Page 19 of A Clean Sweep

Again, Michael tried to cut in, his heart pounding as Sophie’s fury reached a crescendo.

Again, she signalled that she had not finished with him yet.

'I know Mum did her utmost to keep you away from me, but what I’ll never understand is why you chose another woman over me.

You should have been hammering on the door, demanding to see me.

Tried to mend some bridges at least. But you just walked away.

And I really don’t know if I can ever forgive you for that. '

Michael knew that every painful word Sophie said was true.

On previous meetings they had tiptoed around the subject, both too afraid to voice their deepest, darkest thoughts.

He had been stunned beyond belief the day he spotted her in Cliffdown, wheeling a supermarket trolley around the local Waitrose, two small boys perched in front.

He’d been visiting an old colleague for lunch and had decided to pick up a few bits and pieces to surprise Celeste with supper that evening.

She wasn’t a natural in the kitchen, preferring to either eat out or pick up a selection of high-end ready meals from M now it was up to her if they were destined to meet again.

Sophie had simply looked at him with an expression that said she had no idea what the right answer was, but she nodded.'You know the little café on the corner of West Street and Wendover Avenue? I’ll meet you there next Tuesday. At 10am. '

And then she was gone. And Michael had driven home, knowing he couldn’t tell Celeste a single thing. Why create waves, except he didn’t particularly like the voyage he had set sail on. Rough seas ahead, he had told himself. But for now, he had Tuesday.