Page 47 of The House on Sunset Lake

‘I don’t really know him, but I don’t like to see Jen when she’s around him. She treads on eggshells. I don’t think life with him is easy.’

Jim could feel his heart beating harder.

‘His business troubles aren’t helping.’

‘Connor? I thought he was King of the Hill.’

‘Sure, that’s what he wants everyone to think. But businessmen like that . . . Well, a lot of it is just a con trick, isn’t it?’

‘You think Connor’s business is in trouble?’

Sarah hesitated as if she didn’t want to say any more.

‘I heard a rumour at work that he’s thrown all his chips in with some developer and that the project is in trouble. I broached it with Jen and she reluctantly told me how worried they were. She was even talking about using the inheritance from her dad to tide him over.’

‘But I always got the sense that Connor came from money,’ he frowned. ‘I mean, isn’t his father loaded?’

‘Not after Lehman Brothers,’ replied Sarah.

Jim had never really understood what Connor’s father had done. Something in finance as he recalled – or had he just assumed? Certainly during that hot summer Connor had made sure everyone was aware that his daddy had a yacht, a big house and a Cessna jet. But Sarah was right: often in those circumstances it was just a matter of moving paper around, keeping all the plates spinning. And when they crashed down, they could bring others with them.

‘Maybe I should speak to her,’ said Jim.

‘Don’t,’ said Sarah, shaking her head. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything. Jen’s proud, I don’t think she’d appreciate me gossiping.’

‘It’s not gossip when it’s your friends.’

She looked meaningfully at him. ‘Please?’

He thought about it for a moment.

‘Sure. I won’t say anything. I owe her a favour anyway.’

‘What for?’

Jim gave her a crooked smile.

‘For you, of course.’

The air was cold when Jim and Sarah stepped out into the street. They had been talking for two hours – more, in fact – laughing for most of it. Jim couldn’t remember having enjoyed a night out so much for ages. Sarah was funny, clever, mischievous. Her eyes danced everywhere, as if she were always looking for the next adventure, and as their conversation progressed and the more they revealed of themselves to each other, the less Jim found himself thinking about work, how he should be home catching up on his emails. The less he found himself thinking about Jennifer.

‘So are you going to walk me to the subway?’ asked Sarah, pulling up her collar.

‘You’re not getting a cab?’

‘Sitting in traffic drives me nuts. Besides, I’ve got to keep in shape for Barry’s.’

‘Barry’s?’ he said, feeling a spike of jealousy about another man.

‘Barry’s bootcamp. It’s a class I go to. It’s hard-core.’

‘So you’re keeping fit to keep up with keep-fit.’

‘Why don’t you come?’

‘When is it?’

‘Six a.m.’