Page 49 of Never Too Late
And then there was that smile. It was Tomas’s smile that I’d fallen in love with first. It was warm, a little lopsided and when he really smiled, like he did now, his almost navy eyes always seemed to hold a promise of mischief. Back in the day, that was often followed up on. But that had been long ago. Mischief had disappeared from my life around the same time as Tomas and Gabby had.
‘I’m going to show Kitty the exhibition.’ Tomas tapped Gabby’s shoulder, leaning behind me to do so, the bulk of his body close to mine, brushing my bare arm briefly. A spark crackled through me at his touch. For a moment, I let it fizz and pop and burn within me but then I remembered that I wasn’t twenty years old any more and I certainly wasn’t about to let Tomas Bertholle get to me like he had all those years ago. Even if, like his family’s wine, he had only improved with age – in looks at least. Something at the time I hadn’t thought would even be possible. But he’d proved me wrong. Of course.
It was hard to believe that tonight was the first time in decades we had all seen each other – the familiarity, the comfort between us had slid straight back into place. But Ashok was a new addition and it was obvious he was more unsure – both from an etiquette side but also because he knew the whole sorry story of me and Tomas. He looked across at me, a question in the kind, brown eyes. I gave him a nod.I’m OK, it said. Understanding immediately, he returned it.
‘Meet you in the bar in an hour?’ Tomas suggested.
‘Parfait,’ Gabby responded before catching my eye. ‘I hope you enjoy the exhibition. Tomas is an amazing painter. Personally, I think this collection is his best.’ There was something about the way she said it that made me pause. Our eyes connected for a second before she turned back to Ashok.
Tomas held my coat as I slipped my arms in and belted it closed. I watched from the corner of my eye as he then shrugged into his own pure cashmere overcoat. It fit the still broad shoulders perfectly, as though made to measure. I kicked myself. It probably was made to measure! Gabby and Tomas came from a wealthy family and, apparently despite Tomas’s best attempts at bankruptcy, it appeared that wealth still existed. I shoved my hands into the pockets of the Marks and Spencer mixed-fibre coat I’d bought in the sale around five years ago and reminded myself the money hadn’t mattered to me back then and it didn’t matter to me now.
The first bit was right but the second was an outright lie. Back then, I’d had confidence in spades. Somewhere along the line, that had seeped away and now I felt acutely aware of my lower-priced, slightly worn wardrobe.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
I nodded and followed him to the door. He opened it, waiting until I was through before following.
21
Outside the clouds of earlier had ganged up and were now producing an insistent drizzle.
‘Wait here,’ Tomas said, ducking back through the hotel door. I stood under the canopy, gazing out onto the rainy Paris street. Unlike at home where I’d have rolled my eyes at another damp day, here I stood and watched and saw nothing but beauty. I knew from experience that that wouldn’t last. The weather in Paris wasn’t all that much different from home and once the initial shine wore off, it could be just as annoying if you had plans. Or the hairdressers. But now, in this moment, it was beautiful. The pavements, glossy with rain creating an Impressionistic version of the view above, the colours melting and indistinct.
‘Here we are.’ Tomas appeared beside me and I jumped. ‘Pardon.’ His hand rested on my arm for a moment. ‘You were miles away?’
‘No. Right here, actually. I’d forgotten how beautiful it could be.’
He opened the large umbrella, offered me his arm, ensuring I was sheltered, and we stepped out into the rain.
‘It’s hard to believe you haven’t been back in all this time.’
I gave a small, thoughtful sigh. ‘At first I didn’t want to…’
He nodded but remained silent.
‘And then, well… I didn’t think there was anything to be gained by coming here.’
‘And yet here you are.’
‘Ashok suggested it might be a good idea.’
‘You are close.’ It was a statement, not a question. ‘And yet you’ve not known him long.’
‘Is it a requisite of friendship to have known someone for a certain length of time?’
‘Of course not. That’s not what I meant.’
‘If you’re concerned about Gabby, don’t be. I’d trust him with my life.’
‘That’s a strong statement.’
‘We have a strong friendship.’
‘So I see. And no, I’m not worried about Gabby.’ He paused. ‘Frankly, I’m more inclined to be worried about Ashok. He might not know what’s hit him.’
Tomas had a point but it made me smile. ‘I’m pretty sure he can look after himself.’
We walked on a little further in silence that was, if not quite companionable, less awkward than I’d expected.
