II

Sally had known Daniel for as long as she could remember. They weren't close, until they met some years after they had last seen each other. It was at a party of a mutual friend's, and he was there with his second wife.

"This is Charlotte," he told her, smiling after their initial greeting. "Charlotte, Sally. We grew up in neighbouring shacks."

Sally laughed a little too loud. She had been drinking. She was also nervous, unwilling and yet eager to show herself to him after such a length of time: this is who I have become.

"Charlotte," Daniel said, "do you remember Mrs Marple?"

"Yes," said Charlotte cautiously.

"She's right over there."

"I don't really like her."

"Okay," said Daniel. "Okay. Sally, I don't think we'll be here much longer. Care to join?"

"Where are you going?"

"What are you doing?" Charlotte hissed. Daniel waved a lazy hand.

"Relax, Charl. Coool it." He grinned again. "Sal?"

Sally could see that they were having a rough patch. She didn't want to interfere. But Daniel was asking her. She couldn't say no.

It wasn't many months before Charlotte, in a fit of rage, packed her bags and left. Daniel was heartbroken about the whole thing, but on some level, relieved.

The truth of the matter was that she had nothing to do with the failure of Daniel's second marriage. Sally knew that. She knew it. Still, she blamed herself. Maybe if she had stopped him, Charlotte could have hung on for long enough. But how could Sally refuse him? Daniel?

She smiled to herself as she lay thinking of him. Smiled in his bed knowing that two women were alone who should have had a chance, not with him but someone else, years ago. Maybe she didn't have a chance either. Never with Daniel, never a hope in hell. But right now she didn't care.

Let them live alone with their bad choices. They should have known better. Besides, Charlotte had been engulfed at once by her large family, and Jenna had a young son to keep her company. Even that hadn't held Daniel for long, or Jenna's long friendship with him. Predetermined. That was all there was to it.

Sally sat up with a frown. Young Matthew didn't like her and she couldn't make out why. She loved children and treated him as her own. Maybe it was time for that, if Matt wouldn't accept her. That was a need she had, something she had dreamed of for a long time. Daniel was a wonderful father when he had the chance with his son. There was no question in Sally's mind but the small worry that Daniel had no desire for children.

She was probably wrong. Probably he was waiting for her to bring it up first. He was very sensitive that way. She lay back down, resolved. She would mention it tomorrow.