He laughed then shook his head. ‘I have no recollections about past lives, although I do believe that in the course of one life, we have many lives and different roles, are different people in the different phases we’ve lived through. Thing is, does it matter? Does it matter whether or not you knew someone in a past life? Surely what counts is now, what’s in your heart now. Take Janet and me: we loved each other once in our way, then grew apart. I suppose you could call that a past life in this life, or maybe past chapter is more accurate. Sometimes you have to move on, think about who you are now, what you want now.’

‘Are you saying you don’t believe what Saranya Ji said had any validity?’

‘Not exactly, but I wouldn’t let it rule my heart. I hope that doesn’t disappoint you.’

‘Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. As I said, a few months ago I’d have agreed with you, but a lot’s happened since then.’

‘You sound like Alice in Wonderland talking to the caterpillar.’

I laughed. ‘Exactly, and that used to be one of my favourite books, the part where she says something like, I knew who I was this morning when I got up, but I’ve changed a few times since then.’

‘Curiouser and curiouser,’ said Stuart, quoting more Lewis Carroll.

‘But not just that, what’s been happening has opened me up to the possibility of new experiences, like anything could happen, and rather than that being scary and to be shunned, it’s rather exciting and to be embraced.’

Stuart regarded me for a few moments with an expression that was hard to read. ‘That part sounds good, Bea.’ He raised his glass. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

50

‘Where have you been staying?’ I asked Michael when he called to arrange a place and time to meet him.

‘At Melanie’s. Now she’s on her honeymoon, they’ve let me have their flat. It’s not the Ritz, but it’s comfortable enough for a short stay. Would you like to come over? I’ll cook us something.’

*