast.’

Prunella lets out a sob. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just so sad, all of these couples breaking up. Excuse me.’ She rushes from the room.

‘What’s going on with her?’

‘Who knows,’ Ed says, seemingly unworried. ‘Thanks for coming back.’

‘Sorry I left you like that, it was unprofessional. Sometimes I have problems with finishing what I start.’

He looks down at all her work.

‘Not anymore.’

It had been a busy time. Melody had researched all day while consistently checking her phone for messages from Al. He said they’d catch up ‘next week’, a vagueness that would ordinarily be welcome. She wanted him to call her and then when the phone rang she was afraid to answer it. Despite the lessons she was learning about herself, this connection to him was both stimulating and terrifying.

After their meeting, when Ed has left, Melody checks her phone and finds a text message from Claire, her flatmate, letting her know that she won’t be home tonight. Her heart sinks.

‘What’s wrong?’ Prunella asks, sensing her mood change.

‘There’s been a leak in my apartment. Water flooded into our apartment from above. Claire says I can’t come home.’

Maybe she’s not ready to overcome all of her fears just yet.

‘Oh no! All of your clothes!’

Not the first thing Melody would have worried about. Her music, her equipment, her vinyl collection would be the first concern, but she knows it’s absolutely fine in its cherished place in the corner of her, dry, bedroom.

‘This is a lot to ask, but could I stay with you?’

After Prunella gets the children to bed, she has plans. She leads Melody to the basement where there is a chic cocktail bar with gold-gilded mirrors and plush upholstered high stools. They sit outside in the basement garden under heaters because Prunella smokes, the walls are decorated in blossoms and greenery and it feels like being at The Ivy instead of someone’s home. Prunella sips her wine and sucks on her cigarette, closing her eyes and leaning back.

‘I love my children, but this is my favourite time of the day.’

Melody watches her. ‘Today you were upset. What’s wrong?’

‘Oh, that,’ she says, rolling her eyes and taking a long drag of her cigarette. Biding time. ‘It’s the stories of everyone breaking up, I don’t know why it gets me so much. Look it’s happening again!’ She tries to laugh as her eyes fill with tears again. ‘I’m an emotional wreck.’

Melody is not letting her get away with that. ‘You cried before hearing about the love lock story.’

‘Really? Did I?’

Melody leans forward. ‘What’s really going on?’

Prunella struggles for the next few moments. She’s not in control of herself, her image, in the twitching muscles in her face. Snotty flared nostrils, trembling top lip.

‘I lost someone special to me.’ Prunella wipes her eyes.

‘Did they pass away?’

‘No.’ She looks around, then sighs. ‘There’s nobody here, I can tell you. I had a love lock on the bridge.’

‘I knew it!’ Melody’s first response is to celebrate the revelation, then realises what it means. ‘Oh no. You and Jasper have broken up?’

Prunella shakes her head, now barely able to speak as the emotion takes over.