Chelsea would never understand her pain. Her elder sister disapproved of her relationship with a married man. She never came out and said as much, but Lauren could always sense it. Perhaps it was because her sister secretly worried that one day her little life might be turned upside down by another woman. In her perfect world, perhaps Chelsea preferred to pretend that these things didn’t exist. Anyway, she’d be out and about on a Saturday doing important things to make the wheels of her family’s life turn smoothly.

Then, before she realised what she was doing, she’d pressed Zak’s number. A second later, he answered.

She sniffed her tears away. ‘Hi.’

‘Ooo,’ he said. ‘Someone doesn’t sound too good.’

‘No.’ More sniffing.

‘Are you hurt?’ His voice was concerned now.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’m in the world’s swankiest hotel in Bath all alone. And I shouldn’t be.’

‘Ah,’ Zak said. ‘A no-show from Jude?’

Lauren nodded even though she was on the phone.

‘Oh, Lauren,’ her friend sighed. ‘What are we going to do with you?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Where is the main man?’

‘I don’t know that either,’ she admitted. ‘Not with me. With his family.’

‘Come on,’ Zak said. ‘You have to be strong. Dry those eyes.’

She pulled a tissue out of the box next to her and blew her nose into it.

‘Don’t sit there by yourself,’ her friend advised. ‘Take yourself out, see the city. Pick up a hot guy, take him back to your hotel and shag him senseless at Jude’s expense.’

Despite her tears, she laughed at that. ‘If only it were so easy.’

‘Actually, that’s a really bad idea. You should scratch that last suggestion.’

‘I have a bit of a downer on hot guys at the moment,’ she reassured him.

‘You sound as if you’ve been hitting the bottle.’

‘Just a little champagne,’ Lauren said. But she might have slurred. ‘I’ll stay here. Entertain myself.’

‘Now that sounds too kinky.’

Lauren laughed again. ‘Now I know why I phoned you.’

‘I’m glad you did,’ Zak said.

‘I’ll be okay.’ Lauren put on her bravest voice. ‘I’m cool.’

‘You are a very cool lady, Ms Osbourne. Don’t ever forget that.’

‘Thanks, Zak,’ she said. ‘You’re a good friend.’

‘Don’t ever forget that either,’ said Zak, and then he hung up.

Now, for some reason, she felt even more lonely than ever. Lauren curled up into herself and cried and cried and cried until the tasteful cream linen was black with her tears.

Chapter 42

Chapter 42