Yes, Henry was bored of her. Henry Bryant – handsome and elusive doctor, frequenter of the websites where people like Pippa went to meet men, owner of the Android phone in Alfie’s pocket – was no longer interested in her.
And there was only one way to deal with it. He had to rip the plaster off. Put an end to it, immediately and irrevocably. It might as well be now. She didn’t know it, but this had been coming from the start. As far as she was concerned, he was Henry Bryant, a doctor, single, and devoted to his work, which was why he would often be out of touch for a few days. She had no idea he was married and called Alfie Daniels and about to shatter her dreams.
Sorry, he typed. Been busy. I’ve been thinking too. I’m not sure this is working out. I think it’s better if we call it a day. Sorry to do this by text, but I’m a bit of a coward.
Nice touch of humility at the end there, he thought. Bit of humour too. Should soften the blow.
The reply was immediate.
Are you fucking SERIOUS??! We need to talk, Henry. You can’t end it like this.
He chuckled. There was no point being gentle with her. This was the last he’d have to do with her and so he might as well leave her thinking he was an arsehole. It’d help her get over him.
I can, and I just did. Sorry. It’s over. Please don’t contact me again.
He hit send and took a mint from his pocket. He slipped it into his mouth. Time to go back in.
The screen lit up with a message. Pippa, again. Fucking hell. She needed to get the message and fuck off.
You bastard. You absolute bastard. You can’t do this to me! I won’t let you. I love you, Henry! I need to see you one last time so we can talk about this. I’ll come to your hospital at a time that suits you. OK?
Shit. She wasn’t going to give up easily. It didn’t matter, though. She had no idea who he really was, and if she did show up at the hospital he’d told her he worked at, they’d inform her there was no Dr Henry Bryant on the staff. He smiled at the thought of it. She really would be shocked then. Anyway, it made no difference to him. He was done with Pippa Davies-Hunt. He deleted her message and headed for the house.
Jodie, Claire’s oldest friend, was walking towards her across the living room. She was with a man Claire vaguely recognized – perhaps a university acquaintance – and as she reached Claire she gestured at her companion.
‘You remember Trevor?’ Jodie said. ‘I think you may have met at Bunny’s wedding last year?’
Trevor shook her hand. ‘Sorry to crash your birthday party. But I was out with Jo this afternoon. Happy Birthday, by the way.’
Claire smiled, and glanced at Jodie. No one called her Jo. Jodie rolled her eyes slightly, in a look that said I can’t get rid of him.
‘No problem,’ Claire said. ‘Nice to see you.’
‘Where’s Alfie?’ Jodie asked.
‘I’m not sure. Maybe getting a drink? He’s around.’
‘That was quite the … performance earlier,’ she said.
‘It was sweet of him,’ Claire said. She felt defensive, especially after Hugh’s comments. ‘You know Alfie. That’s how he is.’
‘God, I totally agree,’ Jodie said. ‘I didn’t mean anything negative, but not every guy sings songs at his wife’s birthday, you know? I actually thought it was amazing.’
‘He has a really good voice,’ Trevor said. ‘It was … impressive.’
‘He was in a band,’ Claire said, looking at Trevor. ‘That was how we met.’
‘He picked you out in the crowd?’ Trevor said.
‘Not exactly. They were playing at a wedding and he was on his break. I know – it sounds like a cliché, but he wasn’t the band guy looking for groupies at all. He was so nice. So relaxed. He told me about his career singing children’s songs. He wasn’t embarrassed, like some guys would be.’
‘He sings children’s songs?’ Trevor said.
‘He used to,’ Claire said. She was aware there was a hard edge in her voice, but she was getting sick of people thinking Alfie was some kind of beta male because he didn’t run about thumping his chest and downing pints of lager. ‘But sadly not any more.’
‘Well,’ Trevor said, finding it hard to know where to look. ‘It’ll – er – it’ll be a useful skill when you have kids.’
Jodie caught Claire’s eye. She knew they had been trying – unsuccessfully – and she changed the subject.
‘Great party,’ she said. ‘I saw Derek Pritchard. He’s back from Australia. Isn’t he the—’ Jodie was interrupted by her phone ringing. She looked at the screen. ‘God,’ she said. ‘I have to take this. It’s a friend. She’s been having a tough time.’ She lifted the phone to her ear.
‘Pippa?’ she said. ‘Are you OK?’
Claire watched as her friend’s eyes widened.
‘The bastard,’ she said. ‘That is so awful.’ She looked at Claire and Trevor and shook her head. ‘Pips,’ she said. ‘It’s noisy in here. I’m going to call you back, OK? Give me five seconds.’
‘Everything OK?’ Claire asked.
‘Not exactly,’ Jodie replied. ‘Her boyfriend dumped her by text. I think you met her once – Pippa Davies-Hunt?’
‘Yes,’ Claire said. She had a vague memory of a tall woman with very long hair. ‘Maybe at someone’s Christmas do?’
‘Dave Chapel,’ Jodie said. ‘She was dating him for a while. Anyway, she was convinced this new guy was the one, but I had my doubts. He came and went, you know? Blamed it on his job. He’s a doctor.’
‘Did you meet him?’ Claire said.
‘No. But I got a bad impression from the way she talked about him. Anyway, now he’s dumped her, and she’s distraught. The thing is, Pippa is a little bit’ – she pointed her finger at her temple and twirled it – ‘and she doesn’t take this kind of thing well. She wants me to come over. I ought to.’
‘No problem,’ Claire said. ‘You need to leave now?’
‘Maybe in half an hour,’ Jodie said.
‘Great.’ Trevor grinned. ‘I’ll grab some more drinks. Champagne?’
They watched him walk away. ‘Is he—’ Claire began. ‘Are you?’
Jodie shook her head. ‘He called out of the blue and asked if I wanted to meet for coffee. I remembered him from Bunny’s party and I figured it couldn’t do any harm, but now I can’t get rid of him. I told him I was coming to your birthday party and he invited himself along.’
‘At least you’ll be able to tell him you need to be alone with Pippa.’
‘Right,’ Jodie said. ‘Not that that’s going to be great fun. She’s really upset.’
‘I’m not surprised. Dumping someone by text is pretty harsh.’
‘Not something you’d have to worry about,’ Jodie replied. ‘Alfie’s not going anywhere.’
‘No,’ Claire said. ‘I doubt he is. It’s such a relief to be with someone who makes you