‘I think he does,’ I admit. ‘He’s asked me to go to one of the work’s events next week.’

‘Are you going?’

I nod. ‘He said would you like to come along too.’

‘You know,’ Lauren says, ‘you need to tread very carefully here. He is a young, single guy.’

‘Not that much younger than me,’ I point out. ‘He’s about thirty-four.’

Lauren puffs out an irritated breath. ‘I can’t believe that this is you talking. What if you go to this dinner or event or whatever it is – what then? What if he wants to take it further? Do you really know what you’re starting out on?’

I don’t remind her that she has provided a very good role model for adulterous affairs over the last few years.

‘What if Greg was to find out?’ my sister goes on, warming to her theme. ‘You’re willing to risk breaking up your family for someone like that?’

‘This is the pot calling the kettle black.’ I fold my arms defensively. ‘Aren’t you currently in the process of trying to break up someone else’s family?’

Lauren’s face darkens. ‘That’s different.’

‘It is,’ I agree. ‘Jude’s children are only young so it will be completely devastating for them, whereas mine are about to fly the nest anyway. It will be easier for them to adjust to their parents living apart.’

‘So you’ve really thought about this?’ she says, mouth falling open.

‘Yes, I have.’ Whereas I think my sister has not.

‘Georgia doesn’t love Jude like Greg loves you.’

‘Open your eyes, Lauren. If . . . if . . . anything happens with Blake, then I’ll be walking into this knowing exactly what the risks are. Just as you did.’

My sister puts her head in her hands. ‘Don’t do it,’ she says. ‘I beg you.’

I say nothing.

‘I didn’t think it would hurt like this, Annie,’ she confesses, tears in her eyes. ‘When I first got together with Jude, I thought I could handle it. But I can’t. I thought I wanted him at any cost, but this is ripping me apart.’

‘And if you win . . . if you get what you want, then it will rip his family apart.’

The tears roll down her cheeks at that.

‘There are no winners in this, Lauren,’ I go on inexorably. ‘If Jude comes to you then he’ll leave a horrible gaping mess in his wake. One that you’ll spend years trying to patch up.’

She wails now as if in agony and rocks herself back and forth on the bench. ‘What am I going to do, Annie?’

‘Walk away,’ I say. ‘Come to your senses and walk away.’

My sister looks at me, eyes over-bright and red rimmed. ‘And what about you, Annie? Will you do the same?’

Chapter 57

Chapter 57