Page 20 of Perfect Night

“Whichever boy has got you looking so glum.”

He chuckled. Her body might be deteriorating, but her mind and perception were still as sharp as ever. She manoeuvred her chair to the bench he’d been sitting at, signalling for him to sit down.

“His name’s Sebastian, and he’s definitely not a boy.”

“How old?”

“Forty-two.”

“I always thought you’d end up with someone older. You’re an old soul, Charlie. That’s my fault. You had to grow up so quickly.”

“Mum, you gave me a great childhood.”

“You’re a sweet boy to say that, but we all know it’s not true. A teenage boy needs to be out getting drunk and laid, not looking after his invalid mother.”

“Mum, don’t say things like that.”

“About getting laid? I know you’re not a monk, Charlie.”

“You know that’s not what I meant,” he groaned. “But let’s not talk about that either.”

“Well, I know you better than anyone, and you need someone to look after you. I can’t do it anymore. Maybe this guy could give you that.”

“I can look after myself just fine. I don’t need a man to do it.”

“Of course you don’t, but wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to share the load with?”

“Is that a sex joke?”

“What do you...? Oh, right,” she chuckled. “Unintentional. So, tell me about this guy. When are you seeing him again?”

“I’ve got his number. I just don’t want to get my hopes up. There are so many things working against us.”

“Like what?”

“He lives in New York for one. He’s a CEO and I’m at the bottom of the ladder.”

“You got that promotion, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, of course. I’m just not anywhere near CEO level.”

She nodded, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He’d almost given himself away. His mum thought he’d been promoted when truthfully he’d been passed over again. It was how he justified being able to afford her housing costs. He couldn’t tell her thetruth. She’d be horrified and blame herself. Charlie had made the choice, and nobody was going to feel guilty about it.

“Why haven’t you called him yet?”

“How do you know...? Never mind.” He smiled. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up. I really like him but everything is stacked against it working.”

“If you take a chance in life, sometimes good things happen, sometimes bad things happen. But, honey, if you don’t take a chance, nothing happens.”

He glared at her as she smiled back at him. QuotingThe Golden Girlsat him was a low blow. She knew how to get to him.

“Fine, I’ll text him later. He’s flying back to New York today, so I don’t want to disturb him by calling unannounced.”

How could he be twenty-seven years old and still so easily manipulated by his mother? She looked so pleased with herself, he couldn’t help but smile.

He’d been on his way home when Lucinda called him about a last-minute job. He wasn’t really in the mood, but he needed the money, so he was on his way to Swiss Cottage to meet a retired English teacher who wanted something which was in Charlie’s wheelhouse.

The guy lived in an old Victorian townhouse. He didn’t know teachers earned enough to afford a place like this, but he wasn’t here to judge. He had a job to do. His client’s name was Richard, and he was a sweet old gent in his sixties who just wanted some company with a young man. He fussed around making tea for them and digging out biscuits. It was clear he was nervous, and Charlie wondered if he’d ever done something like this before.

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