Page 45 of Wife After Wife

“I don’t think I’d be much help, Megan,” she replied, ignoring Percy. “You know what I think. You’ve got to give Charles a chance with Cassandra—there are kids involved. If rehab works, they could be all set for a fresh start.”

“But what’s the point? He doesn’t love her anymore. He loves me. He told me.”

“You’ve been seeing him?” said Percy. He looked shocked.

Ana knew what was going on between Megan and Charles. She’d rather not have known, and had told Megan it wasn’t happening in this flat—but she hadn’t shared the news with Percy.

She’d been hoping it would all go away, that Megan would move on, to someone younger, unmarried, childless. In all the time she’d known her, Megan had never stuck with a man longer than a month or two, always growing bored.

But Megan insisted on sharing every last detail of her deepening relationship. She was worryingly indiscreet, and Ana had warned her that if news of Charles’s philandering reached his wife, that might set Cassandra back, and that wouldn’t help anyone.

“Look, I’m not a home-wrecker,” she’d replied. “Their marriage is finished. She’ll just have to get over it. I’ve known Charles since I was a girl, and I’ve never really loved anyone else. It’s always been him. I justhad to wait to grow up. And he said he’s had lots of affairs; she’s even known about some of them—”

“Is that supposed to make me more sympathetic toward him?” Ana had cut in.

“Well you see, now he realizes they were all a symptom of his dissatisfaction with his marriage. She wasn’t enough. He says he’s never felt about anyone the way he feels about me.”

To Ana, Charles just sounded weak. And that particular sort of weakness, the type that involved concocting a pathetic, self-justifying rationale for bad behavior, was the worst weakness of all. If Charles had betrayed Cassandra time after time, no wonder she’d sought comfort in the bottle.

“Sounds as if you two are serious,” said Percy. “What does Harry think about it?”

“He doesn’t realize how we feel,” Megan replied. “I’m going to put him straight tonight. If Harry’s hearing it from both Charles and me, we might be able to change his mind. He knows we’ve always loved each other—it’s just a different kind of love now.”

“How about we stay for a little while, and then go out for a drink?” said Percy. “You and Harry could come with us?”

“Harry will be going home,” Ana said.

There was a knock at the door. It looked like big brother was already here.

Ana went into the kitchen to put the kettle on. She’d busy herself making tea.

She heard the murmur of voices from the next room. Mainly Percy’s.

She poked her head around the door. “Would anyone like tea or coffee? Hello, Harry.”

“Ana. Tea would be lovely. I’m parched.”

For a moment she saw Percy through Harry’s eyes. He was wearing acid-wash jeans and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his chunky gold watch. His blond curls, much longer at the back than the front, fell over his turned-up collar. The look she’d initiallyfound quite appealing now looked try-hard next to Harry’s beautifully tailored suit. She wondered if Harry knew Percy was heading up the pitch team for the Rose account.

“Can we not have wine?” called Megan.

“Tea first,” replied Ana. “Percy, can you give me a hand?”

As he came into the kitchen, she pushed the door shut. “Percy, it’s really important that Megan and Harry sort this out. Don’t get in the way.”

“I understand. But it’s important for me to network. I shouldn’t waste this opportunity to get to know Harry a little better. You know what’s coming up.”

“Leave it, Percy! Tonight has nothing to do with business.” She crashed the mugs down onto the tray and wrenched open the fridge door. “Milk! No bloody milk again. Bloody Megan.”

“Calm down, Ana. What’s wrong? Anyone would think it was you getting a bollocking from Harry.”

She spotted the milk hiding behind a stack of ready meals.

Ana opened the kitchen door again and saw Megan in floods of tears. But Harry was talking to her gently. He had a lovely voice, low and reassuring.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Ana. “I just wondered... milk and sugar, Harry?”

He smiled at her. “A drop of milk, thanks.”