Jennifer. Even her name had Hollywood star quality all over it. Just like Jennifer Aniston. Grace had met her once. Well, not met her, exactly, but she had been in the bathroom of a restaurant with Jennifer Aniston one time. It was years ago, when Grace and Jamie had been to see a West End show in London. Chicago. And after the show, they had gone for something to eat and Jennifer had been right there when Grace went to the loo. Looking gorgeous and golden, tiny and twinkling … there was just something quite magical about her. Proper star quality emanated from her. Jennifer had looked just like she did in the movies. Even washing her hands with an assistant standing close by, Jennifer had been gracious and said hello and smiled on catching Grace’s eye in the mirror. Grace had tried to talk but had managed only to let her mouth sag open momentarily before hurriedly reuniting her jaw with the rest of her face as Jennifer had glided away. And that’s exactly how Grace imagined Ellis’s Jennifer to be like. Wondrous and beautiful. Not ordinary, with a sunburnt nose and a serious inferiority complex … that, let’s face it, was not attractive at all.

So Grace turned on the tap and after cupping her hands together she made a little bowl of cold water to splash on her face and bring herself to her senses. This was the second time she had run out on Ellis and it was getting ridiculous. Especially after all the pep talks she had given herself about being so over Matthew. So over the anxiety and the step-counting. And she was. She really felt that she was. She felt different. Lighter and much more like her old self, the person she had been before Matthew … so why was she panicking now? Maybe Ellis did fancy her. Or did he respond to her kiss because he was feeling sorry for her? Or did he respond because he could, and get away with it, just like Matthew had for all those months before she had found out about his dalliance? Maybe she should ask Ellis about Jennifer. Ask what he was playing at when he was about to get engaged. Yes, that’s what she should do. But it wasn’t as easy as all that.

A knock on the door.

Grace turned and with the sound of her own heartbeat drumming in her ears, she managed a wobbly, ‘Yes?’

‘Grace, are you OK?’ Ellis asked softly.

Silence followed.

‘Um …’ she faltered, wondering what to say.

‘Grace, please come out. I can’t talk to you through a door.’

After counting to ten in her head, Grace rubbed her palms across her face to remove any last trace of tears, took a massive breath hoping to invoke a sense of calm and tentatively unlocked the bathroom door.