Page 50 of The Village Cafe in the Loire

‘Oh.’ Becky looked at this woman who hadn’t seen Cynthia for two decades, yet could see a side of her that Becky had neverknown. It made sense, from this distance. She felt a well of sympathy in her chest. ‘You’re being very… forgiving about it.’

To her surprise, Maud threw her head back and laughed. ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she said, after a moment. ‘I wouldn’t say I’ve completely forgiven her. I have my moments, even now. What could have been. Your father… his health. You. Perhaps it’s just old age creeping up on me! When you’re young, older people seem quite one-dimensional,’ Maud said. ‘You can’t imagine they have a past. But you see things differently when you get to my stage of life. Everyone seems young. Everyone seems… forgivable.’

‘Still, I wish we’d stayed in touch.’

‘Oh, me too. Of course. But apparently, I was leading you astray. Your father too, I think, in your mother’s estimation. When it came to it, she couldn’t take the risk of a freer, less predictable life. And my being a bad influence, or a troublemaker, was her way of justifying it to herself, I think.’

‘A bad influence?’ Becky looked at the neatly dressed old woman in front of her.

‘I know! It’s laughable, looking back. Anyway.’ Maud seemed to right herself. ‘That’s ancient history. Besides, I could have made more effort too – especially after Peter died. None of us was perfect, or is now. But hindsight certainly adds clarity.’

‘It’s not too late,’ Becky suggested.

‘Perhaps. Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t come to map out the mistakes from the last twenty years. Tell me about you. I’ve seen some things online of course. Lovely offices. But tell me about your work, your life in London. It looks like you’re having a marvellous time.’

‘Does it?’

‘Yes, although I think those platforms are designed to make everyone look glamorous,’ Maud admitted.

‘Well, I’m a director,’ said Becky, trying to suppress a proud smile. ‘Youngest they’ve ever had, apparently. And, you know,well, on track to get onto the board. That’s it, I suppose. It’s going well – or it was.’

‘On track? Sounds like something Cynthia would say.’

‘Ha. Well, I suppose it’s her who showed me how to write five-year plans, strategise, that sort of thing.’

‘Oh, goodness. I’d forgotten about Cynthia’s five-year plans!’ Maud chuckled affectionately. ‘Anyway, you said thingsweregoing well – do you mean the burnout? Pascal mentioned it.’

‘Did he? Oh, it’s nothing. I just… I had a bad day and things got out of hand.’

Maud looked at her, intelligent eyes reading so much more than Becky said. But she didn’t offer a counter opinion.

‘And you’re enjoying this… break? Enjoying the café?’

‘It’s wonderful!’ she said without thinking.

‘And do you still paint?’

‘Oh? No. I don’t really do that any more.’

‘I see. No time, I expect.’

‘Yeah. Sadly.’

‘You used to be quite the prodigy in that area.’

‘Ha. I wish.’

Maud shrugged and smiled.

‘The café,’ Becky said then. ‘What made you decide to give it to me?’

Maud smiled. ‘I’ll admit there was a part of me that wanted to… prompt something from you, or Cynthia. Force a response – solicitors’ letters tend to do that.’

‘Oh. So…’

‘But I do want you to have it. If you want it. I haven’t got anyone else – and I can’t work there any more. I wanted to offer you… a lifeline.’

‘A lifeline?’

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