the pond.'
'Oh right,' I say, halted mid-track. 'Yes, I've told you, haven't I?'
So I won't bore him with that anecdote again. I sip my champagne and
quickly try to think of
something else to say. Something that he doesn't already know.
Is there anything?
'I've chosen a very special meal, which I think you'll like,' says Jack, with a smile. 'All preordered,
just for you.'
'Gosh!' I say, taken aback. 'How wonderful.'
A meal specially pre-ordered for me! Wow. That's incredible.
Except choosing your food is half the fun of eating out, isn't it? It's almost my favourite bit.
Anyway. It doesn't matter. It'll be perfect. It is perfect.
OK. Let's start a conversation.
'So what do you like doing in your spare time?' I ask, and Jack gives a shrug.
'I hang out. I watch baseball. I fix my cars'
'You have a collection of vintage cars! That's right. Wow. I really um'
'You hate vintage cars.' He smiles. 'I remember.'
Damn. I was hoping he might have forgotten.
'I don't hate the cars themselves,' I say quickly. 'I hate the people who who'
Shit. That didn't quite come out right. I take a quick gulp of champagne, but it goes down the
wrong way and I start coughing. Oh God, I'm really spluttering. My eyes are weeping.
And now the other six people in the room have all turned to stare.
'Are you OK?' says Jack in alarm. 'Have some water. You like Evian, right?'
'Er yes. Thanks.'
Oh, bloody hell. I hate to admit that Jemima could be right about anything. But it would have
been a lot easier if I could just have said brightly, 'Oh, I adore vintage cars!'
Anyway. Never mind.
As I'm gulping my water, a plate of roasted peppers somehow materializes in front of me.
'Wow!' I say in delight. 'I love roasted peppers.'
'I remembered.' Jack looks rather proud of himself. 'You said on the plane that your favourite
food was roasted peppers.'
'Did I?' I stare at him, a bit surprised.
Gosh. I don't remember that. I mean, I like roasted peppers, but I wouldn't have said-
'So I called the restaurant and had them make it specially for you. I can't eat peppers,' Jack
adds, as a plate of scallops appears in front of him, 'otherwise I would join you.'
I gape at his plate. Oh my God. Those scallops look amazing. I adore scallops.
'Bon appetit!' says Jack cheerfully.
'Er yes! Bon appetit.'
I take a bite of roasted pepper. It's delicious. And it was very thoughtful of him to remember.
But I can't help eyeing up his scallops. They're making my mouth water. And look at that
green sauce! God, I bet they're succulent and perfectly cooked
'Would you like a bite?' says Jack, following my gaze.
'No!' I say, jumping. 'No thanks. These peppers are absolutely perfect!' I beam at him and
take another huge bite.
Suddenly Jack claps a hand on his pocket.
'My mobile,' he says'Emma, would you mind if I took this? It could be something important.'
'Of course not,' I say. 'Go ahead.'
When he's gone, I just can't help it. I reach over, and spear one of his scallops. I close my eyes
as I chew it, letting the flavour flood through my taste buds. That is just divine. That is the
best food I've ever tasted in my life. I'm just wondering whether I could get away with eating
a second one if I shifted the others around his plate a bit, when I smell a whiff of gin. The
woman in the golden jacket is right by my ear.
'Tell me quickly!' she says. 'What's going on?'
'We're having dinner,'
'I can see that!' she says impatiently. 'But what about Jeremy? Does he have any idea?'
Oh God.
'Look,' I say helplessly. 'I'm not who you think I am-'
'I can see that! I would never have thought you had this in you.' The woman squeezes my arm.
'Well, good for you. Have some fun, that's what I say! You took your wedding band off,' she
adds, glancing at my left hand. 'Smart girl oops! He's coming! I'd better go!'
She lurches away again, as Jack sits back down in his place, and I lean forward, already half
giggling. Jack is going to love this.
'Guess what!' I say. 'I have a husband called Jeremy! My friend over there just came over and
told me. So what do you reckon? Has Jeremy been having a dalliance too?'
There's silence, and Jack looks up, a strained expression on his face.
'I'm sorry?' he says.
He wasn't listening to a word I was saying.
I can't say the whole thing again. I'll just feel stupid. In fact, I already feel stupid. 'It doesn't
matter,' I say, and force a smile.
There's another silence and I cast around for something to say. 'So, um, I have a confession to
make,' I
say, gesturing to his plate. 'I pinched one of your scallops.'
I wait for him to pretend to be shocked, or angry. Or anything .
'That's OK,' he says abstractedly, and begins to fork the rest of them into his mouth.
I don't understand. What's happened? Where's the banter gone? He's completely changed.
is tensed up with misery. This date is a disaster. A complete disaster. I've made every effort
possible to chat, and joke and be funny. But Jack's taken two more calls, and the rest of the