Escape to the French Riviera

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I am disappointed to be on a train departing Manchester after only one night, so I can’t help but daydream what it would be like to return to the French Riviera with Elias. I picture myself waking up with him every morning with the sun shining through the curtains and that lovely smile on his face. But my daydream is soon broken when I notice Poppy calling my mobile.

‘Hello, love.’

‘Mam, Mam… You’re not going to believe this. Dad came up on a dating site I’m on. I was scrolling through the pages. You know how it is, swiping no, no, no… Then Daddy’s face appeared, but it wasn’t his name. I thought I was going to be sick!’ says Poppy.

Oh no. She must have seen that awful photo and the lies.

‘Oh dear.’

‘Why don’t you sound surprised? I was horrified. He’s looking for someone younger than him. Can you believe it? I wanted to be sick. Jasmine said, maybe it’s not really Dad, though? Someone might have used his photo because they obvs haven’t used his name. Jasmine thought either someone’s stolen his photo or it could be a prank by someone at work. Are they that bonkers in the office, do you think?’

It seems that Michael’s true colours may have finally been revealed to the girls, although Jasmine is obviously refusing to believe it.

I want to say that he is indeed looking for someone younger and calling himself Tom, but I bite my tongue.

‘Well, maybe you should ask him about it. I’m sure there’ll be some kind of explanation.’

‘Do you think it’s because he’s lonely? Because you haven’t gone back with him yet? There might still be a chance for you both to get back together, you know.’

I stop Poppy right away.

‘No. I’m sorry. I’ve told you that’s never going to happen, and besides, I told you how I have met someone lovely, who you saw briefly at the flat.’

‘Oh, Mam. I didn’t like him. He looks well dodge. Why can’t you get back with Dad instead?’

Elias is the least dodgy man I have ever met. Now, Michael, and the way he behaves nowadays, is what she would call dodgy if she knew all the facts.

‘You just need to get to know him. You know, I’ve just met his sons. I’m on my way back from Manchester now. I’m sure you’d like them. One of the boys, James, is at uni studying marine biology. You like that sort of thing, don’t you?’

‘Oh, you remember my friend Emma? That’s what she’s doing up that way somewhere. I wonder if she knows this dodgy family. I’ll have to ask her.’

‘They’re not dodgy! Don’t be like that. He seemed very studious. A decent boy.’

‘Yeah, right. Well, anyway, I don’t want to talk about that dodgy bloke any more.’

I want to repeat that he’s not dodgy ! But I know there’s no point right now. Once Poppy gets something into her mind, that’s it. Like Danny, it looks like it will take a lot to win her round.

‘Anyway, I’ve got to go. Just wanted to tell you about Dad, but I feel better now. I’ve got to get ready for the Student Union party tonight. I’m dressing up as a sausage.’

‘A sausage? Well, you’ll have to send me pics of that. Doesn’t sound like your usual type of thing.’

‘Yeah, it’s a long story. I lost a bet with Jasmine,’ she says sulkily.

‘Oh dear.’ The thought of Poppy, who is so image-conscious, walking around as a sausage all night almost cheers me up as I contemplate the thought of being back in my own bed alone. I smile to myself as I picture her outfit. I imagine she will be in the horrors all night.

On the train journey back, I am so mad with Michael that I send him a message.

Just so you know, the girls have seen you on that dating app you’re

on, TOM.

Five minutes later, he replies.

Huh? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who’s Tom? I don’t need

to be on a dating app. Haha.

He always adds in ‘haha’ whenever he gets nervous and has been caught out.

Stop lying. You’ve been spotted by more than just the girls and, by

the way, you’re a right catfish lying about your name and age like

that.

Well, I don’t want weirdos knowing my name, and I feel like I’m 45. I

didn’t lie.

Wow. You admit you’re on there. Well, that’s progress.

Since you’re not interested any more, I moved on, and it’s nobody

else’s business.

You’ve changed your tune. It is my business when Poppy calls me up

disgusted, and I almost have to agree with her that someone put you on

there for a prank! She was horrified you could be looking for someone

practically her age!

Alright. I’ll adjust the age setting then. Happy now?

It might be better. You wouldn’t want someone to be disappointed when

you meet up. Catfish!

He won’t like that one bit, but that’s what he gets for upsetting our girls.

It’s early evening by the time I get back to Swansea, but it seems like the longest day. After having let Elias know that I arrived home safely as he made me promise I would, I ring Carol to see if she fancies a drink. I could really do with one, and besides, the thought of sitting in the flat alone is the last thing I want. Fortunately, Carol feels the same. I throw my bags down, freshen up and rush straight out to meet her.

At the wine bar, we order the two-for-one cocktails and have a good old catch-up. I broach the subject of Elias and tell her how the boys weren’t very welcoming. I also tell her that Elias asked me to spend the summer in France with him.

‘Are you for real? What are you doing still sat here?’ she says, almost spitting out her pina colada.

‘It’s not so easy. I don’t think either set of kids will accept us being together. Poppy sounds dead set on not liking Elias and you should have seen the looks Danny gave me.’

‘Well, I suppose his boys have lost their mam and that’s hard for them. It doesn’t matter who you are, they’re probably going to want to dislike you. I’m sure they won’t when they find out how lovely you are though. I suppose it’s the same with the girls. They never wanted you and Michael to split up, and even now, they hatch plans to get you back together. It’s never nice for anyone; any of this stuff.’

‘No, that’s the thing. Life was so much less complex in our twenties when we met someone. There are so many things to think about at this age.’

‘I know. It’s difficult. Maybe that’s why you need to run off to France with him.’

‘Hmm. That’s what Elias thinks too. It’s just that it all seems to be moving so fast. I wish he lived closer and we could start dating normally and build our relationship. With the distance between us and the hate we’re getting from everyone, it’s difficult to see things properly. I don’t want to rush into something.’

‘Well, I’d be rushing into something head first if I’d met someone like Elias. I think you’re bonkers to even worry about anything. I know everyone will take time to come round to the idea, but you’re being far too cautious. I mean, have you seen that man? Looks, personality and money! What more could you possibly ask for?’

‘Well, that’s the problem. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m after him for the money. I don’t want to be called a gold digger.’

‘He knows you’re not like that. I mean, you hung around with him when you thought he was a skipper. You didn’t know he was a lottery winner.’

‘I know and sometimes I wish I still didn’t know.’

‘You’re overthinking. Say yes to France, spend more time with him and see how it goes. That’s my advice and, if you don’t go, then put in a good word for me. I mean, obvs, I’d never steal your boyfriend from under you, but I’m just saying… If you didn’t want him, like…’

‘Well, I’d be pretty gutted if he did go off with you,’ I say. But I know she is only teasing. I ponder over Elias as I sip on my paper straw. ‘It’s just a bit tough when the people closest to you don’t want you to be together… And that’s from both sides. It almost feels doomed, and I don’t want to get attached to him and get hurt.’

‘Look, it’s all early days. How can the boys not come around to you eventually? They just need time. Same with the girls. Once they meet Elias properly, they’ll be okay about it all.’

‘I wish I had your confidence. Poppy thinks he’s “well dodge” at the moment.’

‘You need to arrange something to get everyone together. Maybe on neutral territory. Who knows, the kids might even hit it off and all get along?’

‘I think it’ll take some time to get them all to agree to that, but it sounds like a good idea eventually.’

‘Well, in the meantime, go off and spend the summer together. If you don’t, then you’ll never know what could have happened.’

I think about what Carol has said. Am I brave enough to take the plunge and spend the summer with a man I still don’t know that well? The old me most certainly wouldn’t dream of it. But where has staying close to home and letting my grown-up kids rule the roost got me so far? I am fifty, a grown woman who is letting my ex-husband and two daughters practically dictate my life. With a newfound confidence – or perhaps one too many pina coladas – I message Elias.

Hope everything was okay with Danny when you got back. About that

summer in the French Riviera. I think we should do it xx

I hoped Elias would excitedly message me immediately, so I feel slightly forlorn when there is no response thirty minutes later. What if it was a flippant off-the-cuff remark? Perhaps he didn’t mean what he said after all. Maybe it was one of those things like when you say, ‘Let’s go on a cruise one day’, or years back when Michael dreamed of going on Concorde but only had the finances for a budget airline.

When I go to bed and there is still no response, I regret the text so badly that I decide to delete it. I am huddling under the duvet, regretting not accepting the offer earlier, when there is a knock on the door.

At first, I am nervous that someone is knocking so late, but I assume it’s Michael having got drunk on his Saturday night out with the boys and without having successfully ‘pulled’ as the girls would say. He has probably come around here to have his last word about the dating site. I wouldn’t normally answer at this hour, but the way Michael has been behaving recently, I suspect it’s him.

‘Michael, what do you want now?’ I say as I open the door.

But when I look at the man standing there, I quickly realise that it is definitely not my ex-husband.