Chapter 39
‘She was soooo nice!’ Sash hadn’t stopped talking since she’d got home. ‘Wasn’t she?’ She turned to Benoit, her face almost glowing with happiness. ‘And oh God, Mum, the food! You have to get Tomas to take you there. It’s Ah. May. Zing.’
I had no intention of asking Tomas to take me there.
Anything that didn’t have a price on its menu was far too expensive for my taste.
‘And Simone served us every course. It was just…’ She took a gulp of the glass of water I’d just handed her.
‘Unbelievable. All these people were looking… it was a bit weird to start but she was just so nice and, like, normal, I kind of forgot about all that after a bit.’
‘I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself. Did you have a good night, Benoit?’
‘I did, thank you. Seeing Sasha this happy meant that whatever we did would have been a good night.’
She stopped scribbling in her notebook for a moment to lean over and kiss his cheek.
‘I imagine those other creators will be a little jealous when they see these videos.’
‘That’s not why I’m doing it.’ Sash’s head snapped up.
He raised his hands in defence. ‘I know. I was just saying.’
‘I’m not interested in getting back at them, or one-upmanship, Benoit.’
He shook his head. ‘No.’
Sash went back to her notes and Benoit looked over at me, pulling a ‘whoops’ face.
There was a shadow of a smile but I could see his normal confidence had taken a dip.
I gave the merest hint of shrug with one shoulder.
It was up to them to discover each other’s beliefs and quirks and morals.
As much as I liked Benoit, I wasn’t about to give him an indication to ignore Sash’s reply.
He was undoubtedly right and those women who’d pretended to befriend my daughter would likely be turning rather ‘vert’ with envy when she uploaded her content from this and may well regret their unkindness, not to mention their immaturity.
Hopefully, they’d learn from it just as Sasha would have.
I fully expected them to contact her after and perhaps try to mend bridges but it was unlikely to work. They’d hurt her badly and at a time when she’d needed friends. I’d been in two minds whether to caution her against them should they try but she pre-empted me.
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if my “friends” try and contact me once these videos go up, though.’
‘And?’ I asked, as casually as I could.
‘Not interested,’ she said. ‘It’d be pretty obvious why they’d be getting back in touch, wouldn’t it? They can make their own contacts and come up with their own ideas once they’ve exhausted the ones I gave them.’ She tried to shrug it off but her eyes showed the hurt was still there.
Benoit remained silent, clearly thinking twice about any more accidental faux pas.
‘Not that I made this contact myself, obviously. I know that was down to Tomas.’ She gave a small smile. ‘And you.’
‘Was that a roundabout way of saying you approve of my boyfriend?’
‘Oh my God, that sounds so weird.’
I snorted a laugh. ‘Thanks.’
‘No, it’s just…’ She turned to Benoit beside her. ‘You know what I mean?’
He looked from one of us to the other, the faintest sheen of panic on his handsome face.
‘Don’t drag the poor man into it,’ I said, unhooking him from the predicament.
‘I’m just not used to…’ She tailed off.
‘Neither am I,’ I allowed. ‘Let’s just stick to calling him Tomas rather than labelling him, shall we?’
‘Partner?’ she suggested lightly. But this was my daughter.
She’d never been a complicated personality, much like her father, which I’d always felt was a real quality.
Mystery and many layers might be interesting in books but I’d always found it so exhausting, not to mention occasionally a tad pretentious, in real life.
But even when she attempted to hide her real meaning, like now, I was able to employ the magic X-ray specs of motherhood and see through to her true meaning.
‘A little too soon for that. Like I said, “Tomas” is fine for now.’
‘Ooh, for now…’ She threw a glance at Benoit, who seemed relieved to receive a smile and happily returned it.
‘When are you going to interview Simone?’
‘Oh! The day after tomorrow. She’s invited me to her house and said I can film there. Honestly… it’s just…’ She let out a squeal of excitement in lieu of being able to find the best superlative to express herself well enough. ‘Where is Tomas, anyway? I thought he’d be here tonight?’
‘On his way to the Middle East for a meeting,’ Benoit said, glancing down at his phone then tapping out a message.
‘Oh? For how long?’
‘I’m not sure, actually. He just said see you soon,’ I said.
‘Just a few days.’ Benoit filled in the informational gap.
‘Right. You OK while he’s gone, Mum?’
I let out a laugh. ‘Absolutely fine, love. I’m not about to mope about the place, wringing my hands just because my boyfriend,’ I emphasised the word at her teasingly, ‘has gone away for a few days. I’m pretty sure I’ll survive.’
‘Just checking.’
‘I’m meeting Gabby and Ashok for dinner tomorrow night and Reine for lunch the next day.’
‘Aww, Ashok was at Gabby’s when I got there yesterday. They’re so sweet. Like, madly in love. I know I was hoping you two would get together in India but I’m kind of glad you didn’t now.’
Benoit was looking interested. As this indirectly involved his godfather and a woman who was as good as his godmother, I could understand his curiosity.
‘It would have made it a tad awkward.’
‘You were…’ Benoit began then stumbled.
‘No, we weren’t,’ I clarified for him. ‘Sash and I met Ashok on holiday but he and I are, and only ever were, friends.’
‘Ah. Does Gabby know this?’
‘Yes,’ I answered with another chuckle. ‘Everyone does,’ I added, just to ensure he knew that Tomas was also entirely understanding of the situation.
A brief flush touched high on his cheekbones. ‘I apologise if I seemed…’ He made a gesture with his hands as his brain scrambled to find the right words.
‘It’s fine, Benoit. You’re clearly extremely close to both Tomas and Gabby. It’s natural for you to be concerned with their happiness. As you yourself witnessed, my daughter did the same with your godfather.’
‘I didn’t want you hurt again, that’s all,’ she replied.
‘I know. And I appreciate that.’
‘You were very tough on him,’ Benoit added.
She turned to face him. ‘Have you any idea how badly he hurt Mum back then?’
He opened his mouth to reply but apparently, it was a rhetorical question.
‘She didn’t even come back to Paris once in all that time despite her loving the place! Not once. Not even France!’
‘Sash, that’s in the past and it’s not Benoit’s job to try and find a defence for his godfather. Neither of you were even born, so let’s move on and live in the present, eh?’
She looked from me to Benoit then back again before letting out a slow sigh.
‘Yes, of course. Sorry,’ she said, her hand tentatively brushing his. His easy nature accepted the apology and lifted it to his lips, placing a soft kiss there as a reply.
‘Good. Now,’ I said, pushing myself up out of the chair, the novel I’d finished earlier on the coffee table in front of me, ‘I am off to bed as it’s way past my bedtime.’ I placed a hand on Benoit’s shoulder and leant down and kissed Sash’s cheek. ‘Night, darling.’
‘Night, Mum. Love you.’
‘Love you too.’
I poured a glass of water in the kitchen, picked up the new book I was looking forward to starting and headed through to my bedroom. Within minutes of getting into bed, I was fast asleep, the book still open on the first page.