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Really disappointed to hear that you aren’t taking the job Sophie.
Such a shame. Sure I can’t change your mind?
Re: Lila. Happy to meet in a playground. I’m actually around this weekend, shall we do tomorrow?
My instant reaction is unimpressed. He’s talking shop first? And the tone has me irked, too. ‘Re: Lila’? She’s a child, not the topic of a business email, Mark! I also don’t love that he’s suddenly made himself available for tomorrow. It gives us no time to prepare, which is vital. I don’t want him to go rushing into meeting Lila. He’s pushing his own agenda rather than sticking to mine, which I won’t have, so I send back a sharp-ish reply.
Can’t do tomorrow but let’s look at some other dates.
Lila has been counting down the days until her and Sid’s joint birthday party for over a month. Some days this has involved a lengthy discussion about the concept of time, where I’m grilled so relentlessly on what constitutes minutes, hours, days and weeks that I start to doubt my own grasp on the theory.
Obviously to organise it Joe and I have had to exchange texts. But honestly that’s been it – simple messages to work out arrangements. We haven’t met, I haven’t apologised for saying that shitty thing and he hasn’t tried to clear the air. And quite frankly I don’t feel like I have the headspace until Lila’s birthday is over. I’ve had the usual work stuff, the usual parenting stuff, the extra birthday party stuff and oh yes, also a complete lack of enthusiasm to tackle the Joe situation. How many times should I keep trying to patch things up, only to get shot down?
‘It’s today!’ Lila sings, knee-sliding into my bedroom.
‘Yes, it is.’ I beam, scooping her up onto my bed for a snuggle. She wriggles free and assesses my outfit in the manner of her auntie Poppy.
‘Are you wearing that to the party?’ she asks, tilting her head to the side.
‘No, darling, right now I’m wearing my pyjamas because it’s only five o’clock in the morning.’
‘How many minutes until the party?’
I yawn, far too tired to do the maths. ‘Party starts at midday. We’ve got seven whole hours to get ready.’
Lila considers this. ‘We’d better get started then. Can I wear my biker jacket and my shark costume?’
She looks so hopeful that I can’t say no. ‘You can wear whatever you like, just remember it’s going to be hot. When it’s hot, we wear less clothes to keep us cool.’
Lila nods sagely. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
We arrive at the church hall half an hour before the party starts to find Joe and Sid already there. The kids immediately race outside to test the bouncy castle Joe ordered, while he and I get set up. Party bags are stuffed and ready to go, food is laid out on platters, music linked to speakers.
‘I underestimated how long it would take to blow up these balloons,’ Joe puffs.
‘I know!’ I squeak, thrilled that he’s talking to me like a normal person. ‘Pass the parcel might be the end of me.’
He nods, nudging another roll of Sellotape my way. Together we take a seat on the floor in the middle of the hall, surrounded by party decs, and I realise I’m holding my breath.
‘Everything … okay?’ I ask tentatively, hoping to convey that what I really mean is ‘has the atmosphere between us gone?’
‘Everything’s good,’ Joe says astutely. ‘Sorry I’ve been a bit quiet lately.’
Could he be any more decent? Not long ago I was accusing him of only wanting one thing from our friendship and he’s apologising? Let’s just say I now feel like a douche.
‘Joe, I’m so sorry I said what I did.’
‘No worries. There’s been a lot going on.’ He smiles at me. ‘But it’s good to see you again. Really good.’
My heart does a happy leap at this. ‘Yeah, you too. Oh, here, let me help.’
Joe’s fumbling with the ties on some party hats.
‘It’s easier with little fingers,’ I say.
‘In that case, I’ll finish the paper chains.’
We sit contentedly as we work through the jobs and it feels so nice, like we’re a proper team getting stuff done.
