Short story
Sam’s daughter Louisa is not pleased to learn that her mother has a date with an old boyfriend
Annie was eager to hear what had happened after Sam and Harry had left the Moonlight Club hand-inhand on Valentine’s night. “So! Tell me all about it!” she said as she got to work mixing the dough for the patisserie’s famous croissants. Early customers would soon be queuing.
Pushing her hair back with a floury hand, Sam said with a happy smile: “It was really lovely. We just walked and talked for ages. So much to explain and things to catch up on. And he phoned me yesterday to suggest we meet for supper tonight.”
“Oh, Sam, that sounds great. But please don’t tell me he’s married with six children and looking for an affair because he’s having a midlife crisis.”
“No. He has been married before as well, but it didn’t work out so I guess we are both wary of embarking on a new relationship. He has one son and they are very close. I hope that doesn’t cause problems. I dread to think what Louisa will think of me dating again.”
“Your Louisa needs to see her mum as something other than a handy ■ babysitter and money lender,” Annie retorted. “You have to stop feeling guilty and thinking you have failed Louisa in some way.”
Sam smiled: “I know you think she’s a spoilt brat at times, Annie, but I’ll always feel I need to be there for her.”
Arranging the croissants on a baking tray, Annie said: “You worked hard to make a success of this business at the same time as being a single mum and
‘Oh Sam, that sounds great, but please don’t tell me he’s married with six children and looking for an affair because he’s having a midlife crisis’
now you deserve some me-time so tell Louisa – oops! talk of the devil.”
Sam looked up to see her daughter struggling through the door, trying to juggle a wriggling toddler and a large holdall as she pushed it open.
“Honestly, of all the days that Sophie could choose to get earache, this one is the worst!” Louisa barged into the shop and collapsed into a chair meant for customers. “I’ve got a really important meeting today and the crêche won’t take her if she’s not well. Is it okay if she stays with you, Mum? I should be finished by five, but if I’m not, just phone Tom and he’ll collect her on his way home from work.”
Dumping the holdall, she headed for the door. Sophie ran to her grandmother. “Me make cakes.”
Annie slammed a baking tray down rather loudly and Sam took a deep breath. “Yes, of course you can, darling.”
She sighed as she thought she would have to cancel her hair appointment and warn Harry that she might be late. She called after Louisa: “You will have to collect her by six. Is that okay?” “Why six?” Louisa snapped. “Um, I’m going out,” Sam said, trying
not to sound apologetic. “Out? On a Monday night?”
Just at that moment, a van drew up at the kerb with ‘Flowers for You’ written on the side. A girl got out and entered the shop with a huge bouquet of red roses in her arms.
“Flowers for Mrs Samantha Reed,” she announced, looking round at the three surprised women.
“Gorgeous roses and a special note. It must be love!”
There was a second’s silence before Sam reached for the bouquet. Only one person had ever sent her red roses so she knew they were from Harry. He wasn’t to know the timing was disastrous.
“Thank you,” she said to the girl at the same moment as Louisa demanded: “Who is sending you flowers, Mum?”
Snatching the note, she read out: “See you later, H.”
“Mum, who on earth is H and what does he mean – see you later?”
A smell of burning croissants came wafting from the oven and Annie dashed into the back to rescue them, making sure she left the door open so she could hear the rest of the conversation.
“H is for Harry Barlow,” Sam said, nervously. “He’s just an old friend that I bumped into the other night at a reunion dance. We went out together when we were teenagers, long before I met your dad.”
“You’re not going out with him, are you?” Louisa asked incredulously. “Without even telling me!”
“Good heavens, Louisa, I only met him again last week. I haven’t seen him for nearly 25 years.”
Louisa tossed the note back onto the counter. “Well, I hope you know what you are doing because there’s no fool like an old fool, as Nan used to say.”
Sophie stared up wide-eyed at her mother and grandmother. Sam put a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
Louisa went on: “Anyway, have no fear, Mother. Sophie will be collected by six and you can go on your mysterious liaison. Just make sure it’s not your money he’s after, that’s all.”
Sam’s self-esteem went down another notch as she wondered why
Only one person had ever sent her red roses so she knew they were from Harry
her only daughter had a knack of making her feel both stupid and guilty. Anyone would think she was planning a wild night of debauchery with a complete stranger. And Louisa’s father had been on plenty of dates, but all he got from their daughter was sympathy when they came to nothing.
The door slammed. Louisa was gone and the only sound to be heard was Annie muttering angrily under her breath. Wagging a stern finger at Sam, she said: “Promise me you won’t cancel, whatever happens,” before giving her a big hug.
“I promise,” Sam sighed. “I just hope that Harry’s son doesn’t give him as hard a time over this as my daughter. Perhaps it would be for the best if I nip things in the bud now and explain to him I have family commitments…”
Glaring at a ruined croissant, Annie muttered: “Over my dead body!
I’ll never speak to you again if you let Louisa come between you and Harry
Barlow.”