Page 10 of Christmas at the Movies
That was part of the reason she and James had moved to Plumdale too.
‘The only thing I insisted on was a village with a cinema,’ added Iris. ‘I’m a massive film buff and wouldn’t want to live anywhere I couldn’t go to the movies.’
‘Same here,’ said Sarah.
‘My parents live near an amazing vintage cinema in Kowloon.’ Iris sipped her coffee. ‘This place reminds me of it a bit.’
‘The Lux?’ asked Sarah.
‘Yes!’ said Iris, surprised. ‘You know it?’
Sarah smiled and nodded. She and James had visited the cinema on holiday, years ago. ‘I bet you miss having your family nearby.’
‘Yes,’ I haven’t met many other local mums yet. It’s been a bit lonely admitted Iris.
Henry woke up and started fussing.
‘He’s hungry,’ said Iris. ‘Do you mind if I feed him?’
‘Of course not,’ said Sarah.
Iris took the baby out of his sling and placed him on her breast. His tiny fingers clutched at his mother’s jumper as he nursed. When Henry had had his fill, Iris held him over her shoulder to burp him.
‘He looks so happy,’ said Sarah, as the baby cooed contentedly on his mother’s lap. ‘You’re obviously doing a great job.’
To Sarah’s horror, tears began to spill down Iris’s cheeks, plopping onto baby Henry’s head.
‘Oh, no,’ said Sarah, handing Iris a napkin. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’
‘I don’t know why I’m crying,’ said Iris, dabbing her eyes. ‘That was such a nice thing to say. I just feel like I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. I’m so scared I’m doing this wrong.’
Sarah’s heart went out to the young woman, so far from home, from her own mother. She patted Iris’s armreassuringly. ‘There is no right or wrong way to be a mum – we’re all just doing the best we can.’
‘It’s just so hard,’ said Iris, stroking Henry’s tufty hair. ‘I just worry about him all the time.’
Sarah didn’t have the heart to tell her that that would probably never change. She worried about Nick and Holly constantly. ‘It’s the toughest job in the world.’
‘I know I’m lucky to have this time with Henry, but I miss my other job too. The one I did back in Hong Kong.’
‘What was that?’ Sarah asked.
‘I’m an illustrator and graphic designer,’ replied Iris. ‘I worked in comic books. I really miss the creativity.’
Sarah could understand that. She still missed being creative, too. It had once been such a big part of who she was. She gestured to the café’s walls, which were hung with paintings and photographs by local artists, all for sale. ‘Let me know if you’d ever like to display your work here. We change the display every month.’
‘Thanks. I haven’t drawn anything since he was born, but I’m hoping to get back to it.’
‘You should,’ said Sarah adamantly. ‘Make time for it. Don’t lose touch with that creative part of yourself.’
Like me …
Iris started to put Henry back in the sling. ‘I should go home and get dinner started.’
So should I, thought Sarah. She hoped she’d remembered to defrost the sausages she was planning to cook for dinner. A mother’s work was never done.
Sarah helped Iris put her coat on. ‘I hope I’ll see you back here for Baby and Me next week. I can introduce you to some of the other parents who come regularly.’
‘That would be wonderful,’ said Iris with a grateful smile.
