“You miss your mother?”
“Sometimes, yes. I don’t miss the responsibility, or the abuse. She was still my mother, it’s hard to hate someone who’d lost their grip on reality. It’s sad really. You’ve never mentioned your family.”
Ah, right. The one topic I was uncomfortable with because one day I’d have to open up a bag of snakes and tell her. “French mother, Russian father. They both died a long time ago.”
“Oh.” She swiped at her mouth with a napkin. “I gather you miss them?”
“My mother most definitely. She was a beautiful woman with such a soft heart. My father…” I paused, struggling to find words that wouldn’t give me away just yet. “Well, I’m where I am because of him and some days it’s hard to look beyond that, hard to forgive myself for past indiscretions I guess you could say.”
“I think I understand what you mean. Not totally, because everyone has their own history and demons to contend with. Our parents mould us in certain aspects, don’t you think? I’d probably be a very different woman if my father had stuck around. On the other hand, my mother taught me not to expect too much, and to enjoy simple. It’s not that I don’t strive for anything, I do, it’s just uncomplicated is where I’m most comfortable.”
“Then I definitely think we understand each other,” I said, loving her explanation.
The burgers arrived then, and I laughed at the way Jolie’s eyes widened at the plateful of food pushed in front of her. “Oh, my,” she sighed. “This is going to be messy.” Hell yes, this woman wasn’t even daunted by the huge burger and side salad, watching her eat was going to be so much fun. Picking up the bun, she glanced at me. “Little bit of burger heaven right there. You spoil me.” Then she took a huge bite. I could do nothing but watch, it was impressive and yes, messy. Who knew watching someone stuffing their face could be so goddamn sexy?
“Shit,” I muttered, unable to take my eyes off her. “Damn, woman.”
“Seriously good,” she moaned around a mouthful and fuck if I didn’t fall headlong in love right there. And the most mortifying thing? While my mouth watered at the scene playing out in front of me, my cock grew stiff in my jeans over a woman devouring a monster sized burger. Apparently, I was into food porn, who knew?
“You’re not eating,” she pointed out.
“Ah, yeah, I will. But watching you is far better.”
Jolie rolled her eyes, continuing to dig into her food. Good lord, that mouth of hers, I’d tasted it, but hell. I wanted it again and again, I couldn’t see a time when I wouldn’t. If I played my cards right, Jolie Summers could definitely be the woman I would spend the rest of my days with. I hadn’t left my old life behind for her, but it crossed my mind that I would have.
I’d found my break in the storm. I’d found my light - the one Bill had said would be right there. Guy deserved a pay rise.
Jolie
Over the next few weeks, I saw a lot more of Yannick than I had the previous month. He texted idle words which held no weight every day, and somehow Sunday became a thing between us. Always late afternoon, always a different place to eat. Nothing pretentious, everything delicious and not a five-star restaurant in sight.
The Lebanese place he’d taken me to in Ealing Common was by absolute far the best food and company I’d had in the longest time ever. We’d left the car behind and travelled a stop on the Tube, Yannick’s hand pressed into mine the whole way. It hadn’t been dark, the restaurant just opening, but it had felt like more of a date than any of the other times had. Right down to the shy look Yannick had given just before he’d hugged me and delivered a chaste kiss on the cheek when we’d returned. He hadn’t come up to the flat, coffee not required, and I’d stood on the pavement watching him drive away with tumultuous thoughts bombarding my heart and my head.
So yeah, I looked forward to my Sundays because I spent them with Yannick for a couple of hours, his company becoming one my favourite things. Picking our way through the complications surrounding his life was a moot point, he’d promised he was out, and the only tie left was his soon to be ex wife. It would be some months before he was officially a divorce statistic and I could tell he was genuinely apologetic about it.
Irina Ischmova had been taking a lot more interest in Caulder’s and I’d been careful to steer clear of her when she arrived at the bar, always taking the opposite side to serve. Sensing her attention on me often, her stare would follow me around the room, the instances longer and more intent as time went on. I had nothing to hide, the woman seriously getting under my skin in a way I was sure she was trying to with Yannick. Mentioning it to him was not an option, I wasn’t a gossip, I could fight my own battles, and he was probably aware of what she was doing anyway.
On the Friday night she came in with Yannick’s friend, Tayte, I could immediately feel the tension radiating from the corner where they sat. Tayte looked uncomfortable, Irina ready to murder someone, more so than usual.
“She’s a delight this evening,” Carol whispered on the way past. “Stay on your side.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” I had no intention of poking the hornet’s nest and drawing Irina’s eye my way, that was just trouble with a capital T and to be avoided at all costs.
Caulder’s was busy, the warmer evenings drawing
