‘Funnily enough, there’s something I want to talk to you about too,’ he answered. ‘It’s about Roger.’

Sarah braced herself. She didn’t want to believe what Roger had told her, thinking that George was better than that, but now feared the worse and hoped to divert him as she said, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when I began dating Roger. I was worried it would ruin our friendship.’

‘I’ll always be your friend, Sarah,’ George said softly, ‘and it’s because we’re friends that I have to tell you something. I’m afraid you ain’t gonna like it.’

When Roger had come into the shop earlier, he’d said he was worried about George’s state of mind. Apparently, George had been spouting off for weeks, saying he would find a way to break up their relationship, and it was getting worse.

‘Tell me and we’ll see.’

George bit his lower lip for a moment, but then blurted out, ‘I’m afraid Roger is doing the dirty on you. He’s seeing someone else.’

‘I know that isn’t true. Roger warned me that you were going to try to break us up, but I didn’t want to believe him. To be honest, I expected better from you.’

George reached across the table and grasped her hands, saying earnestly, ‘I’m not lying, Sarah, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. He was chatting up a woman today and they’ve arranged to see each other later. It ain’t the first time either, and it won’t be the last.’

George sounded so sincere that Sarah found herself suspicious of Roger again. He’d said he loved her, had talked of marriage, so surely this couldn’t be true. They hadn’t yet made love, but had come very close to it, and she’d been prepared to give herself to him tonight.

‘I’m telling you the truth, Sarah,’ George said, unclasping her hands and leaning back in his chair.

She was sure George meant well, in his own way, but even though she had her doubts, he must have got it wrong. ‘You must be mistaken, George, ’cos Roger is coming to see me later. He can’t be seeing other women.’

‘I doubt he’ll show up. He’s always the same when it comes to women. He’s all over his latest conquest for a while, but then his eyes start to stray. I don’t want to see him make a mug out of you.’

Sarah didn’t want to believe George, but something niggled her, and she got the impression that he was telling the truth. If Roger didn’t turn up tonight, there’d be no denying it, and her heart was already beginning to ache.