Dan searched the kitchen counter for his car keys. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. As he moved this canister and that canister, he felt sure he’d left them here somewhere.

‘They’re hung up,’ said his mother. As she entered the room, she indicated to the key hook.

He rolled his eyes. The one place he should’ve thought to look but didn’t. ‘Cheers, Mum,’ he said. She was forever tidying up after him, at least one of them had the sense to put things where they belonged.

He gave her a kiss on the cheek, ready to leave.

‘Let me have a look at you,’ she said. Giving him a quick once over, she smiled proudly as she straightened his tie. ‘Very smart. Very smart, indeed.’

Dan looked down at his clothing. Aside of any big event where protocol dictated, he tended not to wear a suit. This evening though, he’d decided to make more of an effort and admittedly not just on the clothing front. He’d done a lot of soul searching since yesterday’s heart-to-heart with his mother. Their talk had made him realise it was time to get real – about everything, and starting tonight.

‘Thanks, Mum,’ he said. ‘Now are you sure you’re going to be okay?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘And you’ve got everything you need?’ he asked.

‘I have.’

‘Because I can always re-arrange if you’d prefer.’

His mum laughed. ‘Go!’ she said.

Dan gave her another kiss, then left the room, and headed out to the car. With one hand on the vehicle door handle, he looked back at the house, half tempted not to go out at all. He felt guilty about leaving his mum at home alone. What if something happened? Not that he really had a choice. Thanks to his track record, it wouldn’t matter if it was for her benefit or not. She’d only accuse him of making yet more excuses.

Dan reassured himself in the knowledge that he’d promised to be back in a couple of hours and readied himself for the night ahead. He took a deep breath and finally let himself into the car. After settling into the driving seat, he turned the key in the ignition, repeatedly insisting to himself that he didn’t have to do this, he wanted to do it. He put the vehicle into gear, at the same time, he recalled what his mother had said. He let out a little laugh. The woman always did make a lot of sense. This time, it was her words about making the best of the cards they’d been dealt that had struck a chord; and feeling determined, that’s exactly what Dan planned to do.

As he set off down the road, he thought about what lay ahead. Life might still feel daunting, but at least he’d come to a decision. In a funny sort of way, getting to this point had been the difficult bit. Now he had clarity and could focus.

He wondered if Maeve would notice a difference in him now he felt ready to commit. He hoped so. After all, in the time they’d spent together she’d made it more than clear that she saw they had a future. Yes, she understood his concerns and yes, she’d have liked to have met him under different circumstances, but who wouldn’t? He, himself, had wished the same thing. He, again, insisted he’d come to the right conclusion and while his heart might not have embraced Maeve just yet, he felt sure given a bit more time that would change.

He tried to picture the two of them a few years into the future. Would they be genuinely happy? Would they have the perfect two-point-four family unit? He obviously hadn’t had enough sleep as his brain began playing tricks. In his mind’s eye, Maeve kept morphing into Annabel, an image he didn’t want. ‘Like that’s ever going to happen,’ he said.

Forced to shake himself free, Dan knew there was no point going there. Thanks to his soul searching, he may have realised that’s what he secretly hoped, but in reality Annabel could never be the woman for him. In the last twenty-four hours, she’d gone from being just like his mum to too much like his mum and, even if he’d wanted to, there was no way he could compete with a ghost.

He’d always wondered why there’d never been another man in his mother’s life. However, thanks to their heart-to-heart, he finally understood. His mum had remained so emotionally connected to his dad for all of these years that she simply hadn’t been able to move on. So much so, she now seemed to be giving up on life for him. Just like Annabel couldn’t move on from her deceased husband, he acknowledged, although to be fair to her, she had made it clear from the start she was only after one thing – a baby.

He thought about the night the two of them had almost kissed and, despite his better judgement, he couldn’t help but question whether things would have been different had their lips actually met. Would he be on his way to see her now instead of Maeve? He doubted it and again told himself it would be silly to think otherwise. If they had kissed, she’d have probably refused to see him again, putting paid to their agreement, which in the long run he supposed would have been for the best. Even an idiot could see that, if he and Maeve were to have any real chance, he had to stop all contact with Annabel. He sighed at his own stupidity. Even an idiot could see he should never have agreed to father Annabel’s child to begin with.

‘No, you’ve made the right decision,’ he insisted. ‘It’s time to move on.’

He might not have relished the prospect of letting Annabel down, but it had to be done; and sooner rather than later, he realised, for both their sakes. He checked his watch and calculated how much time he had before his date with Maeve. With enough to spare, he told himself there was no point delaying the inevitable. He turned the steering wheel and began making a U-turn in the road. If he was quick, he could get it over and done with, ready to move on with the rest of his life.

* * *

Annabel turned on the taps, and looking forward to a good, long soak, added a measure of bubble bath to the water. She felt tired and her body ached. After an early start, she’d spent most of the day on her feet, putting together the arrangements for the young couple’s wedding. Thankfully, the bride loved them, especially her bouquet, a mix of raspberry red Darcy Roses, Red Gerberas and Burgundy Calla Lilies. All of them symbolising love and loyalty in one way or another, perfect for their big day. She smiled, as she recalled the young woman’s appreciative, verging on tearful response; a job well done in anyone’s book.

Annabel grabbed a hair band and secured her hair in place. With the bath tub almost full, she turned off the taps and slipped out of her dressing gown. The water felt hot against her skin as she climbed in and bubbles frothed and fizzed around her ears when she leaned back. She could feel the day’s physical stresses and strains immediately start to leave her body. ‘Heavenly,’ she said. Lying there, she closed her eyes. Now she just had to wait for her brain to relax as much as her muscles.

With everything that had been happening lately, switching off mentally seemed easier said than done. Of course, being worried about her sister didn’t help; if only she could get a hold of her. She hadn’t heard from Rebecca since the night that she had disclosed the news of Gavin’s infidelity; and she wondered if she should try calling again. Or she could ring the man himself? He’d definitely know what was going on.

Annabel felt a bit out of her depth and didn’t know what to do for the best. Contacting Gavin might create more harm than good, particularly if her sister hadn’t confronted him yet. Having left her numerous messages already, she supposed one more wouldn’t hurt. She just hoped Rebecca didn’t do anything stupid in the meantime. Annabel shook the thought from her head. Her sister was far too sensible a woman for that. She probably just needed time on her own to consider her next move. Plus, her sister would never do anything to hurt the baby she was carrying.

Annabel sighed, wishing more than anything that she could be pregnant too.

Laid there amongst the bubbles, she considered whether or not to ask Dan if he minded upping their weekly appointment. But with the man having so much on his plate already she decided she couldn’t be that selfish. It would mean taking him away from his mum and time with her had to be getting more and more precious. Poor Dan, she thought. It must be unbearable to watch someone fade away like that while knowing there isn’t a thing anyone can do about it.

She pulled herself up into a seated position and picked up the soap, simultaneously wondering how his search for a wife was getting on. When she pictured him on his dinner date at the restaurant, she recalled the woman’s appearance – perfect make up, hair to die for, and legs up to her armpits. As she slowly spun the soap around in her hands, Annabel found herself curious. Was this woman The One Dan had been looking for? Probably not, she decided. The woman was clearly all window dressing and no substance.

She paused and asked herself where this resentment for a total stranger had come from. Anyone would think she was jealous. ‘Now you’re just being stupid,’ she said. She began lathering faster and faster. ‘Jealous, my arse.’

Annabel dismissed the very idea and began to scrub herself clean. However, the sound of the doorbell ringing stopped her in her tracks. She realised it could only be Rebecca and hastily ducked her body under the water in a quick rinse, before climbing out of the bath. She put on her dressing gown, but didn’t even bother drying herself first. Instead, she simply paddled out of the room and quickly made her way down the stairs, ready to find out why her sister had been so elusive these last few days. ‘Thank God,’ she said, unlocking the front door and swinging it open. ‘I was beginning to … .’

Annabel fell silent, surprised to find Dan standing there instead. Obviously on his way out for the evening, the man looked very dapper indeed. She cringed, unable to say the same about herself. Does this man ever think to ring ahead? she silently asked.

After telling herself the little somersaults in her tummy were the result of embarrassment, she watched his eyes widen at the sight of her and, realising that’s how bad she looked, she blushed. She pulled her dressing gown tight over her chest, at the same time wishing its hemline sat below the knee and not over.

‘It’s not a bad time, is it?’ asked Dan.

Annabel gingerly put a hand up to the messy pile of hair on her head, conscious of the bathwater still running down her legs. ‘Erm, no,’ she replied. ‘I wouldn’t say that exactly.’

He seemed to be waiting for her to say something else.

‘Oh, sorry,’ she said. All at once remembering herself she stood aside. ‘Please, come in. Just let me go and throw some clothes on.’

Annabel raced back up the stairs and into her bedroom and grabbed the first clean items to hand. ‘There’s no point worrying about what you look like now,’ she said. She donned a set of fleecy pyjamas and a pair of fluffy bunny slippers. The man has just seen you half-naked. She caught sight of her reflection in the dressing table mirror and stopped to look at herself. ‘I bet his lady friend couldn’t carry this off,’ she insisted. Her shoulders slumped. ‘Then again, would she want to?’

She left the room and headed back down stairs, surprised to find Dan still standing in the hallway. ‘You could have gone through, you know.’ She gestured the way to the kitchen.

As she followed him in, she could tell by the aroma trailing behind that his aftershave was expensive. ‘Lucky lady,’ she said.

‘Sorry?’ he replied.

Annabel squirmed, mortified at having just thought that, let alone said it. ‘What? I didn’t say anything.’ It was a lie he thankfully seemed to accept and she quickly moved the conversation on. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ she asked. ‘Cup of tea or a glass of wine?’ She looked down at her attire. ‘A mug of hot chocolate?’

He didn’t appear to get the joke. Then again, looking at him he didn’t seem his usual self at all. In Annabel’s experience, there should have been at least one wise crack from him by now, but instead he had this serious air about him. As if he had something important to say.

He shook his head, declining her offer. ‘I can’t stay long,’ he said.

Oh God, thought Annabel. Try as she might, she couldn’t understand his demeanour. What if it’s his mother? What if she’s dead? She felt terrible at the thought of her trying to be funny when he could be on his way to the Chapel of Rest, a visit that would certainly explain the attire.

‘Is everything okay, Dan?’ she tentatively asked. ‘It’s not your mum, is it?’

Strangely, her question seemed enough for him to relax a little. He smiled. ‘No, it’s not Mum. But thank you for asking.’

‘That’s a relief,’ said Annabel. Although why he’d be thanking her for thinking the poor woman was dead was anyone’s guess. ‘So what can I do for you then?’ she asked.

Her mobile phone suddenly beeped, a text had come through. She decided that it could wait and she ignored it.

‘Well?’ she said. ‘You’re here because?’

She watched him nervously run a hand through his hair. Whatever he had on his mind it must be important.

‘I’ve been thinking. About our arrangement.’

Annabel’s heart skipped a beat. Glad not to be the one to have to broach the subject, he’d obviously come to the same conclusion as her, that once a week wasn’t getting them anywhere.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I know what you’re going to say and, to be honest, I’ve been thinking the same thing.’

‘You have?’ asked Dan. He seemed relieved to hear it.

‘Of course. It’s not as if these Wednesday nights have been working, is it? If they had, I’d be pregnant by now.’ She let out a little laugh.

‘There is that, I suppose,’ he replied.

‘So it’s only sensible we up our chances. Now, it’s understandable you might want to keep your weekends free, but that still gives us five other days to choose from.’ She knew she was rabbiting on, but she couldn’t help herself. ‘In fact, how about we forget the middle of the week altogether, and go for Mondays and Thursdays?’

Judging by his silence, she could see Dan hadn’t expected her to be one step ahead of him.

‘Well,’ she said. Annabel smiled as she waited for his answer. ‘What do you think?’

He seemed to pause for a second, but just as he was about to speak, her mobile began to ring. Irritated, she picked it up and looked at the screen. ‘Sorry,’ she said. Annabel recognised the caller and knew she had to answer. ‘It’s my sister.’

As he indicated for her to go ahead, she clicked to take the call. ‘Rebecca, thank goodness. You do know I’ve been trying to get a hold of you, don’t you? Is everything alright?’

She turned to Dan and mouthed another apology.

‘What?’ she suddenly said, her attention immediately back to her sister. ‘Just stay where you are. I’ll be right over. I mean it, Rebecca, don’t do anything silly.’

Annabel frantically ended the call. ‘Sorry, Dan, but this will have to wait.’ She began searching for her handbag. ‘I’ve got to go out.’