Page 31 of Love at First Sight

Ali is stood at the front door of the small cottage she’s staying in, backlit by the hallway light. She rushes to open Henry’s car door, and he stirs, spotting her and saying sleepily, ‘Mummy?’

‘Hi, baby,’ she says, stroking the hair off his clammy dream-tinted skin and kissing his forehead. ‘I missed you.’

Cal gets out and offers to carry Henry inside, and Ali shows him the way.

I watch them go, a small pit of sadness in the middle of my stomach.

I don’t think it’s Dad-related. It’s Cal-related, watching the ease with which he picks up Henry, the cosy scene of Henry’s half-closed eyes and Ali with her hand on Cal’s back, the picture-perfect family.

I sigh, and it makes Ali turn around. She furrows her brow quizzically, and I hastily force a smile, giving her a thumbs up.

She holds my eye and gives me half a smile back, and then is gone. I get Henry’s bag.

Once Henry is in bed, I try to explain to Ali that I need to go back to London.

‘But we need you here,’ she says, frustrated.

‘I know. I thought maybe Production could source you somebody? He’s my dad, Ali. I need to show up for him …’

Ali doesn’t say anything, her face doing all the talking. I know her well enough to get the gist.

Cal steps forward and offers: ‘I don’t really think it’s a problem, Ali, is it? I can nip her back, and then come tomorrow night, or Sunday? Take Henry home again on Monday morning.’ He looks to me. ‘Does that work for you?’

‘Yeah,’ I say, nodding, although I’m aware what I should say is no! Absolutely not! Ali is planning on proposing, after all. But. It’s my dad! Dad needs me. And if Cal can come back tomorrow to be proposed to, what’s the harm? He gives me a tiny smile, a comfort. I’m not alone.

Ali clears her throat.

We both return our attention to her.

Her eyes are narrowed, and she’s looking between the two of us. It makes my blood run cold and my face burn hot.

‘Interesting,’ she says to Cal, and yet she doesn’t take her eyes off me. ‘That you’d choose another woman over me.’

‘It’s not like that, Ali. Come on …’

I can’t stand her eyes on me. I look to the floor. I’m worried she’ll know what’s really in my heart, the thoughts I’ve been having about Cal – even though he doesn’t deserve them. Not really. But you can’t dissuade a heart.

‘Cal?’ Ali says. ‘I think we’re done here. It’s been fun, but this was never going to work long-term, was it?’

I don’t understand what’s going on. What did she just say?

‘I can just get the train in the morning …’ I say, holding up my hands in surrender. ‘I’m so sorry to have caused all this bother. It’s fine, really.’

‘No,’ Cal says, firmly. ‘It’s not. Ali, you’re being unreasonable.’

Ali seems the calmest out of all of us – but then, I suppose it’s easier to stay calm when you’re the one with all the power.

‘Cal, I’ll have somebody send you anything you’ve left at the house. If you wouldn’t mind waiting in the car whilst I have a word with Jessie, thanks.’

I look to Cal, who is the personification of dumbfounded. ‘Seriously?’ he says, voice cold.

‘Yah,’ Ali says, like he’s nothing, like she doesn’t care, like she wasn’t thinking of proposing to him this weekend. This is unbelievable.

Cal lets out a shocked laugh, shakes his head and then turns to me. ‘I’ll wait for you outside, then, I guess.’

I nod, not daring to speak. If she can so easily get rid of the boyfriend she was willing to marry two days ago, what is she going to do with me? A rush of cold floods my body.

‘Jessie,’ Ali says, once the door is closed. ‘Let’s sit.’

I hold my breath as we organise ourselves around a small kitchen table, a vase of cow parsley and soft lilacs between us. Ali’s demeanour has changed – she’s not hard with me, she’s being overtly soft, gentle, her voice modified to sound maternal and warm.

‘I’m not going to get cross with you,’ she says, and her smile feels sinister, almost. This is very, very weird. ‘But I do want to be very clear. It’s Cal, or it’s us. Me and Henry. That’s it. That’s the choice.’

‘What?’ I say. ‘What do you mean?’

I cannot believe she has read me so clearly, that I am the kind of woman who would let herself fall for her boss’s – her friend’s – boyfriend.

‘I don’t know if something has already happened, or if you both simply want something to happen, but I am nobody’s fool. You and I have known each other for a very long time, so I’m giving you the courtesy of letting you know where I stand. It’s up to you what you choose.’

‘Ali, I don’t know what you mean.’

She holds up a hand. ‘Please don’t,’ she insists.

‘You’ll only embarrass yourself. It’s as clear as day between you.

Right from when he first came to the house, I’ve known there’s been something there.

I was perhaps too gracious in trying to ignore it, but I see he’s made his choice.

’ She gets up to take a glass out of a cupboard, calmly fills it with water from the tap.

‘Go to your father,’ she says. ‘He’s a good man, and you’re a good daughter.

As for Cal, let me know what you decide. ’

I am totally stunned. ‘How could you threaten to fire me if I’m family?’ I ask, and Ali simply shrugs.

‘Exactly,’ she says. ‘You’re family. So really, there’s no choice at all. Is there?’