Chapter Eighteen
Olivier – Christmas Market, Jubilee Square, Brighton
The Christmas market spread out through the already narrow lanes surrounding Jubilee Square, temporary wooden huts and stalls with awnings all draped in fairy lights.
‘Glad your ankle is better,’ Olivier said, as he saw Romesh waiting for him by the extra wide lamp post in the centre of the pedestrianised road. There were flyers and posters stuck to it all over, advertising gigs and comedy nights, so you could hardly see the green paint beneath.
‘Oh.’ Romesh waved his hand. ‘’Twas naught but a flesh wound. I am very lucky to have a doctor as my husband. A fact I was sure to remind the social worker of in passing conversation yesterday.’
‘Were they impressed?’
‘I don’t know,’ Romesh groaned. ‘She hadthemost intensive poker face. Designed to make us sweat. James, of course, is all calm and unfazed by that kind of behaviour. Said she’s just trying to see if we panic and say stupid things, letting stuff slip.Well it clearly works.’
Olivier threw an arm around Romesh’s shoulder and gave him a quick hug. ‘What things could you have to let slip that you wouldn’t want her to know about? Your cocaine habit? Your belief that the world is flat?’
Romesh laughed. ‘How did you know? Let me treat you to a coffee to buy your silence.’
They headed for the nearest beverage hut and bought coffee, before they began wandering around the market, looking at the decorations and crafted gifts on display.
‘Oh look.’ Romesh plucked a pair of red and white hand-knitted baby booties off a hook at a stall full of Peruvian-style cardigans and scarves. ‘How cute are these? I can’t buy them though. I’d jinx it.’
Olivier smiled softly and leaned in to joke in Romesh’s ear without insulting the stall holder. ‘If it’s any consolation they look itchy.’
‘True.’ Romesh replaced them. ‘Sorry. I’m being boring.’
‘You’re not being boring. It’s a big deal, Romesh.’ Olivier took a sip of his burnt coffee. ‘Did you and James know you both wanted kids before you got married? Did you talk about it beforehand?’
‘Yeah. Yeah, it definitely came up. Not in a I-want-kids-before-I’m-thirty kind of way but sure, we both knew it was on the table.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘Well, as much as itcouldbe on the table. Why?’
‘Oh. Just trying to figure out a few things before I even consider dating again.’
Romesh span around to face him. If he were a dog, his ears would have pricked up. ‘You’re considering dating again? About time. I wonder what could have got you thinking about such things.’ His dark eyes were alight with mischief that Olivier didn’t understand.
‘Time off from work perhaps.’ He waited, facing his friend, trying to figure out why the idea had got Romesh so excited. People jostled them. ‘I think I parked everything and threw myself into my job to avoid thinking too much.’
‘Ahh, I see.’ Romesh’s face fell a little. ‘You’re still in the rebound stage then? You just deferred it.’
Olivier shrugged. ‘I don’t know about rebounding but I’m not wanting to rush into anything, for sure.’
‘I wouldn’t call fifteen years rushing,’ Romesh muttered into his coffee cup.
‘Fifteen years?’
‘Fifteen? No, slip of the tongue. I meant two years. Two, isn’t it? Since your divorce?’ Romesh carried on walking and they moved up to the crossroads.
‘Yes.’ Olivier looked at Ro from the side of his eyes. He was acting strangely, but Olivier supposed he had been under a lot of stress recently. ‘Well, eighteen months.’
‘What are you thinking then? Looking for a holiday fling? No-strings-attached type of affair, or not wanting to risk your heart until you’ve found someone you can’t resist?’
Olivier laughed. ‘Are you thinking of starting up your own dating agency? I’m not looking for anything; I’m just here to enjoy Christmas with my family and friends.’
Romesh sighed. ‘Fine, fine. And are you?’
Olivier looked around him at the busy market. There was a busker playing pan-pipe versions of that song fromThe Snowman– badly. The sky was light grey above them, and it made all the blond wood of the huts and colourful trinkets on sale even brighter. After he spent time with Romesh at the market, he was going to go back to his maman’s to work on designing the clock tower and the Pavilion where he’d gone ice-skating the other night.
‘Yes. Iamenjoying my time here, very much. Thanks in part to you.’
‘And Ashleigh? You’re getting on?’
