Page 35 of The Facilitator: Part 2
I didn’t but I was sure going to make the time. I shut the lid of my laptop, I’d catch up with work later if I had to, and stood. I grabbed my bag and as we left, I instructed Carolyn she could get me on the mobile if she neededme.
Arm in arm we walked through Canary Wharf to one of the many restaurants slotted among and under the financial sector towerblocks.
“So where have you been?” I asked, as wewalked.
“I took Mum down to Cornwall for a couple of weeks. I thought I told you I was doing that. I meant to call in to see your mum but I didn’t get the bloody address,” he said, rambling a littlefast.
I could have replied that he had a phone, they worked in Cornwall, he could have called, but I guessed I knew he hadn’t thought,really.
“I bet she loved that,” I said, as we pushed through the restaurant door andwaited.
“Oh she did. She mostly wanted to just sit wrapped up by the sea. I don’t know, Lauren, I think she might be on her way out. She’s all…nostalgic would be a goodword.”
“Jerry, she’s getting on, they all do that,” I said, waving at a passing waiter who would have carried on past ignoring us. “I’m sorry if you’re busy, but do we wait to be seated?” I asked him. He grunted areply.
We continued to stand until another came over and showed us to atable.
Jerry told me all about Cornwall, all about a new flat he was looking at, and he had decided he might buy some property instead of topping up his pension. I told him I thought that wise, especially in the current economic climate. It was like I was sitting with a distant friend who I only caught up with once or twice a year, and I wondered when he had become that. He seemed to be avoiding the very thing that had been the excitement of his phonecall.
Drink orders were taken and menus were placed in front of us. I chose a chicken Caesar salad, not really having an appetite, while Jerry chose a burger. My glass of soda and his glass of lager were placed on the table and for a moment, he stopped the rambling to take a sip. That gave me a chance to ask the burningquestion.
“So you’ve rambled on about everything the past twenty minutes. Who are you in love with?” Iasked.
He sighed. “I don’t know how well you’re going to take this. But I have to tell you, she isn’t anything like you’d imagine, and I haven’t known her long but…well, you knew you were in love early enough aswell.”
On the defence already, he believes I’m not going to be happy, and I wonder why, Ithought.
“Who, Jerry?” I kept the smile on myface.
“AddisonMiller.”
So she’d kept Mackenzie’s name. The green-eyed devil stirred in mystomach.
“She’s in America, isn’t she?” I didn’t want him to think we cared enough about her to know where shewas.
“She’s been over here for a couple ofweeks.”
“So you fell in love,when?”
“Oh, she’s been back and forth for a couple of months. I’ve even been out to stay with her. Her dad is lovely, Lauren, he’s really not what you think he’s going tobe.”
“Jerry, I don’t know what you mean. I’ve met her once; I don’t have an opinion on what her family would be like. I’m thrilled for you, if you think she is the one, then that’s amazing,” Isaid.
I had a planned speech. I had all intentions to tell him how she’s likely manipulating him, probably for financial gain. I wanted him to know she wasn’t the person she’d present herself to be. That was until I saw the utter honesty in his face, something Jerry rarely showed. I saw the uncertainty and how unsure of himself Jerry really was. I couldn’t bring myself to burst hisbubble.
“Is it? Do you really think that or are you shittingme?”
“Jerry, if you are truly in love, and she is as honestly in love with you…isshe?”
He hadn’t actually mentioned how shefelt.
“She hasn’t said the words yet, but yes, I think she is,” he replied. Doubt started to creep into his words. I had my opening, but I still was going to tread verycarefully.
“Have you told her how youfeel?”
“Of course, you know me, heart on my sleeve and allthat.”
“Then ask her if she feels the same. Or maybe ask her if she could feel the same, if you think it’s still early days.” I smiled at him; inside my heart was beatingrapidly.
