Chapter 43
ED
Now
True to his word, Jez calls round to pick me up in his car to take me out for that promised healthy lunch.
He’s discovered a new authentic Thai place in Twickenham, close to where his parents live.
We leave the car in his parents’ drive and walk into the high street.
The owner greets Jez like an old friend and seats us at a table overlooking the high street, handing over a couple of menus.
Jez orders a Som Tum and a Thai ginger green salad for us to share with a couple of citrus infused sodas whereas I was hoping for an extra hot red curry and a nice cold beer to wash it down with.
But today is all about things in moderation according to Jez and after my recent big night out, who am I to argue?
Jez chats a little in Thai (picked up from his extensive travels in South East Asia) much to the delight of the proprietor and before long we are both tucking into our Thai salads.
I’ll be wanting cheese on toast when I get home I think to myself but I’ve promised myself and Jez that booze and unhealthy food are off the menu, so I’ll just have to take a leaf out of Jez’s book and try to make more of a conscious effort to lead a healthy life, especially as the tour starts in the next few months.
‘The food’s so good in here. And so healthy too.’ Jez says enthusiastically tucking into his salad.
The salad hasn’t touched the sides for me as I hear my stomach rumble.
A full English breakfast would have done me better and helped to soak up all the booze from the last few days.
But I know this is the way forward if I’m to get in proper shape for the tour.
It’s harder as you get older to bounce back after a few heavy nights out.
‘It’s great.’ I reply, I hope sounding convincing enough.
‘You’re still hungry, aren’t you?’ Jez observes. ‘I’ll order some chicken satay. Lots of nice protein for you. That’ll perk you up.’
‘That’d be great.’ I reply, feeling and probably looking relieved that Jez can practically read my mind.
Jez orders the extra food, and I demolish it like I’ve been starved for days but it does the trick. Afterwards, Jez settles the bill, and we walk back to his parents’ house.
‘Fancy popping in to say hello to mum and dad?’ Jez asks.
‘Of course. It’s been ages since I’ve seen them.’
Jez opens the front door, and we walk through to their familiar sitting room where Jez’s mum is engrossed in a crossword and his dad is enjoying forty winks, with Geronimo their large black cat cuddled up contentedly on his lap.
‘Hello Mum. Look who’s come to visit.’ Jez says gently as his mum looks up from her crossword.
‘Well, if it isn’t Ed.’ she says with a genuine smile.
‘Hello Sylvie.’ I say, leaning in to give her a kiss, inhaling her ever familiar Rive Gauche perfume.
‘Come sit next to me Ed. Let me see you properly, it’s been such an age since I last saw you.’ she says, patting the seat beside her.
I obediently do as she asks. Sylvie was always like a second mum to me growing up and I would often decamp to Jez’s house when my mum was on one about my behaviour. I loved the slight chaos and homeliness of their house and there was always a home cooked meal to be had, whoever you were.
‘Well, I swear you look younger every time I see you. Life is definitely treating you well.’ Sylvie says, taking my hand in hers.
‘Aw thanks Sylvie. And you look as gorgeous as ever. How’s Bill?’ I say, looking over at Jez’s dad asleep in his favourite armchair with Geronimo.
‘He’s doing well, despite his last fall. That’ll teach him, trying to clean out the gutters himself just to save a few pounds.’ Sylvie replies, slightly chastising her husband.
`Hello darling. And hello to Ed.’ he replies, opening his eyes.
‘Don’t take too much of what Sylvie says to heart.
Geronimo nodded off on my lap and I couldn’t bear to move him, so I just took the opportunity to rest my eyes for a bit.
And as for the gutters, I like to keep my hand in with a bit of maintenance while I still can. ’ he blustered.
‘Dad, I can always help out. You only have to ask.’ Jez interjects.
‘I know, but you’re busy with your own life and I like to be useful.’ Bill retorts.
‘You’re not much good to me, if you hurt yourself and you know we’ve got that trip to Australia to see Lyla early next year once that baby comes.’ Sylvia scolds. Lyla, Jez’s younger sister had met and married an Australian guy, and they were expecting their first baby in the new year.
I stand up and shake Bill’s hand.
‘What have you two been up to?’ Bill asks with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Up to mischief I should imagine…’
‘Not at all, Dad. We just tried out that new Thai place in the High Street. You know, the new healthy one I was telling you about. Ed and I are getting ready for the upcoming tour so we’re starting to have a look at our diets.
’ Jez explains patiently as Bill still thinks of us as young men, even though we’re all in our late forties.
‘Ah yes. I remember now.’ Bill replies, running his hand through his thick greying hair. No chance of Bill ever going bald as he had a better head of hair as most men half his age.
‘I think it’s time for a cup of tea, don’t you boys?
’ Sylvie announces walking towards the kitchen before anyone answers.
‘I’ve got a freshly baked lemon drizzle cake that you simply must try Ed.
And I won’t take no for an answer, despite what my son says about keeping it healthy.
You look like you could do with a bit of feeding up. ’ she continues.
‘How can anyone refuse an invitation like that?’ I enthuse. ‘Can I help with anything?’
‘If you could fill up the kettle for me. I find a filled kettle a little on the heavy side nowadays.’ Sylvie replies as I take the kettle from her and fill it up.
Sylvie and Bill still prefer to boil their kettle on the gas stove and while we wait for the kettle to whistle to say it’s ready, I nostalgically remember back to our school days when Sylvie would make us hot sugary cups of tea from a kettle similar to this one, after we’d played our hearts out for the school football team.
We hardly ever won but we would always end up at Jez’s house as his mum worked from home, writing the occasional article for the local paper and she was always delighted to have a houseful of children to look after while the other parents worked, and we were always spoiled with some sort of home baked treat.
Although Jez lived the furthest away from our school, the field that we played football on was in Richmond, so it made sense to all go back to his.
Sylvie insists on getting out her good china cups and teapot, complete with matching sugar bowl and milk jug. I notice that her hand shakes a little as she pours the hot water into the teapot and then she searches for some matching side plates and some linen napkins.
‘Please don’t go to too much trouble.’ I begin to say, but my protests are batted away by Sylvie.
‘I like to make it a special occasion when we have visitors and today is one of those days.’ she says as she busies herself slicing the lemon drizzle cake into generous, hefty slices.
‘Jez. You must try a slice of cake. You look like you’ve lost too much weight recently with all your faddy diets.’ Sylvie scolds her only son.
‘Go on then mum, I’ll have a piece. I haven’t lost weight. I’ve just toned up at the gym. That’s all.’ Jez replies, almost reverting to a sulky teenager again whenever his parents start to criticize. I’m the same with my parents. It’s just that I choose not to see them too often.
I feel comfortable sitting here with Sylvie and Bill and as we sit and drink our tea and all marvel at Sylvie’s incredible baking, that I realise I miss family life.
Before Paul outstayed his welcome at our house, my parents would always have a house full of people, drinking and making music together.
It’s what got me interested in playing music as my dad relished in teaching me how to play the guitar properly and encouraged me to form a band with my mates.
Despite being full of tea and cake, Jez and I do a few jobs in the house for Sylvie and Bill.
Jez is much more handy than I am, but I make quite a good apprentice, handing him the relevant screws and tools as he fixes a couple of shelves that look in danger of collapsing and we fix their garden gate to make it more secure.
Bill is now banned from doing any DIY after his fall much to his dismay as he hovers beside us as we work, keen to get involved.
‘Any news on that Evie one?’ Bill asks out of the blue.
Jez shoots his dad a look, but I feel happy to reply to Bill. I like it that the older generation almost don’t have any filter and say what they really mean.
‘No. Not yet unfortunately. But I’m hopeful in time she’ll reach out.’ I reply as Jez stands back to admire his handy work of securing the garden gate.
‘She was quite feisty if I remember correctly.’ Bill continues. ‘Wasn’t her mother somewhat religious? I’m sure I remember her trying to get Sylvie to help at the church. Sylvie always managed to come up with some excuse or other.’ he says remembering back to our school days.
‘Yep. Evie was quite a character, and you’ve remembered Felicity Del Rio perfectly! A religious nut is how we all described her. Even her sister contemplated being a nun!’ I add as Bill nods, pleased that his brain does still work properly and that he still remembers things.
Jez and I tidy up a bit and put the assorted tools that we’ve used back in their rightful places and go to walk inside. Geronimo shoots past us like the clappers and jumps over the newly fixed gate, off to explore.
‘You’ve got the cat’s approval!’ Bill jokes as he walks back into the kitchen.
‘All sorted?’ Sylvie asks.
‘All sorted.’ Jez replies kindly.
‘Fancy staying for dinner?’ Sylvie asks, her eyes looking hopeful.
‘No. Sorry. I must get Ed back home as we both need an early night. We’ve got rehearsals coming up.
’ Jez says, closing down the suggestion of staying which is a shame as I love being part of Jez’s family here with Sylvie and Bill and the thought of one of Sylvie’s delicious home cooked meals really does appeal.
‘Oh, ok but you know how much I enjoy having a house full.’ Sylvie replies before adding,
‘Ed. Let’s organise a date when you are both less busy for dinner.’ she says compromising with Jez.
‘Definitely. I’ve really enjoyed seeing you both.’ I reply swiftly for the both of us.
We both kiss Sylvie and hug Bill goodbye, and they insist on waving us off, as Jez backs out of the drive.
‘You didn’t have to accept another invitation.’ Jez says as he drives away.
‘I wish I had the same kind of relationship with my parents that you do with yours.’ I say sadly.
‘I suppose because my parents are so present in my life, I maybe take them for granted. I know I’m lucky to have them, but they do try and take over a bit, especially with people like you. I’ll organise another visit.’ Jez replies trying to appease his guilt for taking his parents for granted.
‘That’d be great. The only way I’m going to get back in my mum’s good books if my supposed long-lost child suddenly appears! Dad says that mum keeps asking if there’s any news on the grandchild front!’ I reveal to Jez.
‘My parents are the same. Desperate for me to reproduce! Thankfully Lila has taken the heat off me for a while with her pregnancy.’ Jez explains as he drives along Cross Deep towards my apartment.
‘Fancy coming up for a drink?’ I casually ask, knowing what the reply will be.
‘Not tonight. I’m going for a run when I get home.
I hope you haven’t forgotten that we start back rehearsing in a couple of days.
’ Jez explains to me as if I’m a child. I haven’t forgotten about the rehearsals but I’m keen to continue the night, but I realise it’s not happening, at least not with Jez!
‘Yeah, of course and don’t worry, I certainly haven’t forgotten about the rehearsals!’ I say as jovially as I can. ‘And thanks for today. Seeing both Sylvie and Bill was a bonus!’
‘No problem. I’ll organise dinner with them soon. See you at rehearsals.’ Jez says as I get out of his car and walk towards the entrance of the flats, as Jez reverses and drives off. Thankfully the paps seemed to have given up for tonight.
I take the lift upstairs and then take a shower and change, doing anything to resist consuming any alcohol.
I open the patio doors that lead out from the sitting room and enjoy watching the light fade over the manicured gardens and relish the stillness, hearing the slight hum of people talking outside, enjoying the warmth of the evening.
It’s idyllic here; if only I had someone to share it with.