“No,” I said, disappointed. “No, it’s okay. I thought you were bringing me something to eat.”

I went back to the television and started to flick through channels again. Soaps. Game shows. The news. Nothing that could interest me now. I hadn’t thought of bringing a book to read and wished I’d brought my iPad with me. Out of habit I got up and started to pace the floor but that made me even more anxious and I quickly got back onto the bed. I pulled out my phone and looked at some news sites and at a forum I liked, but I couldn’t think straight. That conversation with Tom had exhausted me. Confused me, too.

There was a clink of dishes and a rap at the door. Room service had arrived.

As soon as the porter had gone, I poured a large glass of wine. Rain was coming down now, lashing against the window. It was comforting, somehow, like a rainy Saturday when you wake up and realize you don’t have to go to work. I stood at the window for a long time, watching the lights of the cars, blurred through the rain-splattered window, as they drove along the road. None came into the hotel car park.

Where was he?

•   •   •

It took a while for me to realize that Harry wouldn’t arrive that night. At ten I had a bath. I propped my phone on the basin beside the bath with a towel under it so that I could grab it to read any message as soon as it came through. The phone remained silent. No calls from Tom, luckily. None from my parents or from my friend Sarah, from work. She and I often chatted in the evening if we’d been too busy to talk at work. I was glad she hadn’t called me; I had no idea what I’d say to her. And I couldn’t risk Harry calling and having to leave a voice mail message. He might need to speak to me urgently and I wouldn’t know until I’d finished my call. I drummed my fingers on the side of the bath. All I wanted was to talk to him.

I knew where he was. He was in the same position I’d been in that night, telling his wife, Emma, that he was leaving her. We’d planned it all, synchronized timings. Now all I had to do was to wait for him.

CHAPTER 5

Ruby