Page 24 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

But Jo was puzzled as she read the words.

Something has happened and I need to talk to you. Don’t worry, haven’t been arrested or anything xx

She pressed Pete’s number.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello, that was a strange text to send, is everything alright?’

Jo cupped the phone under her ear as she buttered the toast. Taking her breakfast to the table, she peeled the foil off the yogurt.

‘Jo, something has happened.’

‘So you said, what is it?’ Jo frowned and hoped Pete hadn’t been in an accident.

‘I went to a steam rally last week.’ Pete’s voice was low, the tone measured.

‘Yes, I remember.’

‘I met someone.’

‘Anyone I know?’ Jo thought of the gaggle of men who met at these events and the bored wives who trailed alongside.

‘No, you don’t know her.’

Jo felt her heart tighten. The silence was thick as she waited for Pete to continue.

‘Someone I met seven years ago, when I was away on the annual golf trip with the lads from the pub.’

‘I see.’

‘We met again, four years ago, and had a one night stand. She’s called Amanda, Mandy.’

Jo had a vague recollection of Pete mentioning a Mandy, someone he’d said he’d liked but nothing had ever come of it.

‘And?’ Jo pushed her breakfast to one side.

‘She was married then. She’s not now.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘It’s completely undone me.’

‘What do you mean?’ Jo’s hand shook as she gripped the phone.

‘I’m a mess.’

‘I don’t understand. What about us?’

‘There is no “us”.’

Jo could hear Pete babbling about his feelings for Mandy and how he knew that he’d never loved anyone else and only now did he realise this when she’d suddenly turned up in his life again. He went on to say that although he thought the world of Jo, he knew that he couldn’t go on with their relationship.

Jo felt as though she was listening to a stranger. This wasn’t the man she loved, and, as he droned on, she found the phone slipping from her hand. She watched it slide onto the stainless steel table and, as if in a trance, she reached down and ended the call.

The kitchen was silent, the table icy as she gripped the edge for support.

Her heart thumped hard and heavy. She took long slow breaths to try and ease the panic that was rising throughout her body.