The reception for The Ivy proved to be a desk set in the entrance hall. The woman who stood there, smiling that forced smile that came with the job, greeted me pleasantly. It wasn’t her fault that I immediately felt dowdy. In her short black clinging dress, her face beautifully made up and her hair in those curls that screamed she’d taken loads of time over it, she looked stunning.
The inside of the restaurant was even more impressive than I’d expected. As I followed the woman through the restaurant to a seat in a quiet corner towards the back, I had time to take in the lovely space and the fashionably dressed clientele. With each step I felt more out of place.
Jason’s welcoming smile was a relief. He rose and came to greet me, kissing each cheek with practised ease. ‘It’s so good to see you, Lissa. It’s been a while.’
‘Must be three months,’ I said, sliding along the leather seat. ‘You came in to visit Mum when I was there.’
‘Let’s decide what we’re having, then we can chat,’ he said, handing me a menu.
He had the best poker face; I had no indication what this ominous-sounding chat could be about. Some aspect of Mother’s care I supposed, but what, I wasn’t sure. I was almost tempted to ask if we could get whatever it was over with so I could enjoy my lunch, but I didn’t. Jason had been kind to me over the years, I’d do things his way.
I’d already looked at the menu online, so didn’t have to embarrass myself by asking what a couple of the dishes were. When the waitress came, I was able to order with a certain carelessness, as if I ordered such delicacies as white onion soup with truffles every day.
It was delicious, as was the duck that followed, and the sticky toffee pudding I finished the meal with, resisting the temptation to scrape my spoon across the plate to capture every morsel.
It wasn’t until we were drinking coffee that Jason brought the conversation from mundane chitchat to the real reason he'd invited me to lunch. ‘I’ve been worried about you,’ he said.
About me! It was unexpected and brought sudden unwanted tears to my eyes. ‘That’s so kind, but you’ve no need to be, I’m fine.’
On the curved leather seat, he wasn’t seated far from me. He reached across and picked up my hand.
He shook his head. ‘So tiny,’ he said. He kept it wrapped in his bigger, warm hand and looked at me. ‘When I saw you in the home a few months ago I was shocked by how thin you were. You’ve been preying on my mind ever since. I’d hoped perhaps you were going through a tough patch or something, that you’d look better today.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘I think you’re even thinner. You’re not looking after yourself, Lissa. I spoke to the manager in the home, he says you visit every time you’re not working and spend hours there.’
‘She’s my mother, of course I visit her. She needs me.’ I saw him take a breath. Please don’t say it, please, please don’t say she doesn’t need me, that she’d be as well cared for if I never visited, please don’t say it, because if you do, I’ll hate you.
He pressed my hand gently. ‘She’s very lucky to have you.’
Relief made me smile. ‘Thank you.’
But Jason wasn’t finished. ‘But you need to make time for yourself, Lissa. Maybe take a few days, go away for a break.’
‘Good idea, yes, I’ll do that.’ I kept the smile in place with difficulty. Go away? Even if I could be persuaded to leave mother, even the cheapest hotel would break my budget. Plus, I was trying to put money aside to buy a car.
‘I’ve done some research into alternative accommodation for your mother.’ He must have seen the instant horror on my face because he immediately held up a hand. ‘Hear me out, please. You’re paying that top-up fee and for all the extras. You can’t have much left over, and I think that’s why you’re neglecting yourself. There are homes, just as good, where the full fee would be covered by the state. You’d have money for yourself, Lissa. To have a life.’
He was being kind, but he didn’t understand. ‘She deserves the best, Jason. Don’t forget, I’ve been to some of those homes that cover the full cost. I know the compromises they make. So no, but thank you for caring, she’ll stay where she is.’
Jason knew when he was beaten. ‘I tried.’
His air of sad resignation made me laugh. ‘You did, and it is much appreciated.’ It was; it was good to have someone who cared for me. ‘If you want to make sure I’m well fed, you could invite me to lunch more often.’
This made him laugh and we ended our lunch chuckling together.
I could have told him that I had an idea to increase my income, but I didn’t think he’d approve of my plan.
37
On the way home, I sent Carol a message asking if she was free for coffee. I hadn’t heard from her since we’d met in the garden centre. Not even a thank you for the lunch I’d splashed out on. That had been a waste of money. Unlike my dress. I smoothed a hand over the material. If we met for coffee, I’d wear it and surprise her. It was more suited to the type of places we normally frequented than The Ivy.
I needed to have up-to-date information on the Wallaces before I proceeded with my plan. He may have already died. It wouldn’t make a difference to what I intended doing but it would change my approach.
To my surprise, I had a reply a few minutes later.
Yes, would like that. When?
I was starting a run of two nights. It would have been sensible to wait till they were done. More sense to have abandoned the plan altogether. It was crazy, flaky, but now that I had the photographic proof, it might just work. Sadly, it needed Mr Wallace’s demise to put into action. After all, I couldn’t blackmail the grieving widow until she was one.
I tapped out a message:
How about tomorrow? 2ish? Cafe Renaldo?
Perfect.