Page 136 of My Kind of Happy

‘I mean stay away from my husband. I realise it’s a temptation, he’s a handsome man after all. But at least it will get easier once you’ve moved from these premises.’ She tilted her head, pityingly. ‘I must admit I was surprised you let him stay the night on Sunday. Quite forward of you.’

‘How did you know about …’ My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

‘Our phones are linked.’ She said smugly. ‘When he wasn’t answering my calls I used the find my iPhone function. Imagine my shock when I found he’d been in the same location all night.’ She looked me up and down, her lips pursed in repulsion.

‘I imagine it was very much like Sam’s shock when he realised you and Gareth had stayed the night at the Claybourne Hotel the other week.’

A flash of irritation passed across her face but she covered it quickly and managed to look wounded. ‘The children would be devastated to know that Daddy had someone new in his life.’

I folded my arms. ‘Won’t they be devastated about Gareth?’

‘Forget about bloody Gareth!’ she said, gritting her teeth.

‘Whoops, sorry,’ I said, not even bothering to sound in the least bit apologetic.

I wasn’t going to admit it in front of Pandora, but I did care about upsetting the children. I’d have to be especially careful now that they were both helping me out at the wedding.

‘I’ve said my piece.’ She rearranged her handbag on her shoulder and strutted to the door. ‘And you said you were busy so I’ll let you get on. I think you were doing the dustbins?’ She gave me a sly smile.

‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘Your kids are wonderful, by the way.’

She stiffened. ‘You’ve met them?’

‘Earlier today. Will wanted some flowers for his grandmother’s birthday.’

‘Shit.’ She pressed a hand to her forehead. ‘I’d forgotten that was today. Can you deliver her some flowers from me? Something extravagant to make up for arriving so late in the day.’

She took a credit card out of her purse and held it out to me. It had the name Mr S. Diamond across it. A knot of anger lodged in my stomach. After everything she’d just said, she was still prepared to spend an extravagant amount of money on her mother-in-law’s birthday, at Sam’s expense, Sam, who, because of me, was out of a job.

‘Sorry,’ I said with satisfaction. ‘We don’t deliver that far away.’

She blew out a sharp breath through her nostrils and slammed the door on her way out. I flopped over the counter, feeling like my heart had been put through the blender.

If Sam’s visit earlier had made me wobbly, then Pandora’s had completely tipped me overboard. There’d be no more flirting from me, no more touching, or suggestive looks. When, and if, Sam was ready to move on from Pandora, I’d be there, but in the meantime, I wouldn’t be offering anything other than a friendly ear.

And that, I vowed, as we drove home a few minutes later, laden with the flower orders I had to drop off on the way, was a promise.