I ushered him into the kitchen, placed the wine on the table, and took a couple of glasses from the cupboard. Then remembering Mark had arrived in his car, I stopped.
"You're driving. Shall I make some coffee instead?" I asked.
"That would be great, thanks" he replied.
I busied myself boiling the kettle and sorting mugs out.
"How have the kids been?" He asked as I placed a mug on the table in front of him. He wrapped his hands around it, and I noticed how long and slender his fingers were. Perfect for playing the piano.
"They've been ok. Joe did ask where his dad was this morning but I just told him he got called back for work. I've tried to keep us all busy just to stop myself from having to think about it. He even took the car, so I have no idea how I'm supposed to get the kids home on Sunday and...."
I'd been getting more and more agitated as I let the words out and eventually it was like a dam burst inside me. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Hey, come on, it'll be ok, I'll help you sort out a way to get home. You're not on your own, I'm here, and I would never leave you stranded ok?" Mark said, coming round the table to sit beside me.
"I'm so sorry." I spluttered. "I shouldn't be telling you all this. I hardly know you and this is my problem, not yours."
"No. I wanted to make sure you were ok, which you clearly aren't, so if letting you cry on my shoulder or vent your anger can help, then I'll do it. Besides, I want to hear how we've met before, and I can't do that till you stop crying. So how about it, eh?"
Despite the tears, I couldn't help smiling.
"Ok, but I think you may need a comfy chair, it might take a while. Let's go through to the living room." I said, getting up from the table.
Settling ourselves at opposite ends of the sofa, he turned to face me.
"You know, I've been wracking my brain, trying to remember where we could have met before, but I'm drawing a blank. I'm usually really good at remembering people too."
"I'm not surprised to be honest, it was outside the stage door at a gig you did I'm Manchester, but there were loads of fans there, so we literally just got an autograph and left" I sighed.
"Well" He said, smiling at me "I'm so glad our paths have crossed again. I certainly don't intend to let you get away this time."
I caught his eye, blushing furiously, and he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" I asked, puzzled, but smiling. His smile was to die for, and to know that it was directed solely at me made my heart skip a beat.
"Nothing, I just love how cute you look when you get flustered. You don't have to get all shy, it's just me."
"I guess" I replied. "It's just all a bit surreal at the minute. Yesterday my life came crumbling down around my ears, and now here I am, sitting chatting to my teenage crush" I laughed, shaking my head.
He leaned over to take hold of my hand, and scooted over on the sofa to sit beside me.
"There's one way I can think of to show you how real this is" he murmured, voice suddenly husky.
In that instant, I knew he was going to kiss me, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. His lips met mine with a feather light touch, and I instantly melted. Goosebumps erupted on my skin and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Now I knew what people meant when they said there was a spark. He took hold of my shoulders as I responded to his kiss, and I knew then that this was dangerous. I gently pulled away.
"Now this just feels like more of a dream than before" I said, smiling at him.
"It doesn't have to be. I know you felt that connection too. We have something between us, I know it" he replied, a pleasing note in his voice.
"I'm sorry Mark, I shouldn't have. It could never work. We're from two different worlds, we live at opposite ends of the country, and I have to think of my kids. Tonight was wonderful, and I'll always cherish it, and you, but I think we should leave it at that"
I watched as the shock of what I'd said hit him. I'd never seen so much pain in someone's eyes as I did right there in that moment, and it broke me. I turned in my heel, sobbing, and ran to the kitchen.
