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feelin g a littl e bi t mor e unde r pressur e tha n norma l this pas t fe w week s an d it ’ s th e onl y thin g tha t settle s me . Y ou shoul d b e a smok e detective. ”
    “ W ell , bein g a fireman , I sor t o f am, ” h e responded immediatel y . “I’ m traine d t o spo t smoke , eve n o f the tobacc o variet y . I ca n smel l i t an d tast e i t a mil e awa y . ”
    “ W ell , fro m wher e I wa s standing , tha t kis s wa s yummy an d thi s al l look s an d smell s amazing . What ’ s th e occasion?” H e reall y ha d mad e quit e th e effor t fo r a midweek d inne r . Candle s wer e flickerin g o n th e table , o n the worktops , o n th e windowsil l an d o n an y othe r surfac e th at wa s fre e t o hol d the m an d a tastefu l shuffl e o f mellow musi c playe d i n th e backgroun d fro m th e iPo d dock .
    T es s wa s trul y impressed , bu t trul y puzzled .
    V er y puzzled , unti l sh e caugh t a glimps e o f the calenda r tha t hun g o n th e sid e o f th e dresse r an d that ’ s whe n i t al l becam e clea r . Ro b ha d marke d of f eac h day wit h a n ‘X ’ a s h e alway s di d (h e blame d hi s mil d cas e of OCD) , bu t today ’ s dat e ha d a circl e aroun d it . I t glare d at he r the n an d sh e couldn ’ t tak e he r eye s of f it . S o sh e glared back .
    “Wh y i s today ’ s dat e circle d o n th e calendar? ” sh e asked, secretl y hopin g tha t th e reaso n swirlin g aroun d he r head wasn ’ t matchin g th e on e o n hi s mind . “I s i t someon e ’ s birthday ? Y ou r mum ’ s? ”
    O f course , T es s kne w i t wasn ’ t hi s mum ’ s birthda y . She kne w th e date s o f hi s parents ’ birthday s bette r tha n she di d anyon e else ’ s . Bein g a n onl y child , h e alway s mad e a fus s o f hi s parent s s o sh e kne w i t wa s nothin g t o d o with them . W a s i t th e anniversar y o f th e da y the y ha d met ? No. Th e da y the y firs t spen t a ful l nigh t together ? No . Th e day the y firs t sai d ‘ I lov e you’ ? No . The y kne w al l thos e dates. The y wer e sopp y lik e that .
    “Em , no , it ’ s no t he r birthda y . . . I . . . ar e yo u trying t o chang e th e subject? ” h e asked .
    “Wha t subject ? M e smoking? ”
    “ W ell, yes, you smoking. Y ou know I hate you smokin g an d it ’ s no t goo d i f we’r e goin g t o . . . ”
    H e traile d of f an d a t tha t momen t T es s kne w tha t her suspicion s wer e true . Suddenl y th e deliciou s arom a of garli c an d ginge r turne d sou r , th e win e sh e ha d jus t sipped taste d bitte r an d eve n th e lingerin g warmt h o f hi s kiss mad e he r shudde r .
    “Rob , I thin k w e nee d t o tal k . . . again, ” sh e sai d and waite d fo r hi s fac e t o fal l a s i t alway s di d whe n they broache d th e whol e bab y subject .
    “Look , I’ m sorry ! Jus t forge t it . Let ’ s no t rui n what wa s suppose d t o b e a lovel y , romanti c evening, ” h e said .
    Sh e fel t s o ba d fo r him . H e ha d pu t s o muc h effor t into th e food , th e wine , eve n th e backgroun d musi c was tastefu l bu t th e calenda r ha d jus t throw n everythin g off th e boi l an d no w sh e wante d t o shak e hi m fo r not listenin g t o wha t wa s no w beginnin g t o soun d lik e a very worn-out , scrape d record .
    “ I can ’ t jus t forge t abou t it, ” sai d T ess . “ I can ’ t jus t sit a t th e tabl e an d loo k lovingl y i n you r eye s whe n I know yo u ha d a n ulterio r motiv e fo r tonight , Rob . I’ m o n the pill , Rob ! M y ovulatio n dat e i s irrelevant ! N o matte r how m an y time s yo u tr y an d tric k m e wit h you r sper m disgui se d b y a romanti c dinne r , i t won ’ t mak e on e blin d bi t of difference! ”
    Th e blood y calenda r wa s stil l catchin g he r ey e a t every turnaround . Sh e walke d toward s i t an d rippe d i t down .
    “Wha t ar e yo u doing , T ess ? Si t dow n an d relax . Please babe , forge t abou t al l tha t then . I shouldn ’ t