Free Pieces of My Heart by Sinéad Moriarty Page A

you because you just shoot them down.’
    ‘That’s because they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. Come on, Samantha, even you can’t defend that idiot friend of yours who thought a hijab was an Indian curry.’
    ‘She’s a busy mum of three. She hasn’t got time to read up on current affairs.’
    ‘That is such a lame excuse. Having children doesn’t make you brain dead – look at Cherie Blair and Hillary Clinton, for God’s sake.’
    Martin choked on his drink. ‘Get real, Sally. They’re not the type of women that men want to shag. You don’t have to dumb down, but maybe a less confrontational approach would work. Think less Hillary Clinton and more Carla Bruni.’
    ‘So what are you saying? That a woman can’t challenge a man if he says something she disagrees with in case he gets scared off? What are you, men or mice? Why do I have to pretend to be something I’m not?’
    ‘You don’t,’ Hilary said. ‘But it might help if you tone it down in the beginning. When the man gets to know you and falls for you, then you can challenge him on anything you want.’
    ‘I’m forty-bloody-three. I’m too old to play games.’
    ‘When was the last time you got laid?’ Martin asked.
    ‘None of your business.’
    ‘Maybe you’re too fussy,’ Samantha suggested. ‘Everyone compromises.’
    ‘I’m not fussy. I’m actually very low maintenance. I don’t want children; I don’t need money, I have my own; I’m not expecting gorgeous looks, but I would like an independent man who enjoys a lively debate and makes me laugh.’
    ‘What do you mean, “everyone compromises”?’ Philip asked his wife.
    ‘Philip, do you honestly believe I thought I’d end up with someone who’s obsessed with collecting stamps?’ Samantha snapped.
    ‘There are a lot worse hobbies he could have,’ Hilary said.
    ‘He spends hours locked in his study staring at stamps through a magnifying-glass. It’s not normal.’
    ‘Would you rather he was in the pub drinking?’ Martin asked.
    ‘At least it’s sociable and I could join in.’
    ‘I’ve met some very interesting people through my stamp collecting. In fact, quite a few of the men are single and I was thinking of fixing Sally up with one of them,’ Philip said.
    ‘Is this what I’ve been reduced to, blind dates with stamp nerds? Someone shoot me now.’ Sally covered her face with her hands.
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Philip. Sally needs someone who can challenge her, not some mousy stamp collector she can walk all over,’ Samantha said.
    ‘Are you sure you don’t want children?’ Hilary asked, looking lovingly at her two sons, who were busy shoving peanuts up their noses. ‘They really are such a blessing.’
    ‘I honestly think I can live without it, although it does look tempting.’ Sally suppressed a smile.
    ‘There’s no greater love than –’
    ‘A mother has for her child,’ Sally cut her sister short. ‘Yes, I know, Hilary, you’ve told me a million times. But everyone is different and children are not for me. I’d just like to meet a nice man and have fun. It would be lovely to have someone to go to the cinema with. Someone to go to dinner parties with. Someone to talk to when I get home after a shitty day in work. Someone to share good news with. Someone to spend Sundays with …’
    ‘There’s a bloke in my office who’s just divorced his wife. Nice guy, not bad-looking, successful, top squash player. I could see if he’s up for a night out?’ Martin suggested.
    ‘Why did he break up with his wife?’ Sally asked.
    ‘Caught shagging the au pair.’
    ‘He sounds like a great catch, Martin, but I’ll pass.’
    ‘So, as you can see, it was another fun family lunch,’ Sally said, pulling at the button on her jacket.
    ‘It sounds awful. But, you know, although they go about it the wrong way, they are just trying to help,’ I noted.
    ‘I just wish they’d stop obsessing about me meeting someone because it makes me