My friend knocked back the best part of her wine and placed the glass back down in front of her.
‘I thought he might have contacted you as he’s back in the country for a few days.’
When there was no possibility of seeing him, I’d found the fact Finn was no longer in my life easier to deal with. Knowing he was back in London sent a fresh raft of raw emotion through my body.
‘Oh. No. I’m surprised he hasn’t been back already. He always said being close to his family was important to him so…’ I gave a waft of my hand to finish the sentence, hoping that the disinterested air I’d affected sounded sincere.
Colette gave a Gallic shrug. ‘Apparently not. This is the first time he’s been home since he left just after New Year.’
‘Well, perhaps he’s found something – or someone – over there that’s keeping him busy and worth staying for.’ The words came out sharper than I intended, the spikiness protecting my soft underbelly of emotions like a hedgehog. My hand reached out to Colette’s and covered it. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.’
‘It’s OK. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Like you said, we’d agreed not to talk about him. I just thought that maybe…’
I shook my head. ‘He’s made his thoughts on what he felt about our relationship, and how important it was, pretty clear. Can we just leave it at that?’
‘Of course,’ Colette replied, pulling me into a tight hug beside her. ‘He didn’t realise what an amazing person you are. Definitely his loss.’ She kissed me on the cheek and poured us both another large glass. As I picked it up and took a sip, I wasn’t sure that I agreed. It definitely felt like I’d suffered the biggest loss and that Finn had merely moved on. I hoped that time really would offer the healing that the old adage promised.
Friedrich stood as I approached the table at the restaurant he’d booked for dinner.
‘Lizzie, thank you for coming.’
I gave a brief nod as I sat in the chair the waiter pulled out for me. A napkin was then placed delicately in my lap before he silently moved away. Friedrich’s tastes in restaurants had improved since we’d been together. He’d taken Bella to the one I’d always wanted to go to. I bit back that thought, shoving it back in the box in my mind marked ‘Memories of Finn – Do Not Open’. Now there was this place. Demure, elegant and sophisticated. Before, he’d dismissed such qualities and insisted that restaurants were ‘merely a place to provide sustenance’. Not the most romantic. Perhaps that wasn’t the only thing that had changed.
‘You look very beautiful.’
My head snapped up from where I’d been perusing the drinks menu, partly as something to do. I’d been in two minds whether to come tonight and my nerves were still jittery.
‘Oh. Umm, thanks.’
‘You seem surprised to receive the compliment.’
I swallowed, trying to regain my mental footing. ‘No. It’s just… I wasn’t expecting it.’
‘You should always expect it, Lizzie.’
I put the menu down, placed my hands on the table and met Friedrich’s gaze.
‘OK, who are you and what have you done with Friedrich?’
His laugh was smooth as he covered my hands with his own.
‘Oh Lizzie, I’d forgotten how much you used to make me laugh.’
I did a quick cast back and couldn’t remember a whole lot of laughter in our joint past. Not like with Finn… I slammed that box shut again and sat a mental elephant on it to keep it closed, instructing it not to move!
‘Can I get you anything to drink?’ With perfect timing, the waiter appeared once more beside us, giving me a chance to free my hands in a dignified manner. I made a point of picking up the menu and was about to make my decision when Friedrich chose for us.
‘A bottle of the Tattinger, and one of still water.’
The waiter nodded. ‘Very good, Sir.’
‘Thank you,’ I added as I handed the wine menu to the server as I got a glimpse of the Friedrich I had been used to, feeling himself above such pleasantries.
‘I hope you like Tattinger?’
‘I didn’t realise you were celebrating.’
He gave a self-deprecating shrug which sat awkwardly on his features before he replied. ‘I was hoping that we’d both have something to celebrate by the end of the evening.’
