And it was always full – something that never failed to astound her. They’d had four or five restaurants within easy walking range in Basildon, but they’d rarely been full on a weekday night, much less at lunchtime. She’d mentioned it to Chloé during her second visit at the B. & B. ‘Everyone seems to have so much time to eat!’ she’d said. ‘And the lunches – surely people can’t afford to eat out every day?’
‘Ah, but it is their boss, he ’ave to pay for their lunch if they work for ’im,’ Chloé had explained. She explained how workers were given vouchers with which to buy lunch, a scheme that kept workers happy and restaurants thriving.
‘I’m surprised you aren’t all overweight,’ Lily had joked. ‘I don’t think I could eat a three-course meal for lunch without ballooning.’
‘Yes, but you English, you don’t respect your food.’ Chloé had laughed. ‘We take time, yes? We enjoy. We know when we are full. And we are satisfied. We – ’ow you say – we are in time with our bodies.’
‘In tune?’
‘Yes, that is it. We don’t just sit and work and eat. Eating is important. You do it right,’ Chloé had said.
Since then, Lily had been taking a trip into town fairly regularly to fill up at midday. She thought back now to her hurried sandwiches over a work keyboard in the UK – stuffing down food without thought – and tried to take her time over her meals. Even now, she’d still finish way before the other punters, but it was fun practising and gave her the chance to nod and smile at familiar faces.
When she’d suggested to Ty they eat lunch in town, she’d wondered at first whether she’d made a mistake. The chance of bumping into Frédérique was high – and Le Potron-Minet was literally a stone’s throw from his offices. In the end, she’d decided to avoid potential disasters by sending him a text.
Ty and I are coming into town today for lunch. I’m so sorry, but I’m not going to come and introduce you – just because I think it’s too soon. It will be hard for him.
He’d replied:
But of course!
She’d been glad he hadn’t pushed for an introduction and replied:
Thank you.
Her body flooded with relief and Frédérique was awarded another gold star in her mind.
She hadn’t added that she was also unsure whether they should have another date just yet; whether it was too soon for her to get properly involved. That was more of an in-person conversation, and one she’d have when she’d thought about it all properly.
In what seemed like seconds, the waiter returned brandishing two plates with enormous crêpes, chunky fries and a tiny lettuce leaf nestling in the corner. ‘Bon appétit!’ he said.
‘Thanks, mate,’ her son said.
‘Merci,’ she added, her stomach rumbling as she took in the gorgeous meal in front of her. Ty, she noticed, had already manoeuvred a forkful into his mouth.
‘Good?’ she asked.
‘Mm humm,’ he said.
Last night, when he’d asked her how the phone call with his father had gone, she’d felt his disappointment. ‘OK,’ she’d said. ‘You know, I think he’ll be all right, Ty.’
‘You’re not…?’
‘No, I’m sorry, love. But I’m going to speak to him. We’re going to… well, be more adult about the whole separation thing. We’re still friends, and more importantly we’re still parents.’
The speech had sounded good in her head, but Ty had seemed unimpressed.
The call itself had been awkward at first. Ben had answered, but his gruffness had left her feeling immediately on the back-foot.
‘Hi, it’s me,’ she’d said.
‘Hi.’
‘Sorry, I know you said you didn’t want me to call…’ she’d added, before feeling annoyed at herself for apologising.
‘Uh-huh. So, everything all right with Ty?’
‘Yes. He’s fine. Having fun, I think.’
‘Good.’
A silence.
‘Ben, he said you weren’t doing so well. Are you OK?’
‘Well… been better.’
‘Ben, look, I know things aren’t exactly easy for us right now. But we’ve got Ty to think of. And I’d like to think that we can be friends… eventually, at least. And look, I went through it all with you last time. You can still talk to me, you know?’