Page 46 of Never Too Late
Ashok, only a fraction shorter than Tomas, held out a hand in greeting.
Tomas had never been good at hiding his emotions back then and apparently, little had changed in that respect. It was also evident that he didn’t think them joining us this was the fabulous idea the rest of us did. But he took Ashok’s hand and shook it.
‘Bonsoir.’
‘Bonsoir.’
‘Wouldn’t that be wonderful, Tomas?’ Gabby gave him a verbal prod, accompanied by a look that few would argue with. Tomas, unless he’d very much changed, was one of those few.
His gaze shifted back to his sister. ‘I thought you wanted to get back early this evening?’
So, no, apparently he hadn’t changed, at least not in that aspect.
‘No, not particularly,’ she replied lightly.
Ashok, who’d barely been able to take his eyes off my old friend since we’d approached the table, signalled a waiter and requested in perfect French for two more chairs to be brought. I didn’t miss the glance of appreciation from Gabby as he did so, nor the suspicious one from Tomas. Chairs were found and Tomas was overruled. Fresh coffee and teas were ordered – the one Ashok had ordered for me earlier having long gone cold as Gabby and I caught up in the ladies’.
‘I can’t believe you’re here!’ Gabby started, her hand taking mine as I rested it on the white linen of the tablecloth. ‘I’ve hoped for years that I might run into you one day.’ Her eyes filled with tears and I felt like a shit for not keeping in touch with my friend. It wasn’t her fault that her brother hadn’t stood up for the woman he professed to love.
‘This is actually my first time back in Paris since… back then.’
I felt Tomas’s eyes on me but refused to meet them.
‘No!’ Gabby put her other hand to her chest. ‘C’est vrai?’
‘Veryvrai, I’m afraid. You know… life and all that.’
‘Oh,’ she replied as we waited for the waiters to place the white bone china cups and saucers down on the table, so fine they were semi-translucent, along with a large cafetière, glass teapot and all the necessary accoutrements and condiments. The waiter asked if we required anything else, was advised by Ashok with a smile and thanks that we didn’t and moved away.
Gabby turned to me, her hand still holding mine. ‘Well, you are here now so.Alors!Tell me everything about your life now.’
We’d given each other some brief details in the loos but now I gave a potted version of the last three decades, purposely avoiding looking Tomas’s way when I recounted my wedding, the birth of my daughter and more recently, my divorce.
‘Do you have a photo of your daughter?’ Gabby asked.
‘Thousands!’ I said, laughing, pulling my phone from the chic clutch bag Sash had lent me for the evening. Quickly, I opened the gallery app and scrolled through a few. Gabby took the phone and continued. ‘Oh, she is so beautiful.’ She glanced at me. ‘She takes after hermaman.’
‘I’m not sure about that,’ I replied, the automatic self-deprecation kicking in as usual.
Tomas leant towards his sister so that he could see the screen. ‘Gabby is right. She does.’
It was the first time he’d spoken since his attempt to avoiding joining us. His gaze flicked up from the phone and met mine.
‘Thank you,’ I said, for lack of anything else to say while my brain momentarily set itself to pause without my permission.
‘Perhaps you have already explained to my sister, but why are you bruised?’ he asked, looking for a moment at Ashok before turning back to me.
‘Oh!’ My hand went automatically to my temple. Caught up in our memories, I’d temporarily forgotten about the state of my face. ‘I slipped in the bath last night.’
It was obvious he didn’t believe me. This was what I’d worried about on Ashok’s behalf. A more kind and gentle man I’d never met and I hated that anyone might think he was in any way responsible for my injuries. His earlier dismissal of my worry had settled my concerns somewhat but the fact that Tomas doubted my explanation bothered me more than it should have. Strangers thinking something was easier to ignore but then again, what was Tomas to me now but yet another stranger? I felt my hackles rise. What right did he have to judge me or my friend? He’d given up that right the moment he’d let his mother treat me like I was well below par as a potential partner for their son. ‘My daughter was there if you feel you need confirmation, Tomas. If not, then I’d appreciate it if you’d stop giving Ashok dirty looks.’
Wow! Where the hell had that come from?
For years, I’d been the peacemaker. The smoother of ruffled feathers amongst our acquaintances and family, but Tomas had pushed a button.
‘It’s fine, Katherine.’ Ashok shrugged the suspicion off.Let them, he had said. But for some reason, I wasn’t able to ‘let’ Tomas.
‘No, Ashok, it’s not fine.’
