‘No, But I mean it’s only been a few days, so I’m not worried. He’s sent a few texts, and he’s coming to the party,’ she replied. At first she’d thought she might have upset him, but his replies to her messages had been cheerful and upbeat. He’d just kept a little distance – which is exactly what she’d wanted.
She stopped and examined the vast array of breadsticks, eventually choosing the plain ones and putting six boxes into the trolley.
‘Sounds like you got through to him,’ Sam said, as they moved off again.
‘I really think I did. I was worried, actually, that he might not take it very well. But he seemed to be fine. Maybe a bit too fine.’
‘Too fine?’ Sam asked, making a face.
Lily shrugged. ‘I mean, it’s a little bit bruising for the ego if he really doesn’t feel anything at all, after having professed his undying love.’
‘Yeah, I see what you mean.’
‘Still, it’s certainly less complicated than having him turn up and serenade me at the beach.’
‘Definitely. Although having seen Frédérique, I have to say he’s a complication quite a few people would kill for.’
‘Well, yes, he’s a nice guy.’
‘Nice? Lily, he’s flipping gorgeous! Although don’t tell Gabriel I said that,’ she laughed, taking a band from her pocket and expertly pulling her red hair into a neat ponytail. ‘He’s grown a little man belly recently and is totally paranoid I’m going to run off with a muscle-bound farmer or something.’
‘Ha. Poor guy. When am I going to meet Gabriel anyway?’ asked Lily, changing the subject. ‘Can he make it to the party?’
‘He says almost definitely,’ said Sam. ‘Which coming from him is actually pretty amazing.’
‘Shy?’ Lily smiled.
‘Yeah, and socially awkward, but don’t tell him I said that.’
‘As if I would!’
‘Anyway, he’s great once you get to know him – just takes him a bit of time to thaw out, you know?’
Lily nodded. ‘Basically, the opposite of Frédérique.’
‘Yep!’ Sam stopped to take in the array of cheese. ‘Are we going down the cheese route?’ she asked.
‘Well, when in France,’ said Lily, picking up a few different types. She wasn’t a big cheese fan, but she’d lay a bit out with some bread and let people help themselves.
‘Anyway, at least you’ve been upfront with Frédérique,’ Sam went on, leaning some of her weight on the trolley and lifting her feet momentarily as it glided along. ‘I think he’s keen enough to hang around whatever boundaries you set in place.’
‘We’ll see,’ Lily said. ‘I’m trying not to put any pressure on it. Just see what happens.’
‘Good idea.’
‘Don’t tell him, but I have actually missed him a bit,’ she added.
‘Really?’
‘It’s the first time I’ve had a chance to, I suppose. I’d kind of got used to him popping up everywhere I went!’
‘But,’ said Sam, more carefully, ‘have you thought any more about Ben? I mean, you said that he’d told you he would have liked to come to France, right? If he’d been feeling OK?’
Lily stopped by a shelf heaving with crisps and picked up a giant packet of ready salted. ‘I’ve been thinking about him more recently – all the stress of buying the house and kind of settling in here, or starting to, sort of put him out of my mind. The way you can kind of switch off a bit from problems when you’re on holiday?’
Sam nodded.
‘I was surprised I wasn’t more… well, heartbroken I suppose when I first got here,’ she said, looking at the enormous packet of crisps in her hand.
‘Uh-huh?’
‘But now that the legal bit is done and I’m sort of getting on with normal life… I’m starting to notice that he’s not with me. I know that sounds weird – but I think it’s finally sunk in that this isn’t a holiday. And my normal life… well, he was always part of that. Always.’
Sam touched her shoulder briefly. ‘That’s tough.’
Lily flicked a tear away. ‘It is what it is, I suppose. I mean, it’s natural to feel… to miss him.’ She put the crisps in the trolley and grabbed a couple of other bags.
‘Any regrets?’ Sam asked, glancing quickly at her, then back at the food when she noticed Lily’s tears.