Holly’s heart thumped as she saw the kiss at the end of the text. They’d been so close yesterday, so achingly close, and yet they’d both paused. Perhaps, even fifteen years on, they were still the same reticent, geeky teenagers underneath it all. Holly was stunned that, even having seen the picture of herself as a teenager on the fridge, Charlie still hadn’t made the connection that they’d met all those years ago. It wasn’t a great indicator for a politician, she thought wryly, if he couldn’t remember a face. Or perhaps she just hadn’t made as much of an impression on him as he had on her. Having said that, she thought, she’d forgotten all about him until her mother had passed on her university stuff, so it wasn’t as if he was the great, lost love of her life or anything. It was all just a rather pleasurable coincidence.

Thanks, she replied. But I think I’ve got the better deal. It’s a gorgeous day in your new home town, and I’m looking forward to a nice long walk later.

She paused before adding her own X, after deciding that it was juvenile to worry about it. He’d used it first, after all. Who knew text communication could be so confusing?

They’d parted last night once again without kissing, as Rachel had offered to give Holly a lift back home, and Charlie had chosen to walk. Frustrated somewhat by her sister’s, as ever, perfectly imperfect timing, she and Charlie had said goodbye on her parents’ doorstep, and she knew, since he was getting an early train in the morning, she wouldn’t get another opportunity to be alone with him until the end of the week when he came home from London. Why hadn’t she just taken the initiative and kissed him in her parents’ garden? What was holding her back?

It wasn’t until she was at the end of a deep-vision meditation session with a small group of clients the following morning that it hit her like a bolt from the blue. Curled in child’s pose at the end of the session, she suddenly knew exactly why she hadn’t taken the lead. It was so obvious. She was, deep down, miffed that he hadn’t recognised her. She was, basically, suffering from a case of bruised ego!