Page 100 of Midnight in Paris

‘Well, yeah,’ Sophie said.

Why did she feel that she was somehow in trouble? Julie must have known she’d move on eventually. And it wasn’t a betrayal of Tom. ‘Well, we’d better?—’

‘So how have you been?’ Tom’s father asked Will. ‘Still at that little boutique firm?’

‘Yeah, I prefer?—’

‘And Sophie! Still slaving away at the chalkface?’

‘Well, still teaching at least,’ Sophie replied with a weak smile.

‘Well, jolly good, jolly good.’

‘Thanks.’

‘And you two are…?’ Julie said, looking from one of them to the other, despite patently already knowing the answer to this question.

Will put his arm firmly around Sophie. ‘Yes, we’re together,’ he said. ‘Must be a couple of years now, give or take.’

‘Well,’ Julie said. ‘That’s marvellous.’ She turned to Sophie. ‘I’m so glad you were able tomove on! It really is fabulous news.’

‘I… um…’ Sophie stuttered.

‘Actually,’ Will said, his voice surprisingly stern, ‘she hasn’t moved on. Neither of us have. Not completely. But if you’re asking whether we’ve been able to find happiness together, then we have. I love this woman very, very much.’

‘Oh,’ Julie said. ‘I didn’t mean to imply…’

‘It’s fine,’ Sophie said. ‘Don’t worry. Nice to see you.’

She grabbed Will’s arm and steered him away down the aisle.

‘Sorry, was I too…’

‘No! No, it was great. Just… I feel sorry for her. Parents can’t move on, can they? Not at all.’

Will nodded. ‘I know. But she can’t treat you like that either.’

They moved off, Sophie keen to get out of the supermarket as soon as possible. But as they rounded the corner to the bakery aisle, they heard the clip of heels striking swiftly on the tiled floor.

They turned. Julie.

‘Sophie?’ she said, clasping her hands together.

‘Yes?’ Sophie braced herself for another snide comment.

Julie looked down at the tiled floor, her blonde hair falling forwards, revealing white roots that made her seem suddenly vulnerable.

‘I just wanted to say… Well, I’m sorry.’

‘It’s OK,’ Sophie said softly. ‘You don’t need to be.’

‘Yes,’ said Julie, reaching out and holding her arm briefly before dropping her hand. ‘I am. And I should be. Tom would be furious if he saw how I spoke to you then.’

‘I understand… It’s hard.’

‘Yes. But… hard for everyone. Hard for you.’

Sophie nodded, overcome. She tried to keep her mouth from faltering.

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