Page 70 of The Village of Lost and Found

‘How do you know it was Gary?’ said Molly before slumping in her seat. ‘Yeah. OK. We had a bit of row.’

‘Another one?’ murmured Amber.

Molly turned to look at her. ‘Don’t you and Josh ever argue?’

Amber frowned. ‘Not really. I mean, we disagree on stuff. Who doesn’t? But we always reach some kind of compromise.’

‘What did you argue about?’ asked Lucy.

Molly sighed. ‘Apparently he was flirting with some girls in a pub in Aldwych last night.’

Belle shook her head. ‘Dump him.’

‘You always say that,’ said Molly, laughing.

‘That’s because I don’t believe in true love,’ said Belle.

‘Excuse me?’ said Amber.

‘Oh yeah,’ said Belle quickly. ‘Except you and Josh obviously.’

‘That’s better,’ said Amber, laughing as she turned to look at Molly. ‘Look, do you really think he should be flirting with other women?’

Molly shrugged her shoulders. ‘Gary said that maybe if I wasn’t so sad and negative all the time then he wouldn’t need to chat to other women.’

‘What?’ exploded Lucy and Belle at the same time. Even Amber was looking open-mouthed at her.

‘He’s totally gaslighting you!’ said Lucy, leaning forward in her seat. ‘How dare he!’

‘I don’t know what that means,’ said Molly, looking upset.

‘He’s trying to get you to believe that you’re in the wrong when you’re not,’ said Lucy, still cross. ‘It’s him that’s flirting, not you. So how is that your fault?’

‘Maybe I should be more outgoing?’ said Molly.

‘Rubbish!’ exploded Lucy. ‘This kind of thing makes me crazy. What he’s saying is that you should remain quiet and unopinionated. Don’t roll your eyes or, heaven forbid, raise your voice! In fact, don’t make any kind of movement, otherwise he’s perfectly at liberty to crack on with the nearest girl! And it’ll all be your fault!’

She stopped, a little breathless as she looked at the three faces staring up at her.

‘Sorry,’ she said, leaning back onto the cushions. ‘Fair to say that I’ve dated a lot of wrong men myself over the years.’ She looked at Molly. ‘You do whatever makes you happy.’

‘But he doesn’t!’ wailed Molly, making them all jump.

‘Then dump him,’ repeated Belle in a firm tone.

Amber was nodding. ‘Look, we’ve wanted to say this to you for ages. We hate this guy.’

Molly looked startled. ‘You do?’

Belle nodded. ‘Yeah. He’s an idiot.’

‘You all think that?’

Lucy, Belle and Amber all nodded in unison.

‘Absolutely,’ said Amber.

Molly looked so upset that Lucy found herself reaching out to take her hand. ‘Look, I’ll tell you what I’ve come to realise in the short time since I met you. You’re kind and generous and beautiful. Please don’t put up with Gary’s rubbish. You deserve so much better.’