‘Well I spoke to her on the phone last night.’
Diane’s face takes on a pinched expression.
‘Sadie said that she and Robert are in love.’
‘That’s nonsense!’
‘She also said that they’ve felt this way for weeks.’
‘Rubbish! Robert would have told me.’
‘Would he?’
‘We have a very close relationship. He tells me everything, Gemma. I know you were having delusions about Sadie and Robert when she was working for you. It was making Robert very unhappy.’
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my temper under control. ‘Well, it looks like I was right, doesn’t it?’
She sets the tea on the table in front of me. ‘You’re making a big mistake, Gemma. Whatever has happened or not happened, it’s done now and you need to move forward. You need to stop this selfish, dramatic behaviour and think about the children.’
I get to my feet. ‘And I need you to mind your own business and stop treating Robert as though he’s an eight-year-old prince who can do no wrong!’
‘If you split up this marriage, you’ll regret it, Gemma.’
I grip the edge of the table. ‘He’sthe one splitting the family up.He’sthe one who’s had the affair. This is his doing, not mine.’
‘It doesn’t matter whose fault it is,’ Diane says calmly. ‘What matters is what happens next. And that’s up to you, Gemma.’
‘I bet you wouldn’t be saying that if it was me who’d been sleeping around.He’smade this mess. He’s ruined everything!’ I need to leave here. I feel shaky and sad and furious and heartsick and I can’t bear Diane’s cool composure. ‘Tell Robert to drop the girls at the house before lunch.’ I march out of the kitchen and back through the hall.
‘Gemma, come back.’ She sounds regretful now, but I know it’s just an act to make me stay longer so she can try to change my mind. However, I’m not as malleable as Robert. Diane can’t bend me to her will – she’s never been able to control me – and it infuriates her. I hear the swish of her trousers and the clop of her heels as she hurries out of the kitchen to catch me up. ‘They’re having breakfast at Marco’s restaurant,’ she says.
I stop and turn around. ‘At Marco’s? So why didn’t you tell me that in the first place?’
‘I thought it would be better if you both had some space.’
‘Why didn’t you go with them?’
‘I offered to stay home in case you came round.’
‘Thank you,’ I say grudgingly.
She nods, her composure slipping. ‘Give him another chance, Gemma.’
‘Goodbye, Diane.’
‘Don’t do anything you’ll regret.’
I don’t bother answering this time. I just get into my car and head down to the seafront, barely able to concentrate on the road.
The traffic is frustratingly busy, the sunshine drawing everyone to the coast despite the chill in the air. Finally, I make it down to the beachfront car park, managing to slip into a newly vacated parking spot. I leave the car and walk the few minutes to the restaurant, feeling set apart from everyone. Removed from all these people enjoying the weekend sunshine. Going about their lives without any cares – or maybe that’s just how it looks to an outsider whose world is imploding.
I worry that I’m going to walk into the restaurant and see Sadie sitting with my family. That I won’t be able to control my emotions. That the girls will see Mummy losing it for the second day in a row. I try to breathe normally. I’ll simply go in, take my daughters by their hands and lead them out of the restaurant without a fuss. If the girls complain about not having finished their breakfast, I’ll bribe them with a Mr Whippy ice cream.
Marco’s is packed. It looks like every spot inside and out is full. I wend my way through each table, searching out my family. But after two sweeps of the place, I conclude they aren’t here.Damn.I must have missed them.
I catch sight of Marco behind the bar. He looks busy, but I make my way over.
‘Gemma!’ He kisses me on both cheeks. ‘You are here with your family, yes? You want a table? Of course. But we are a little busy. Can you wait ten, maybe fifteen minutes?’