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“Give it to Lewis,” Sam whispered over the trailers, his breath warm on her ear.
The film was hilarious. Maya let out a good hearty laugh at one point, then remembered she had Sam next to her and tried to rein in her chuckles. She kept a beady eye on the two girls below, making sure they were behaving.
Afterwards, the girls waited in their seats for the cinema to clear, then they all walked out together, following the babble of the crowds.
“That was awesome,” Chloe said, and Amber agreed. Lewis had enjoyed the movie too, judging by how much he’d giggled.
It was five in the afternoon by the time they’d walked out of the cinema into the cold air, and the sky was already darkening.
“Mummy, I’m hungry,” Lewis said.
“After all that popcorn?” Maya ruffled his hair.
“What are you doing for dinner?” Sam asked as he gave Chloe a hug around her shoulder.
“Oh, we were… I … uh, promised the kids we’d go to Frankie and Benny’s as it’s Lewis’s birthday.”
“Oh, I was thinking of doing the same,” he said.
“Please, Daddy, can Amber join us?” Chloe didn’t miss a trick.
Sam wrapped an arm around his daughter and turned to Maya. “Would you like to join us for dinner? Lewis, would you like that?”
“Please Mum, please,” Amber started begging, like Chloe. To be honest, it was nice for Amber to have an impromptu meet-up with her friend, and Maya could do with some adult company. Sam wouldn’t have been her first choice. But hey! Beggars, choosers and all that. Lewis wasn’t fussed either way and nodded happily.
“Yes, okay,” Maya said hesitantly.
They were shown to a booth and the two girls sat together. Sam slid in next to them, while Maya shuffled Lewis along, so she was opposite Sam. Maya busied herself looking at the menu to avoid making conversation with Sam. What should they talk about? If the two girls were going to be ‘best friends forever’, then she needed to attempt to build bridges with Sam. What harm would there be in getting to know him better? Like it or not, she would have to see him regularly, as Amber was always asking for Chloe to come over. Maybe they could put the mortifying make-up incident behind them?
In fact, it looked like Sam already had.
Only Maya was unsure why.
A waitress appeared. “Can I take your drinks order?”
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Sam looked at Maya. “I’ll have a bottle of Bud, please.”
“I don’t know, I’m driving.”
“So am I. But we can have a small one.” There was a twinkle in his warm, brown eyes.
“Okay, yes… It would be rude to let you drink alone.” Maya chuckled nervously and quickly perused the drinks menu. “A small pinot grigio then, please — and a jug of water.”
“Of course.” The waitress made a note on her pad and then took the kids’ drinks order. “Would you like five more minutes to decide on food?”
“Yes, please,” Maya said. She would avoid the spaghetti options, for fear of making a mess in front of Sam. He had a pretty low opinion of her already, so what would he make of her with Bolognese sauce dribbled on her chin?
The waitress set the drinks down and took the food order. The kids all chose pizzas and Maya went for a safe pasta option with a creamy sauce rather than a tomato one. Sam went for a calzone and ordered some sides to share. With the girls happily chatting and Lewis playing games on Maya’s mobile phone, Maya knew she needed to make conversation with Sam.
“So, how are you and Chloe settling in?” Maya said.
“Great, can’t believe it’s been seven months,” Sam said. “I moved in July, so Chloe’s schooling wasn’t disrupted too much. She’s made lots of new friends.” Sam looked at the two girls deep in conversation. “I’d changed jobs from Swindon to Bristol. My sister, Heather, convinced me to move closer, for an easier commute, and so she could help me out more with childcare. You know how it is.”
“Yes, my parents living locally is a godsend.” Maya smiled. “Where do you work?”
“Over in Filton. I’m a project manager in the aerospace industry. It can be busy, and stressful at times, but I love it. I’ve been in engineering all my life. I’m working on a project improving a current passenger jet. A newer model.”
“Oh, like with cars, when you get the ‘sport’ range?”
