Page 48 of A Night with Damien Spur

‘Please, Mother, don’t start. There’s more to our relationship than that.’

‘But it’s not going anywhere! Can’t you see? You’re skipping down a blind alley. Eventually you’ll crash into a wall.’

The waiter arrived with the dishes. Evelyn plunged her fork into a large portion of gooey lasagne, whilst Sophie pecked at her Caesar salad. How her mother, a tiny sparrow of a woman, could eat more than a burly man and still have an appetite for dessert had always amazed Sophie.

‘Come on, eat up.’ Evelyn swirled her fork in the air. ‘What’s happened to your appetite? You’re not getting any younger. You need some flesh on your cheeks. In a way, Anna’s luckier than you. Her face stays put because of her bone structure. But you have a round face, more like your father. So when you don’t eat properly everything drops.’

‘Really, Mother, I don’t need this now.’

‘Well, you’re looking haggard,’ Evelyn persisted. ‘You need to find a man before it’s too late. At least now you have more of a choice. Wait any longer and the field will narrow. Especially if you want children.’

‘I can freeze my eggs if I want a child.’

‘Have you gone mad? Why would you want to do that? Surely a beautiful woman like you can find a husband. I can assure you, if you hadn’t wasted your time with that Nicholas man, you’d be married by now. What happened to that gorgeous writer Damien Spur? You seemed to spend a lot of time with him.’

‘We’re friends – it’s just platonic.’

‘But why aren’t you interested?’ Evelyn said. ‘I saw that interview with him onNightOwls. Not only handsome as a god, but that deep, gravelly voice; so sexy.’

‘Anna is crazy about him and I don’t want to tread on her toes.’

‘How noble of you! Fat chance she has. Too needy. Really, Sophie! It’s time to take stock of your life, before it’s too late. Who wouldn’t want a man like Damien Spur? I can tell you one thing, if I were your age and single, there would be no stopping me. Don’t be so protective. Just open yourself upto a new opportunity. What are you doing chasing a married man’s trousers? It’s time to take stock of your life, before it’s too late.’

Sophie wanted to leave. Evelyn had a way of turning any conversation with her into a lecture.

‘I really don’t need you to pressure me. Maybe I don’t want a family anymore.’

‘Why not? Wouldn’t you like to have company? Even when William was away on business, I had you two girls to keep me busy.’

‘And I had Mikey.’ Sophie pushed her plate away and got up from the table. ‘Really, Mother, I can’t take this anymore. Let me remind you that I had a wonderful husband and child and that I couldn’t have had a happier life.’

‘Oh dear! Sit down. I’m sorry.’ Evelyn grabbed her daughter’s wrist.

‘No!’ Sophie yanked away her arm. ‘I want to pay the bill and go. I don’t need your treats.’ She flagged the waiter, who had diplomatically ignored the altercation.

Luckily, it was closing time and the only guests left were the Japanese couple at the next table, who were mesmerised by the warring females.

‘Please don’t make a scene,’ Evelyn whispered. ‘I won’t go on any more. Please, Sophie, forgive me.’

At last a chink of light. Sophie usually had to fight to be heard. Very rarely did her mother listen to anyone but herself.

But Sophie had pulled her up this time. Stopped her short.

Little Mikey had been the apple of Evelyn’s eye. Her grandchild. The only one. And she’d adored Daniel. He’d been a lovely man and a good father.

Sophie sat down. Better give her mother a chance to redeem herself. Essentially, she meant no harm, but why did she have to interfere with the very fabric of her life? Nicholas wasn’t her business.

Evelyn fiddled with her pearl brooch. Of course she remembered Mikey and Daniel. And then, surprising Sophie, she burst into tears.

‘Oh dear, oh dear, what a poppy show I’m making of myself.’ Trying to be discreet, she took out her hanky and dabbed her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, darling. Please forgive me. I just don’t want you to be lonely. It must be so terrible for you. One moment you have a wonderful husband and son and the next they’re gone. I miss them so much too.’ She took a shaky breath. ‘But now you’re punishing yourself with a married man who I’m sure if he left his wife, you wouldn’t want anymore. It breaks my heart.’

Sophie held her mother’s hand and at that moment the only thing that mattered was their love for Mikey and Daniel.

But ten minutes later, after she’d eaten tiramisu accompanied by a digestif, Evelyn had retrenched. ‘May I just say one more thing? I don’t think you should put your eggs into one basket. When you’re in Bordeaux, just be open to meeting people. You’re stunning. You’ve been married. Always a good thing when a man knows you’ve been loved.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Sophie said. ‘But don’t you worry about me. I’m going to have a great time, with or without a man.’

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