Angel spent most of the weekend in bed, hiding from Katie. Her mind tortured her: she couldn’t shake images of Sergio, kept seeing him kissing her, unbuttoning her jeans, lifting her onto his desk. When Monday came, she went looking for him at the restaurant. It was locked. She waited, in the rain, until he came around the corner.

He smiled when he saw her. ‘Morning, Angel.’

Angel didn’t return the greeting. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘Friday was… a bad idea.’

Sergio’s smile disappeared. ‘I thought we had a good time.’

Angel shook her head. ‘It was a bad idea. It shouldn’t have happened. And Katie can’t find out.’

‘Why don’t you come in out of the rain,’ Sergio said, unlocking the restaurant’s door.

‘No,’ Angel said.

‘I’ll make us some coffee.’

 ‘No. Listen. Katie can’t find out.’

‘Why not?’

‘Why do you think?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Are you blind, or stupid, or both, Sergio? Katie fancies you.’

‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know.’

‘You do now,’ Angel replied.

*

Jemma popped into the pharmacy on her way home. They had a couple of different brands of pregnancy tests, but she assumed one was as good as another. She bought two.

She walked further along Bruntsfield Place, to buy some flowers, before turning back towards the Links. As she strolled back to the flat, she toyed with ideas for posts. It would be hard to make a pregnancy test look interesting, but the flowers would help. She wondered if Holly would consent to a discreet photo—if there was such a thing—of her peeing on the stick.

The flat was quiet when she let herself in. ‘Holly? Are you home?’

‘In the living room,’ Holly called. Jemma found her curled up on the couch. ‘My period started,’ she said, with a sad smile. ‘I’m not pregnant.’

‘Oh,’ Jemma said. ‘Oh, no.’ She went to hug her.

‘I’m OK,’ Holly said. ‘Just disappointed.’

Jemma was disappointed too. She would have to change the entire week’s posting schedule.

*

Sergio had taken to his office in the late afternoon, to stew over his conversation with Angel. He didn’t care much whether Katie fancied him—he was used to wide-eyed waitresses—but he did wonder whether she might be of use. She was a sweet girl. Gullible. 

She was polishing cutlery at a table just outside his office. Sergio eyed the box where they kept lost property, an idea forming. He beckoned Katie over. ‘Your friend… Angel, was it? She left her scarf here.’

Katie frowned. ‘I don’t think she was wearing a scarf.’

‘She was. She left it. If you give me her number I’ll give her a call, let her know.’

‘Why don’t you just give it to me? I’ll give it to her.’

‘Right. Yes. That’s a better idea,’ Sergio said, feeling foolish. He rifled through the forgotten spectacles and abandoned umbrellas until he found a scarf, and handed it to Katie.

‘I don’t think this is Angel’s,’ she said.

‘No? Fine.’ Sergio grabbed it back. ‘Hurry up with the cutlery. We open in ten minutes.’

*

Erin’s laptop was on the table when Andy got back from work. She’d heard his key in the lock and jumped up to start dinner.

‘Recruitment website?’ he said, eyeing her screen. ‘I thought we decided against you going back to work.’

‘Just browsing,’ Erin said. ‘Considering my options.’

Andy came over to the sink, where Erin was peeling potatoes. He put his arms around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder. ‘I can understand you wanting to go back to work,’ he said softly. Erin let herself relax into his embrace. ‘But I can’t see how you’d cope with working and looking after the twins. I mean you’re hardly coping as it is.’ Erin stiffened. Andy kissed her cheek. ‘Glass of wine?’ he asked. It felt like a trap.

‘No,’ Erin said. Her voice felt as if it was coming from very far away. ‘No, thank you.’

*

There was a light on in Angel’s room when Katie got home. She knocked, and opened the door. Angel was at her desk. ‘Sorry,’ Katie said. ‘Studying?’ Angel nodded. ‘You didn’t leave a scarf at the restaurant, did you?’ 

‘No. I wasn’t wearing a scarf.’

‘I didn’t think so.’ Katie sighed. ‘Sergio… he was a bit weird. Do you think… do you think maybe he was upset that I left early on Friday?’ Katie was aware how pathetic she sounded.

Angel didn’t look up from her studies. ‘I don’t know,’ she said.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have left,’ Katie said. 

‘No, you shouldn’t have,’ Angel muttered. Katie got the feeling she was bothering her. ‘I’ll let you get on,’ she said. Angel didn’t say anything.