Page 34 of Never Too Late
Ten minutes later, I had some ridiculously creamy brie which the chap behind the counter had insisted I try before I bought. That had brought my smile back, even if only temporarily. I’d forgotten what an experience food shopping was here. I couldn’t wait for the market tomorrow now. As I walked back in the watery sunshine, I glanced down at my cosy, but, let’s face it, very ugly coat. It hadn’t seemed out of place at home but now? I pushed the thought out of my mind and, head down, hurried back to the flat.
Sash waved as I entered.
‘And here’s Mum, back from getting us some lunch for our first day in Paris.’
I frowned and shook my head. Sash paused and lowered the camera she’d been talking to.
‘What is it?’
‘I don’t want to be in it, Sash.’ The thought of my daughter’s one hundred thousand-plus subscribers seeing her dowdy old mother made me cringe.
‘Why not?’
‘Because I don’t, love.’ I placed my purchases on the island and shrugged off the coat like a caterpillar’s chrysalis. Except I didn’t feel like a butterfly either. Maybe I was more of a moth. A dull, greige moth.
‘But you’ve been in other ones.’
‘Very briefly! And that was only on special occasions.’When I was scrubbed up, made up and dressed up.
‘What’s the difference?’
‘Quite a lot,’ I said. ‘Do you want tea or coffee with your bread and cheese? The chap at the fromagerie got me to try some of this before I bought it so I know it’s good.’
‘I’ll have a coffee.’ She put the camera down on a side table. ‘I’ll make it.’ From our emergency stash, she pulled out a sachet of ground coffee and the filters that Olivia had told us would fit the machine here.
I set about cutting the bread and setting out the cheese as she busied herself with the drinks.
‘Is there something wrong, Mum?’
‘No, love. Not at all. Where shall we eat this?’
16
‘So how is your first day in Paris?’ Ashok asked on the video call.
‘Wonderful. And strange. And a few other emotions I’ve yet to quite work out.’
‘From what you told me in India, I’m not surprised. But youwillwork them out. It’ll just take time.’
‘Oh, stop being so bloody wise,’ I said, laughing.
His warm smile across the miles made me momentarily forget my insecurities.
‘So what’s on the cards for tonight?’
‘We’re going to dinner at a nearby café that looks nice and has good reviews. Apparently.’
‘Sasha has been busy?’
‘Incredibly! There’s a list of places as long as my arm to try, visit and see.’
‘That’s good. That’s what she’s there for.’
‘True.’
‘But don’t forget what you’re there for too.’
I swallowed. ‘Sometimes, I regret opening up about all this to you.’
