Page 49 of Close to You

She says it with full confidence, although I’m less sure. I’ve known Jane long enough to realise that ‘career gap’ means giving up her job for good. There’s an irony in that she’s been onto me for years about getting into a proper career, while she’s seemingly been waiting for Ben to earn enough that she can be kept.

I don’t say that, obviously, and then the server brings across a pair of bowls filled with yoghurt, banana, strawberry, some seeds and granola on the top.

We each dig in and there is certainly something trifling about it. I wasn’t exactly being honest when I said I had no idea what an acai bowl was. Every diet book or women’s magazine has spent the past few years banging on about how it’s the solution to everything from weight loss to curing cancer.

‘How is it?’ the server asks.

‘Good,’ I tell him – although I was never going to say anything else. He’s literally made it in front of us and only a maniac would tell him it was horrible. ‘I guess this is what all the fuss is about,’ I add.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Some of my clients told me about this place opening.’

He rocks back on his heels slightly, which is no mean feat considering the tightness of his jeans. ‘What do you do?’ he asks.

‘I’m a personal trainer and run a few different exercise classes.’

‘Oh. Hang on a minute.’

He disappears behind the counter into a back room and then reappears moments later with a pile of what looks like business cards.

‘Take these,’ he says, passing them over. ‘They’re all for ten per cent off. Give them to whoever you want.’ He nods to Jane. ‘In return, you and your friend can have a discount whenever you’re in.’

‘That’s really good of you,’ I say.

He offers his hand and we shake.

‘I’m Andy,’ he says. ‘I’ve not long moved down to the area. Hopefully see you around.’

There’s a slight moment of awkwardness before he returns behind the counter and starts to scrub at what is probably a non-existent spot of dust.

I lean in towards Jane and lower my voice. ‘I think he might have a thing for you,’ I say.

She snorts: ‘He’s got a bit of a yummy mummy following. You should see what they’re saying on the secret village Facebook group.’

‘Whatarethey saying?’

‘Put it this way: his skinny jeans are on the brink of getting their own fan page. Anyway, I don’t think it’smethat he has a thing for.’

I turn and glance in Andy’s direction and it’s as if he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t as he quickly spins back to whatever he’s supposedly working on.

Almost as if to emphasise Jane’s point, the door goes and a pair of women with prams enter. I’m distracted enough by them that I almost miss the significance of what Jane says next.

‘I saw David’s car this morning…’

When I turn back to her, she is absent-mindedly tucking into the bowl.

‘Were you up early?’ I ask.

‘Not particularly.’

‘Where did you see him?’

‘At the services just outside Kingbridge. The one where you can cheekily join the motorway if the gate’s not down. Next to the Burger King.’

One of the women behind is giggling as she orders a cleansing juice and it’s hard to blank her out as I try to piece together what Jane’s said.

‘When?’ I ask.