Free Caught in the Act by Gemma Fox

anyone on the horizon. You know—a man, a dog, a cat, a goldfish?’ asked Netty.
    Behind them Carol could see two waitresses approaching with late lunches on a tray. She hesitated, hoping that the arrival of their food would break the thread. What could she possibly say that wouldn’t make them think she was a perfect cow, keeping a good man on hold while she weighed up Gareth Howard? She suddenly realised it was re ally important that they didn’t think badly of her.
    â€˜Yes, I have,’ Carol said, after what felt like for ever. ‘His name is Raf—and he’s—he’s…’ She could see that she had everyone’s undivided attention, ‘he’s re ally nice.’
    Netty groaned. ‘Bugger! Hard luck, kid,’ she said, taking the plate of steak and chips proffered by the barmaid. ‘Never mind, it could have been a lot worse.’
    Adie nodded. ‘God, yes, he could have had a decent job with a pension.’
    â€˜Or be sensible.’ Jan.
    â€˜Or reliable.’ Netty slapped her head and groaned.
    â€˜Or no oil painting but good with his hands,’ said Adie, shaking vinegar over his chips.
    There was no answer. Carol looked down at her chicken Caesar salad, wondering how the hell she was going to be able to swallow it down past the great knotted guilty lump in her throat. She looked round the faces. ‘He re ally is nice,’ she said thickly, but there was no way back now.
    â€˜â€¦And how have you been keeping?’ George asked, as if there was some real chance that all the years could be condensed into a line or two, as he launched himself gamely into Callista’s silence. ‘I kept meaning to ring—I always think of you on your birthday—but well, you know how it is.’ He paused, his discomfort increasingly obvious. ‘There wasalways Judy to consider and you know how things were, how they still are. I just wanted you to know that I’ve missed you. Missed you a lot. It wasn’t an easy decision at the time, not easy at all.’
    Callista Haze looked up from her drink, her composure totally unruffled. ‘George, please, there is re ally no need to put yourself through all this. It’s fine, I’m fine. It was all an awfully long time ago now. Life moves on, people move on, so please just relax and enjoy your lunch.’
    â€˜I know, I know, it’s been so very many years. I’m almost afraid to work out exactly how long it is since I last saw you—and do you know what, Callista?’
    â€˜What?’ she asked pleasantly. Surely there couldn’t be much more. George Bearman looked much the same as she remembered him, except he had a little less hair and what he had left had faded from old gold to a soft grey. He had the florid slightly purple complexion of someone with poor circulation and a bad heart. Poor George.
    He took a deep breath. ‘I regretted ever letting you go,’ he said. The words spilled out.
    Callista stared up at him in astonishment, she felt her heart dropping like a stone. ‘Sorry?’she began, but George wasn’t ready to be halted.
    â€˜Please, Callista, hear me out. Every single day since you left Belvedere I have thought what a bloody fool I was to have ever let you go. I’m so sorry, so very sorry, Callista; can you ever forgive me?’
    She looked up into his eyes to see if there was some hint of jest, some cruel joke, and found none; instead she saw the bright promise of tears. Callista’s expression softened. ‘Oh, George…’ she whispered.
    But he was in full swing now. ‘I felt so bad about everything, for betraying you like that, for abandoning you.’ He shook his head in total despair.
    Despite his obvious distress Callista couldn’t help laughing. ‘Oh, come on. George, stop it, people are looking at us, for God’s sake. What on earth makes you think that you abandoned me?’
    He was