No, it couldn't be Mark, I thought, as I brushed the sand off my jeans. Why on earth would Mark Read be on the very path where I'd chosen to stop? However, when I looked up again I knew I wasn't hallucinating. It was Mark. Great! I meet the guy I've had a crush on since I was a teenager, and I'm a red eyed, snivelling mess. Talk about timing! I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and put on what I hoped was a convincing smile.
"Thanks for the hand up" I said.
"No problem. I'm Mark by the way, and this excitable pup is Dizzy."
"Lauren. Pleased to meet you both." I replied.
"Are you ok? No offence, but you look kind of upset." Mark asked.
"Yeah I'm fine..." I began, but Mark just looked at me as if to say, I know you're not so don't even think about lying. It was weird. We'd only just met but I felt as if I could trust him with my life. I'd never felt that way with anyone before, never mind a relative stranger.
"Ok you got me." I conceded. "I've just been dumped, and not in the nicest of ways either." I said, feeling a bit embarrassed about airing my dirty laundry in public.
"Ouch." he replied. "That's rough."
I nodded.
"You're not from around here, are you?" he questioned.
"Nope, we only arrived today. We're here on holiday for a week. I thought it might help us resolve things. Well obviously it did resolve things, just not in the way I was hoping."
I suddenly realised I'd been away from the house for quite a while. "What time is it?" I asked Mark hurriedly. I realised in my haste to leave I'd forgotten to pick up my phone. "Just gone 4, why?" he asked, looking puzzled.
"I should get back, the kids will probably be awake and they'll need feeding." I answered.
"You have kids?" he asked, a strange look on his face. "Yeah I have 2, Joe and Libby." I said.
"Cute names." he said, smiling. "Thanks, although you might not say that if you saw them fighting." I said, the first genuine smile on my face since we'd met.
"You should smile more often Lauren, it suits you." he said, looking intently at me.
"Thanks." I said, blushing. "Anyway, I really have to get back. Nice to meet you Mark, and you too Dizzy." I said, ruffling the dog's ears. He wagged his tail and let out a bark.
"I think he likes you." Mark laughed. "Hope you get things sorted out. Take care."
"Thanks Mark, you too." I replied, walking away.
