One Day

In Soho, Dexter’s agent, Aaron, informs him that he’s being removed from Game On in favor of a younger presenter. Dexter asks Aaron what’s next for him, and Aaron suggests some mediocre shows. Aaron points out that Dexter needs to change how people see him, as his reputation is one of unreliability, unprofessionalism, and arrogance. Dexter admits that this isn't what he had in mind for his future.

Meanwhile, on the South Bank, Emma is with her old friend Stephanie Shaw, who works in publishing. She’s on her way to meet Marsha Francomb, a famous editor, about her writing. Emma feels uneasy around Stephanie, who appears polished and professional. Emma’s story, a love tale for older kids, has faced many rejection letters, so she reached out to Stephanie for help. She’s optimistic that this meeting might be a turning point in her life, a “new start” (183). However, when she meets Marsha, it becomes apparent that there’s been a misunderstanding—Marsha thinks Emma is there for a nanny job. Apologizing, she offers to discuss Emma’s writing before the end of the summer. Emma feels that her life is stuck again. Her phone rings—it’s Mr. Godalming, scolding her for lying about being sick to make her meeting instead. Now that their relationship is over, he says she can't expect special treatment and threatens to make it a disciplinary issue. Emma surprises herself by resigning on the spot.

Dexter has fallen in love with Sylvie Cope, a classic beauty. At her family home in Chichester, Sussex, he decides to tell her that he loves her. He’s never said “I love you” before. Dexter is meeting Sylvie's family, and the questions about his job make him uncomfortable. As they inquire about his focus on late-night shows, he reflects that the “Cope family are Winners and will only tolerate Winners” (189). Although Dexter now owns his media production company, work has been quiet. His only source of happiness is his weekends with Sylvie, exploring Europe. Sylvie is a woman of moderation who refrains from drinking, smoking, or taking drugs, and Dexter has cleaned up his act. He feels like a new man.

During a game of “Are you there, Moriarty?” Dexter accidentally hits Sylvie in the face with the baton. Her family accuses him of being drunk, and Sylvie remains silent, not defending him. Later, as they lie in bed, Dexter apologizes to Sylvie, and she says that she’ll forgive him. He jokes that “you always hurt the one you love” (197), but Sylvie says nothing back. Dexter thinks about telling this story to Emma and laughing with her about it, but he hasn’t seen her in two years.

Emma is in Somerset, behind the wheel of her fourth-hand Panda, driving to her old friend Tilly Killick’s wedding. She reflects on this third wave of wedding invitations. The first wave was during university, the second in her mid-20s, and she anticipates an impending fourth wave—the second marriages. These invitations all include a guest for Emma. She wishes she could skip Tilly’s wedding, but she knows that Dexter will be there. In the meantime, Dexter and Sylvie are also driving to the wedding in Dexter’s Mazda sports car. Sylvie asks about the guest list, and, when Dexter mentions Emma, she asks if there was ever a romantic connection between them, and he denies it.

At the venue, Emma spots Dexter. Since their falling out, she’s seen him at weddings three times, but they’ve never properly talked. After the ceremony, they engage in small talk before Dexter goes back to Sylvie. Later, Dexter catches up with his old friend Callum O’Neill, discussing his new show, Sport Xtreme, and Callum’s sandwich chain. Callum mentions Dexter’s falling out with Emma and comments on her beauty, asking if they ever got together. Dexter says they almost did, once or twice. In the meantime, Emma is talking with an old archenemy who teases her for being a self-employed, unpublished writer.

After the speeches, Dexter asks Emma to go to the maze with him. Amidst the labyrinth’s twists and turns, they talk about reconnecting with their friends. Emma asks Dexter how he is doing, and he remarks that he’s now “a bit more sensible” (214) at 34. He playfully adds that he’s happy with Sylvie, although she lacks a sense of humor. Emma recalls Dexter once saying that if she was still single at 40, he would marry her. Dexter says he will have to withdraw the offer, as he is now engaged to Sylvie. He then discloses Sylvie’s pregnancy. Despite Emma’s genuine happiness for him, there’s an underlying sadness. As they try to find their way out of the maze, they share how much they’ve missed one another. They hug and tears well up in Emma's eyes. She tells Dexter she’s afraid of losing him again as he enters marriage and fatherhood. Before leaving the maze, they make a promise to never leave each other again.

Dexter’s daughter, Jasmine Alison Viola Mayhew, was born in January, and Dexter then swore to “always do the right thing from now on” (224). However, his resolution held for barely two hours, as he soon went back to smoking. There’s a growing antagonism between him and Sylvie, exacerbated by the fact that he is currently unemployed. They’ve moved to Richmond, Surrey, close to Sylvie’s parents. Dexter finds family life isn’t as he imagined, with constant fighting and bickering. His only happiness comes from spending time with Emma, though he feels guilty for not being a perfect father and provider. In June, Dexter starts working at Natural Stuff, his friend Callum’s sandwich chain. He’s often recognized from being on TV, and he responds with a simple “life happened” (226).

Dexter is back home after a shift, and Sylvie, who’s heading to a hen night, worries about leaving Jasmine with him. Dexter senses her distrust and disappointment. Alone with Jasmine, Dexter struggles to calm her crying. He watches a TV program hosted by his ex-girlfriend Suki and decides to treat himself to a cigarette. At the store, he buys two bottles of wine and 20 cigarettes. Back home, he’s still unable to soothe Jasmine, feeling inadequate in his role as a father. He resorts to drinking, and once Jasmine is finally asleep, he calls Emma.

Emma is visiting her friend Stephanie Shaw and finds herself bored with conversations revolving around children. Dexter calls her, but she does not answer. She has no interest in meeting him just to see his daughter, so she decides to turn off her phone.

Receiving no answer from Emma, Dexter decides to call Suki, who’s taken aback. He asks to see her, but she firmly declines. As Jasmine is back to crying, Dexter becomes increasingly concerned. He decides to play some music and stumbles upon a compilation CD that Emma gifted him. When he plays it, Jasmine laughs, and for a moment, Dexter feels content. Just then, Sylvie calls to check in on him.

Sylvie isn’t at a hen party—she’s in a hotel room in Westminster with Callum. After ending the call with Dexter, she breaks into tears, realizing he sounded drunk.

Emma is eagerly waiting for Dexter at Gare du Nord in Paris, where she is spending the summer to focus on her writing. She's enjoying success as a novelist and has embraced a new look, inspired by Jean Seberg. The last time Emma and Dexter saw each other, they slept together, and Emma hopes they will discuss this occurrence. When he finally arrives, Emma notices his tired appearance. The two hug warmly and walk to her place, and Dexter pulls out a copy of Emma’s novel, expressing pride. He then shares his struggles—he will be divorced in September, Sylvie now lives with Callum, he’s unemployed, and he feels disconnected from his daughter. He feels like a “weird sad freak” (251). Emma suggests he return to work in the media.

They finally reach Emma’s place in Belleville, a modest apartment with only one bed. Suddenly, Dexter leans in to kiss her. Emma pulls back, revealing that she’s met a man named Jean-Pierre Dusollier. She offers to stay at his place for the night so Dexter can have the bed. Dexter is taken aback and disappointed given their recent night together. Emma explains that Dexter was upset and intoxicated, and she slept with him to comfort him. She admits that while she once had feelings for Dexter, she believes “[their] time has passed” (257). She then informs Dexter that Jean-Pierre will be joining them for dinner. Later, however, she tells Jean-Pierre that she’s feeling unwell. She kisses Dexter and jokingly warns him not to let her down.