People can hear you.’
‘How could you? How could you kiss her in our kitchen! How could you have sex with her in our bed!’
I’m aware of a solemn presence beside me and look up to see that the waiter is waiting to serve us our first course. I smooth out my napkin while he does this and then, for a moment or two, he and Bruce talk about the Chilean wine.
‘It’s surprisingly robust, isn’t it?’
‘O ui monsieur.’
‘And not at all bitter.’
‘Oui monsieur. Bon appetit.’
As the waiter departs the couple at the next table both give us swift, excited, glances. Bruce looks down disconsolately at his “Terrine de Volaille”.
‘Let’s try not to fight. Okay?’
‘Okay.’
‘You’ve every right to be angry. I would be too.’
Though misery has removed my appetite, I’m determined to eat at least four of my crevettes. Bruce also seems to be masticating with some difficulty.
‘I want you to know,’ Bruce is leaning forward again, ‘I want you to know that I never discussed you with her. I knew you wouldn’t like that.’
‘Thanks a lot.’
‘I know it seems strange to bring it up, but it’s the kind of thing that preys on people’s minds.’
‘How do you know?’ I’m surprised at his perspicacity.
‘A woman on the radio was talking about it.’
‘Yeah – there’s a lot of it about. I suppose everyone else knew about you and Cait before me. I suppose they were all sniggering and gossiping behind my back.’
‘Hardly anyone knew about it.’
‘Who knew about it?’ I almost spit the question at him. I’m quivering with indignation.
‘Oh, come on, Jasmine…’
‘Tell me.’
‘Just Eamon and Alice…we work so closely together it was impossible to keep it secret.’ Bruce is leaning forward again. ‘Jasmine, please come back. I miss you. Cait isn’t even playing the part of Avril any more. It’s all over between us. She’s working on a film in Belgium.’
‘So she’s out of the country?’ I manage a fifth prawn at this news.
‘Yes. I should never have got involved with her. It was a… a silly fling. Come back. Do. You’ve made your point.’
‘I don’t know. I need more time.’
‘I love you, Jasmine.’
I stare him straight in the eyes. ‘Look Bruce, if you don’t want a kick under the table keep off that subject, okay?’
‘All right.’
‘Anyway, if getting involved with her was so silly, why did you do it?’
Bruce rarely squirms, but that’s what he does now. He looks down at the table cloth, as if for inspiration. Then he looks back at me.
‘Do you want an honest answer?’
‘Yes.’
‘I like her. She’s encouraging and interested in what I do.’
‘And I’m not?’
‘No. Not really. You think Avril’s a load of crap, don’t you?’
‘I never said that.’
‘But you made it pretty obvious. It’s a big, big thing for me, Jasmine. I don’t think you quite understand that.’
‘I do understand that.’
‘Then why did you make all those withering remarks?’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’ve always liked being married to you, Jasmine. But when you’re with me half of you seems to be somewhere else.’
He’s right. Oh my God he’s right.
‘I’m sorry if I’ve given that impression.’ I sigh. ‘How is Avril coming along anyway?’
‘We start filming in two weeks.’
‘That’s great news. Well done.’
Bruce pushes a small box towards me. I open it. It contains a silver brooch in the shape of a cat. The cat has diamond eyes.
‘They’re real diamonds,’ Bruce says. ‘Not fake ones.’
For a moment I’m at a loss for words. ‘Th – thank you Bruce, it’s lovely. I really like it.’ I put the brooch on.
‘Katie said you would.’
‘Katie?’
‘Yes. I went to Galway to look at some locations last week. We chose it together. I didn’t show my appreciation of you enough in the past, I know that now.’
And suddenly I know, I just know, Katie’s been talking to him about positive
‘How could you? How could you kiss her in our kitchen! How could you have sex with her in our bed!’
I’m aware of a solemn presence beside me and look up to see that the waiter is waiting to serve us our first course. I smooth out my napkin while he does this and then, for a moment or two, he and Bruce talk about the Chilean wine.
‘It’s surprisingly robust, isn’t it?’
‘O ui monsieur.’
‘And not at all bitter.’
‘Oui monsieur. Bon appetit.’
As the waiter departs the couple at the next table both give us swift, excited, glances. Bruce looks down disconsolately at his “Terrine de Volaille”.
‘Let’s try not to fight. Okay?’
‘Okay.’
‘You’ve every right to be angry. I would be too.’
Though misery has removed my appetite, I’m determined to eat at least four of my crevettes. Bruce also seems to be masticating with some difficulty.
‘I want you to know,’ Bruce is leaning forward again, ‘I want you to know that I never discussed you with her. I knew you wouldn’t like that.’
‘Thanks a lot.’
‘I know it seems strange to bring it up, but it’s the kind of thing that preys on people’s minds.’
‘How do you know?’ I’m surprised at his perspicacity.
‘A woman on the radio was talking about it.’
‘Yeah – there’s a lot of it about. I suppose everyone else knew about you and Cait before me. I suppose they were all sniggering and gossiping behind my back.’
‘Hardly anyone knew about it.’
‘Who knew about it?’ I almost spit the question at him. I’m quivering with indignation.
‘Oh, come on, Jasmine…’
‘Tell me.’
‘Just Eamon and Alice…we work so closely together it was impossible to keep it secret.’ Bruce is leaning forward again. ‘Jasmine, please come back. I miss you. Cait isn’t even playing the part of Avril any more. It’s all over between us. She’s working on a film in Belgium.’
‘So she’s out of the country?’ I manage a fifth prawn at this news.
‘Yes. I should never have got involved with her. It was a… a silly fling. Come back. Do. You’ve made your point.’
‘I don’t know. I need more time.’
‘I love you, Jasmine.’
I stare him straight in the eyes. ‘Look Bruce, if you don’t want a kick under the table keep off that subject, okay?’
‘All right.’
‘Anyway, if getting involved with her was so silly, why did you do it?’
Bruce rarely squirms, but that’s what he does now. He looks down at the table cloth, as if for inspiration. Then he looks back at me.
‘Do you want an honest answer?’
‘Yes.’
‘I like her. She’s encouraging and interested in what I do.’
‘And I’m not?’
‘No. Not really. You think Avril’s a load of crap, don’t you?’
‘I never said that.’
‘But you made it pretty obvious. It’s a big, big thing for me, Jasmine. I don’t think you quite understand that.’
‘I do understand that.’
‘Then why did you make all those withering remarks?’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I’ve always liked being married to you, Jasmine. But when you’re with me half of you seems to be somewhere else.’
He’s right. Oh my God he’s right.
‘I’m sorry if I’ve given that impression.’ I sigh. ‘How is Avril coming along anyway?’
‘We start filming in two weeks.’
‘That’s great news. Well done.’
Bruce pushes a small box towards me. I open it. It contains a silver brooch in the shape of a cat. The cat has diamond eyes.
‘They’re real diamonds,’ Bruce says. ‘Not fake ones.’
For a moment I’m at a loss for words. ‘Th – thank you Bruce, it’s lovely. I really like it.’ I put the brooch on.
‘Katie said you would.’
‘Katie?’
‘Yes. I went to Galway to look at some locations last week. We chose it together. I didn’t show my appreciation of you enough in the past, I know that now.’
And suddenly I know, I just know, Katie’s been talking to him about positive
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