‘That’s tough. I’m so sorry.’

‘It ruined me for a while.’ He shrugged. ‘I became pretty depressed. I found it hard to even get out of bed in the morning.’

‘Is that why you were on the long-term unemployed program?’

He nodded. ‘I probably could have found a job, if I really wanted one. But I was angry that I’d worked so hard for something and it was taken away for reasons completely beyond my control. I moved back to Mum’s, and for a while I didn’t do anything. Eventually, Mum said I had to do something or she’d kick me out. She probably wouldn’t have, but I didn’t want to take that chance. So now I work for you.’

‘But you always seem so upbeat,’ Rachel said. ‘I never would have known.’

‘The downside of being as charming and charismatic as I am,’ he said with a rueful grin, ‘is that people don’t tend to know when I’m suffering.’

Rachel smiled. ‘So how are you doing now?’

‘Better,’ he said. ‘Definitely better. Mum was right; it turned out I just needed to do something to get out of my head and back into the world. But I’m sorry to tell you that I’m not the catch you thought I was.’

‘Who says I thought you were a catch?’

Darcy laughed raucously, and Rachel couldn’t help but join in. They were just starting to get on top of their laughter when the waiter arrived and began unloading an absurdly large amount of food onto the table. Rachel felt the giggles start to bubble up again, even before he returned to the kitchen to get the rest.

‘Can I get you anything else?’ the waiter asked, when the entire bar area was covered in plates, and people were glancing over from their tables to see what was going on.

‘This will do to start,’ Darcy said, straight-faced. ‘We’ll let you know when we’re ready for the main course.’

After that, Rachel couldn’t hold it in any longer. She laughed until tears ran down her face. She laughed until she forgot that the man on the beach existed, until she was just a normal woman, out on a date at a Mexican restaurant, with a very cute man.

26

HEATHER

Heather wore the pantsuit to dinner. It was, now that she thought about it, a good choice. No need to worry about bending over, lots of room to fit in dessert.

Mary and Michael’s house was like something out of a fairy tale. As Stephen drove into a circular brick driveaway surrounded by climbing roses, Heather gripped the bouquet of flowers that Stephen said was unnecessary. She was grateful she’d insisted, though, because it gave her something to do with her trembling hands. Yes, this was the life she wanted – civilised dinners in beautiful homes, thoughtful conversation with intelligent people. But there was also something terrifying about getting what you’d always wanted. She could’ve used a drink, just to take the edge off her nerves.