Kristin and Sheryl discreetly disappeared after lunch, leaving Micky purposelessly lingering on the sidewalk with Martha.
“Dessert?” Martha asked.
Micky checked her watch. “I have yoga at four.” Micky could not afford to miss today’s class. She had too much inner turmoil to deal with—and renewed sexual energy to release—and she didn’t want to disappoint Amber by not turning up again. “Which gives me forty-five minutes.”
“I’ll take them,” Martha said.
✶ ✶ ✶
“I have known for years,” Martha said. “But when you’re married to the Vice Chancellor at the University of Sydney, it’s quite hard to just tell your husband and find yourself a lady.”
“Until he left you.” Micky was doing her best to remember Amber’s words about every single person walking their very own particular path.
“I know it makes me sound like a coward, but it’s not that simple. I have three children and two grandchildren.”
“Hey, I hear you. I have two teenagers, and I know how complicated it all is.” Micky sipped from her cappuccino, which still, invariably, made her think of Robin.
“Until we decide to un-complicate it.”
“Do your children know?”
Martha nodded, then stared into her tea for a few moments. “My two sons barely batted an eyelid, but my daughter, the youngest, has taken it quite hard. We were always so close, and I think she feels betrayed more than anything. Because I wasn’t honest with her.”
“If you could turn back time, would you do things differently?” Micky was seriously considering skipping yoga. Having someone like Martha to talk to, someone who had already made her way out of the boat Micky was still stuck in, was invaluable.
Martha scoffed. “I wish I could give a resounding yes to that question, but I probably wouldn’t have. Things were different thirty years ago. I married at the tender age of twenty. What did I know? If I compare that to all the things Stella, my daughter, has been subjected to in the first twenty years of her life already. There’s a world of difference.” She stared gloomily into her tea again.
“I don’t mean to bombard you with questions.” Micky suddenly became very aware of what she’d been doing, subjecting Martha to a questionnaire like that.
Martha waved her off. “It’s okay, really. If I were you, I’d do the same. Having someone to talk to about these things plays such a crucial part. I have no idea where I would be right now if it weren’t for Sheryl. Plus, I’m very interested in the details of your story.” She gazed at Micky with that light stare again. “I know you have to run, but would you like to continue this conversation over a nice, long meal this weekend?”
“I would love that, but I have the kids this weekend.”
“And you don’t leave the house when they’re home?” Martha’s smile was crooked and inviting.
“I do, of course I do, but, er, well, you know…”
“I’m just teasing you, Micky. If anyone understands the predicament you’re in, it’s me. You don’t want them to ask you annoying questions, and you don’t want to lie to them. I get it.”
“Can I think about it?” Micky wouldn’t be lying if she told Olivia and Christopher she’d be having dinner with someone she met at the coffee shop. She also wanted to know their plans for the weekend first, before making plans of her own. “I’ll let you know.” It wouldn’t even be a date. Martha didn’t strike her as the kind of woman who thought in terms of going on a date. Micky just really wanted to pick her brain.
They exchanged numbers, pecked each other on the cheek lightly when they said goodbye, and on her way to yoga, Micky came to the conclusion that she hadn’t thought about Robin all that much for the past forty-five minutes.
Just as Micky entered the changing room, her phone beeped. It was a message from Robin:
How about being just friends, no benefits?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Micky still hadn’t replied to Robin’s message by the time she got to work the next morning. She hadn’t been able to discuss it with Amber, who was teaching back-to-back classes and was attending a seminar on something Micky didn’t really understand in the evening.
The reason Micky hadn’t been able to bring herself to accept Robin’s offer was because she simply couldn’t imagine being just friends with her. The notion seemed so entirely out of the question that it seemed better to just avoid Robin altogether.
Until Robin stood right in front of her at The Pink Bean.
Josephine winked at Micky. Micky didn’t keep her younger colleague up to speed on her private life, but the girl was no fool. “Feel free to take your break, Micky,” she said. “I’ll bring Robin’s coffee over in a minute.”