so he knew it was her.
“Hello Matt,” she said uncertainly.
“Hello. Are you ok?” he asked immediately. It was as if he had been waiting for her to ring, expecting to hear from her.
She paused. She didn’t know what to say. Then the words came.
“I need to see you.”
“I’ve been hoping you’d call.”
“When is best for you?”
“Shall we go out for lunch?”
She thought a moment. How would that look? What if she was seen?
As if reading her thoughts he spoke.
“We can meet in the car park. I know a pub we can go to. There won’t be anyone there who knows us.”
How did he know about local out of the way pubs she wondered? Did he often use them? She felt an ache, a jealousy that she knew she should not be feeling.
“Sounds fine,” she said. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes – I’ll meet you in the car park at twelve.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
She put the phone down. What had she just agreed to? Going out to lunch in a remote pub with a man she hardly knew to discuss something she didn’t understand.
Suddenly an email popped up on her screen. From Matt. It read simply:
“I know you’re scared and have lots of questions. But I can help. I promise. And go to Dr Priestley’s lecture tonight. It will explain things. ”
She reread it. It seemed as if he knew what she was going through but how could that be? And what about this physicist? Should she go to the lecture?
She didn’t reply to the email. She wouldn’t have known what to say if she had. The rest of the day passed quickly. Work was busy and almost, almost, took her mind off what was happening. At four she decided to finish work early and go into town. She would not admit to herself that she intended going to the lecture, she was just going to go into town and see how she felt when she was there. She texted Damien. “Fancy meeting up in town tonight for food and drink before going home.” He texted back almost immediately, “Great. I’ll see you in the Three Tuns. Can’t wait.” It was their usual meeting place.
On the bus she thought about what the next day could bring. She felt nervous and shy at the thought of meeting Matt, but there was also excitement too. She realised she wanted to spend some time with him, to get to know him. Immediately she felt guilty. She was going to sit tonight with Damien talking about everything that had happened that day but really talking about nothing. How long could she keep this up?
You’re doing this to protect him, said her inner voice. Remember that. It’s pointless telling him anything until you speak to the doctor.
But a part of her wondered at that. Was that really the reason she wasn’t telling him what had been happening? Or was it more the fact she wanted to keep Matt secret, that she was feeling something for a man she hardly knew that was making her feel guilty, as if she was betraying her marriage vows. But which vows? It was as if two memories of two different weddings were now vying for attention and loyalty.
In town she wandered aimlessly from shop to shop. Many were already getting ready to close up even though it was not yet five o'clock. She looked at the clothes in Next, the food hall in M&S and then walked around the local market, tempted by the fruits and cheeses but resisting in the end. Nothing really held her attention for long. She felt restless and ill at ease. Everything seemed strange and unfamiliar. It must be because I haven’t been in town for ages she said to herself, but even that didn’t ring true.
She left the market and walked to St Mary’s church. It was half past five, the time the lecture was due to start. St Mary’s was one of her favourite churches in the city. It stood out in the middle of the bustling town square, spiritual refuge amongst a backdrop of bargains and sales and price drops. The grounds were well kept. People sat on the benches that were dotted all around, enjoying the peace. In the
“Hello Matt,” she said uncertainly.
“Hello. Are you ok?” he asked immediately. It was as if he had been waiting for her to ring, expecting to hear from her.
She paused. She didn’t know what to say. Then the words came.
“I need to see you.”
“I’ve been hoping you’d call.”
“When is best for you?”
“Shall we go out for lunch?”
She thought a moment. How would that look? What if she was seen?
As if reading her thoughts he spoke.
“We can meet in the car park. I know a pub we can go to. There won’t be anyone there who knows us.”
How did he know about local out of the way pubs she wondered? Did he often use them? She felt an ache, a jealousy that she knew she should not be feeling.
“Sounds fine,” she said. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes – I’ll meet you in the car park at twelve.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
She put the phone down. What had she just agreed to? Going out to lunch in a remote pub with a man she hardly knew to discuss something she didn’t understand.
Suddenly an email popped up on her screen. From Matt. It read simply:
“I know you’re scared and have lots of questions. But I can help. I promise. And go to Dr Priestley’s lecture tonight. It will explain things. ”
She reread it. It seemed as if he knew what she was going through but how could that be? And what about this physicist? Should she go to the lecture?
She didn’t reply to the email. She wouldn’t have known what to say if she had. The rest of the day passed quickly. Work was busy and almost, almost, took her mind off what was happening. At four she decided to finish work early and go into town. She would not admit to herself that she intended going to the lecture, she was just going to go into town and see how she felt when she was there. She texted Damien. “Fancy meeting up in town tonight for food and drink before going home.” He texted back almost immediately, “Great. I’ll see you in the Three Tuns. Can’t wait.” It was their usual meeting place.
On the bus she thought about what the next day could bring. She felt nervous and shy at the thought of meeting Matt, but there was also excitement too. She realised she wanted to spend some time with him, to get to know him. Immediately she felt guilty. She was going to sit tonight with Damien talking about everything that had happened that day but really talking about nothing. How long could she keep this up?
You’re doing this to protect him, said her inner voice. Remember that. It’s pointless telling him anything until you speak to the doctor.
But a part of her wondered at that. Was that really the reason she wasn’t telling him what had been happening? Or was it more the fact she wanted to keep Matt secret, that she was feeling something for a man she hardly knew that was making her feel guilty, as if she was betraying her marriage vows. But which vows? It was as if two memories of two different weddings were now vying for attention and loyalty.
In town she wandered aimlessly from shop to shop. Many were already getting ready to close up even though it was not yet five o'clock. She looked at the clothes in Next, the food hall in M&S and then walked around the local market, tempted by the fruits and cheeses but resisting in the end. Nothing really held her attention for long. She felt restless and ill at ease. Everything seemed strange and unfamiliar. It must be because I haven’t been in town for ages she said to herself, but even that didn’t ring true.
She left the market and walked to St Mary’s church. It was half past five, the time the lecture was due to start. St Mary’s was one of her favourite churches in the city. It stood out in the middle of the bustling town square, spiritual refuge amongst a backdrop of bargains and sales and price drops. The grounds were well kept. People sat on the benches that were dotted all around, enjoying the peace. In the
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