Page 84 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
My voice felt a little constricted when I sat down opposite her. She was sipping from a bottle of water, and I resisted the temptation to advise her to drink it from a glass. Unsure of how to start, I was quite sure alluding to the lazy habits of people drinking directly from tins and bottles was not what she would want to hear.
‘Edith, I…’
‘You danced really well, Fay.’
‘Ah, you watched “Dancin’ Fool”.’ I am pleased with her compliment but my heart sinks when she addresses me with my forename.
‘Yes. The choreography was excellent. How long have you been dancing?’
‘Almost four years now. And you, Edith, are you living in Paris?’
‘No. We are living in Nice. Just staying in Paris for the competition.’
‘We?’
‘Yes, we.’
When Edith did not elaborate, I glanced around the café and noticed Clarissa and Hazel sitting together. I was glad they had not seen me. I wanted my conversation with Edith to be private.
‘You danced beautifully, Edith.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Are you working in Nice?’
‘Yes.’
‘Have you been living there long?’
‘Just over a year.’
‘I would like to see Nice. Did you know it has the longest seafront on the French Riviera?’
‘Yes, I live there remember?’
‘Quite.’
We both stared at the table for what seemed like a good few minutes. I saw Ruby enter the café with a male companion. They sat a few tables away, but she was too far to overhear, and I resolved to deliver my rehearsed oration before I changed my mind.
‘Edith?’
She looked at me and nodded.
‘I am not one to make speeches, but I would like to say a few things and I would appreciate it if you would hear me out.’
She folded her arms.
‘I did not have a mother when I grew up. Please do not sigh. I know this information is not new to you. The reason I mention this is I did not have the benefit of a kindly mother to show me how to be a parent to pubescent girls. My upbringing was rather austere – oh, I am notlooking for sympathy, I did perfectly well at St Eulalia’s – and well… what I am trying to say is I may not have handled your adolescent years as well as I could have.’
‘Understatement of the century.’
‘If you would hear me out, Edith?’
She shrugged, but I feared I had lost her attention.
‘I did my best, or what I thought was my best, but perhaps I should have…’
‘Should have what?’
