AN: We get a bit more info about our couple now, but just in case there is anybody reading this who is called Melanie/has frizzy hair/crochets, I mean no offence! I know a lot of lovely Melanies and a good few cool crocheting folk! I've also stretched the Sam character fairly far from the TV show as you'll see. And the lines from the show obviously belong to TG (genius!) and BBC. Thanks for all the reviews so far, they are so appreciated.

Molly didn't do much on Sunday other than drag herself back from Ella's and collapse on the sofa. Charles was never far from her mind and she saw him briefly through the window as he waved Elvis off in a taxi about 7pm. She was curled on the sofa watching TV with the lights off so she could see him, but she was pretty sure he couldn't see her. Once Elvis had gone, he stood with his hands in his pockets gazing at her house for a minute before heading back inside.

Charles had been distracted since Molly had left the previous night. Although he kept telling himself he'd just been helping her out, he kept thinking of how it had felt to put his arm round her. The feeling of her hand in his. He couldn't figure out how that guy Daniel could have been with Molly. She was gorgeous, he couldn't sleep for thinking of her in that dress.

Molly didn't train on Monday so she thought she better run on Tuesday. She spent the whole time looking for him, but there was no sign of him. She was heading home, cursing herself for being stupid enough to put make up on for a run when he appeared out of his door.

He waved.

"Just heading out?" she called.

"Yeah, better push on."

Molly noticed he ran slightly awkwardly as if he was protecting his right leg. She wondered if he had an injury.

On Wednesday she had another Charles free run even though she'd gone out at the same time each day. She figured he probably was avoiding that time so he didn't run into her. She decided to treat herself to a coffee before she went home. She detoured to the promenade which ran along the back of Charles' building. She wondered if his flat had a sea view, mm she wasn't likely to see it. As she came along, she smiled to herself, she really did love living this close to the beach. She'd get a coffee and sit on the sand to drink it.

She pushed into the coffee shop and greeted the familiar staff.

"Hey Molly! The usual?"

"Please Ruth thanks."

She stood leaning on the counter, fiddling with her phone.

"Cheating after your run with a cake?"

She jumped at the voice in her ear, turning round to find Charles standing very close to her. He was wearing knee length khaki shorts, a blue Levi's t-shirt and navy converse. He looked effortlessly handsome.

"Um no! No cake! Just coffee."

"Me too. Is it good in here?"

"Oh yes I'm a regular! It's too handy!"

"Latte please." Charles ordered.

"Sit in or take away?" Ruth asked.

"Emm, take away?" He looked like he wanted to ask Molly what she was doing.

Ruth placed the take away cup in front of her and she paid.

"I'm just going to sit on the beach, want to join me?"

"Yes! Um yeah thanks."

Molly smiled at his eagerness, "See you out there." she said.

She headed out and chose a patch of sun soaked sand so it was warmer. Her stomach was in a knot and it tightened when Charles sat down by her, bending his knees up in front of him.

"This is nice, I can't believe I live next to a beach now." he commented.

"Really?"

"Yeah funny how things turn out."

She wanted to ask him what he meant, but she didn't want to pry.

A comfortable silence sat between them as they sipped their coffee. Charles broke it first.

"So how recently did your ex become your ex?"

He was being direct then.

"About 15 months."

"Ok", he paused, "I thought it must be more recent, it still seems quite raw."

"Is there a statute of limitations on heartbreak?" She was sharper than she intended and he drew back slightly.

"I'm sorry, that was really rude." she apologised.

"No no, I guess it's been a while since I had a break up, you forget I suppose."

"This was more than a break up. It was a nuclear detonation."

He gave a small laugh, "Sounds bad."

"It was."

She'd said on Saturday she didn't want to talk about it and usually she didn't. Something about Charles made her want to open up more though. He hadn't pushed for details, but she started to talk anyway and he sat back a little, allowing her the space she needed to unburden herself.

"Daniel and I met while we were doing our postgrad for teaching. We were really good mates for ages on the course. I was seeing somebody else, well-" she looked embarrassed, "-a couple of somebody elses."

Charles nodded and smiled. He had this way of smiling with his mouth shut, looking down and then cheekily back up at you. She almost lost her train of thought.

"So um yeah, we both got jobs in different schools, but we kept in touch. Then after a few years I got a job at the same school he was at and we ended up together. Now that I look back though, I think we just kind of went with it, there was no lightning bolt moment, butterflies in the tummy etc. I just assumed that was only in the movies as they say."

"So how did you get from ending up together to nuclear?"

"Last year he got a promotion at a different school. Deputy head. It was a big step for him. It had been suggested that I be going down that route too, but Daniel convinced me to wait because we were going to try for a baby."

Molly's voice choked a little and Charles touched her hand briefly.

"Anyway," she continued, "he started after the February break and by the Easter holidays he was having an affair with Melanie the home economics teacher. If it wasn't so bloody tragic it would be funny." She shook her head, "So that was it. My career path, potential children and life partner wiped out in a oner, all because he couldn't resist the advances of a frizzy haired bitch who crochets for fun."

"Wow that is some tale. Pretty unbelievable actually, like I said the other night, he was punching above his weight and yet he left you." He shook his head, "What an idiot."

"Thank you for saying that Charles. It's very kind."

"No, it's true."

They held eye contact for a few moments before Molly turned away a little, looking out at the waves.

"Anyway he obviously still has a lot of mates at my current school so we're bound to cross paths at some point, but I've been very good at avoiding him. He's been trying to get in touch with me for the last couple of months, but I've ignored him. I didn't think for one minute he'd have the brass neck to come along on Saturday. He might have mates there, but the senior management team are not his biggest fans."

"He must really want to talk to you. Maybe there's trouble in the crochet paradise." Charles smiled his cheeky smile again leaning his arms on his knees.

"Who knows. I don't want to talk to him and he can run around town as much as he likes, that's not going to change."

"I'm sorry." Charles looked serious this time.

"What for?" Molly was puzzled.

"That you had to go through all of that. That someone would treat you that badly. It's awful."

Molly blushed, "I'm getting there. The worst thing is once it had all died down I realised I didn't actually miss him that much. I miss him as my mate, but as a boyfriend? A partner? Not so much. If we'd stayed together I think I'd have been settling, so in the end he did me a favour, it's just a shame I had to go through all the humiliation of being cheated on by a middle aged, balding twat."

"Really it sounds like he and Melanie are made for each other."

"I guess they are." Molly said thoughtfully.

A moment of silence followed when she wasn't sure what else to say. They continued to drink their coffees.

"So Charles are you going to tell me your story?"

"Mm not sure you want to hear it. Bit predictable really."

"Try me." it was her turn to sit back and listen.

"What would you like to know?" He was being reticent now.

"Well why have you moved to Edinburgh? Is it work?"

"Ugh I definitely don't want to talk about work." He made a face.

"Ok..." Molly waited.

"I've mainly moved here because of my son." Charles said finally.

Molly hadn't expected that. She checked his wedding finger again. Definitely no sign of a ring.

Charles caught her sideways glance.

"I'm divorced." he said

"Right, so a son? Is your ex-wife here?"

"No she's in Bath."

"Really? I love Bath!"

He snorted "Really? That's not most people's reactions."

"Well I'm not most people." She realised how flirty she sounded but she wasn't sorry.

Charles took a deep breath,

"My son Sam is due to start university here in September. I wanted to be near him."

Molly's eyes widened? "What?! University? How old is he?"

"He's 17."

"So you're older than you look then?" Molly was trying to do the maths in her head.

"No no I'm 35. We had him when we were very young."

"You certainly did."

Molly processed all this. She'd been speaking about trying for a baby and Charles's baby was practically an adult. She felt their worlds shift away from each other a bit more.

"Sam was a prom night baby, end of school. Rebecca fell pregnant, we'd only been seeing each other a few months, but there was pressure from her family to do the right thing so we got married. We were lucky to have the family support we did though, it meant we could still go to uni. I wasn't good at the life Rebecca wanted though."

"What life was that?"

"Settled. I couldn't sit still. In the end we resented each other and we split up. We've shared care of Sam over the years, it's civil, but we're not exactly friends. Where yours was a nuclear detonation, mine was a crumbling from the inside out."

They both sat for a moment, contemplating this.

"I know what you mean about settling though..." Charles looked up at her.

"No lightning bolt either?"

He shook his head, "Guess I'm still looking for it."

Molly smiled, he was flirting now.

Suddenly her phone rang, they both jumped. Lily's name flashed up on the screen.

"Oh! Lily! Sorry Charles I need to take this."

He indicated with his hand for her to go ahead.

"Lil? Can you hear me?"

There was crackling on the other end of the phone.

"Molls? Yeah I can hear you, but you're a bit quiet. We've come into the city for the day so I've got some wifi! Thought I'd check in. I got your message. Bloody Daniel!"

"I know, bastard!" Molly laughed and glanced at Charles. He was watching her intently.

"How's the retreat?"

"Good, few nice guys!"

"Lily you're there for yoga not the Kama sutra!"

Charles eyebrows shot up.

"Yeah yeah. How's the running?"

"Good I'm on track. There's a few folk roundabout obviously training too. I've bumped into a couple."

"Oh yes? Would they be of the male species?"

"Um yeah so you're breaking up Lily. Talk to you tonight maybe?"

"Oh you're with someone now aren't you?"

"Ok Lily miss you too!"

"Ooh can't wait for details! Talk later luv ya!"

"Bye."

Molly hung up hoping Charles hadn't heard Lily's side of things.

"Friend?" Charles asked.

"Yes, my best friend. She's on a yoga retreat in India."

"Ah the Kama sutra comment makes sense now." They both laughed.

Molly noticed the time on her phone, they'd been sitting for over an hour!

"Oh look at the time, I better get on."

Charles nodded and they got to their feet. They walked slowly back to the coffee shop and turned the corner towards their street. Molly didn't know what to do with her hands, she was itching to touch him.

They stopped at his door,

"So Molly..."

"Yes Charles..." She lifted her face towards him, squinting in the sun.

"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"

He was going out on a limb and his heart was racing, but to Molly he looked calm, confident and bloody gorgeous. Her breath caught.

"Um yes that would be lovely thank you."

He pressed his lips together and smiled, shifting nervously,

"So should I pick you up? 7.30?"

"That's perfect. See you then."

"Yep..."

Neither of them made a move. Molly cleared her throat,

"Ok bye." As she moved away, Charles leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"See you tonight."

She smiled and made her way across the road. Her heart was pounding and her breath hitched. Definitely a lightning bolt moment.