They found an ordinary café instead and settled down in a corner. Tiger leaned his precious rucksack against the wall next to him, stepping his foot through the strap so that no one could take it without alerting him. Angie thought that this kind of precaution was probably unnecessary here, especially given the size of the rucksack, but Tiger had done it as second nature without even seeming to be aware of the movement. An ingrained sense of precaution came as a result of years of carrying your life on your back, she assumed.
‘So, where have you been?’ she asked. ‘Did you stay on in the Cayman Islands? That’s where you were the last time I heard from you.’
Tiger ran his hands through his hair. It was beginning to thin a little now, Angie noticed, his forehead more prominent than it had once been and etched with long horizontal lines.
‘God, no,’ he said. ‘Had to leave there in a hurry a year or so ago. Some local difficulty with the dive school owner’s wife . . .’
He pulled the ‘oops’ face that she had known for decades and she shook her head.
‘You’re fifty years old. Have you not learned to leave well alone yet?’
‘Christ, fifty,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘How the hell did that happen? But no, to answer your question, it appears not! Anyway, I hopped over to Jamaica for a season, but I didn’t like the vibe there and someone told me about a new eco-village in Costa Rica, so I’ve been there. You have to go to Costa Rica, Ange. It’s amazing. The people are so friendly and they’ve got the tourist/eco balance thing spot on. They haven’t even got an army.’
He chattered on, telling her about the village, built from sustainable sources deep in the rainforest, and about the wildlife.
‘And the bloody howler monkeys,’ he said. ‘When I first got there, I thought I’d never sleep again. They make such a racket. But it’s like anything else really. Eventually you get used to them and then after a bit you don’t even hear them any more.’
Angie listened to him, transported for half an hour or so to a place that she might never get to see, but just happy to be in his company. Then, when he’d finished telling his immediate news, he focused his attention on her.
‘And how are you?’ he asked. ‘How’s Romey, and the business?’ Then his eyes met hers, his expression questioning. ‘No. Forget them for now,’ he said. ‘How are you?’ he asked again. The second time there was concern in his voice. ‘You look tired, Ange,’ he said.
‘I look old, you mean,’ Angie said, wrinkling her nose.
Tiger shook his head. ‘No. It’s not that. You don’t look anywhere near your age. But you do look like you could sleep for a month.’
‘Oh, it’s just the bloody menopause,’ she said.
Tiger put his hands up, palms facing her, and dropped his head. ‘Okay! Too much information. Us blokes can’t be doing with all that gynaecological stuff. It sets our teeth on edge.’
Angie laughed at him. That was Tiger all over – emotionally intelligent enough to ask the question, but never prepared to hear the answer.
‘And to answer your other questions, Romany is amazing. Wait until you see her! She’s gorgeous and intelligent and wise. And gorgeous. Did I mention that bit?!’
Tiger grinned at her. ‘Of course she is,’ he said. ‘She’s your kid. Remind me. How old?’
‘Sixteen,’ Angie said proudly.
‘Christ! Already?’
‘And you’ll never guess who is back in town.’ Angie paused for a heartbeat, even though there was no likelihood of Tiger coming up with a name. ‘Romany’s dad, Jax. Remember him?’
‘The tree-hugger? Yes. Well, vaguely. Don’t think he was that impressed by me. So, have you seen much of him? Are you two . . . ?’ He winked and made a lewd hand gesture.
Angie raised her eyebrows in disbelief. ‘You’re never going to grow up, are you? No. We’re not together. In fact, he doesn’t know that I know he’s here.’
Tiger looked confused. ‘So, how . . . ?’
‘Saw him at a party and then ran for the hills before he saw me.’
‘Does Romey know?’ he asked.
Angie shook her head, scrutinising his face for a hint of what he was thinking. ‘She’s made it very clear that she doesn’t want anything to do with him, so I’m respecting her wishes.’
‘But you don’t agree?’ he asked astutely.
Angie cocked her head to one side. ‘It’s up to her, I suppose. She’s old enough to make her own decisions. But I can’t see what harm it would do to at least say hello. I wondered if that was why he moved up here, so that he could be close to her. I have no idea, of course, but the thought crossed my mind.’