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the rippling water, and you just know that any minute-

'Oh God, you're right!' she suddenly bursts out. 'You're right. He's been using me! It's my own

fault. I should have realized when he asked me if I had any experience in plumbing or

roofing.'

'When did he ask you that?' I say incredulously.

'On our first date! I thought he was just, you know, making conversation.'

'Katie, it's not your fault.' I squeeze her arm. 'You weren't to know.'

'But what is it about me?' Katie stops still in the street. 'Why do I only attract complete shits?'

'You don't!'

'I do! Look at the men I've been out with.' She starts counting off on her fingers. 'Daniel

borrowed all that money off me and disappeared to Mexico. Gary chucked me as soon as I

found him a job. David was two-timing me. Do you see a pattern emerging?'

'I… um…' I say helplessly. 'Possibly…'

'I just think I should give up.' Her face falls. 'I'm never going to find anyone nice.'

'No,' I say at once. 'Don't give up! Katie, I just know your life is going to turn around. You're

going to find some lovely, kind, wonderful man-'

'But where?' she says hopelessly.

'I… don't know.' I cross my fingers behind my back. 'But I know it'll happen. I've got a really

strong feeling about it.'

'Really?' She stares at me. 'You do?'

'Absolutely!' I think quickly for a moment. 'Look, here's an idea. Why don't you try… going

to have lunch at a different place today. Somewhere completely different. And maybe you'll

meet someone there.'

'You think?' She gazes at me. 'OK. I'll try it.'

She gives a gusty sigh, and we start walking along the pavement again. 'The only good thing

about the weekend,' she adds as we reach the corner, 'is I finished making my new top. What

do you think?'

She proudly takes off her jacket and does a twirl, and I stare at her for a few seconds, not

quite sure what to say.

It's not that I don't like crochet…

OK. It is that I don't like crochet.

Especially pink scoop-neck open-weave crochet tops. You can actually see glimpses of her

bra through it.

'It's… amazing,' I manage at last. 'Absolutely fantastic!'

'Isn't it great?' She gives me a pleased smile. 'And it was so quick to do! I'm going to make the

matching skirt next.'

'That's great,' I say faintly. 'You're so clever.'

'Oh, it's nothing! I just enjoy it.'

She smiles modestly, and puts her jacket back on. 'So anyway, how about you?' she adds as

we start to cross the road. 'Did you have a nice weekend? I bet you did. I bet Co

completely wonderful and romantic. I bet he took you out for di

'Actually, he asked me to move in with him,' I say awkwardly.

'Really?' Katie gazes wistfully at me. 'God, Emma, you two make the perfect couple. You

give me faith that it can happen. It all seems so easy for you.'

I can't help feeling a little flicker of pleasure inside. Me and Co

models for other people.

'It's not that easy,' I say with a modest little laugh. 'I mean, we argue, like anyone else.'

'Do you?' Katie looks surprised. 'I've never seen you argue.'

'Of course we do!'

I rack my brain for a moment, trying to remember the last time Co

mean, obviously we do have arguments. Loads of them. All couples do. It's only healthy.

Come on, this is silly. We must have-

Yes. There was that time by the river when I thought those big white birds were geese and

Co

We're nearing the Panther building now, and as we walk up the pale stone steps, each with a

granite panther jumping across it, I start feeling a bit nervous. Paul will want a full report on