“What was the story with you yesterday?”
“I was going to ask you the same question.”
“You mean, why did I come to your rescue? Why did I spend all Sunday morning cooking so you could, once again, be the wonderful, extraordinary Mia, who is just perfect at everything?”
“Oh, spare me! You were going all out to lure him in. I’ve hardly ever seen you act like that.”
“Coming from an actress as talented as you, I’ll take that as a compliment. Anyway, didn’t you want the two of us to meet?”
“Yes, but not so you could flirt with him. I felt like the third wheel!”
“Oh, how tragic! The poor movie star realizes the world doesn’t always revolve around her.”
“Go on, be like that. You always have to be right.”
“Well, I was right about one thing, anyway. You are far from being as innocent as you claim to be in this little game of yours. And maybe you’ve started to like it.”
“You know, you’re starting to be a real pain in my ass, Daisy.”
“You’re already a real pain in my ass, Mia.”
“Fine, I can tell where I’m not wanted. I’ll pack my bags and go to a hotel.”
“Jesus, when are you going to grow up?”
“When I get to be as old as you are?”
“David called me.”
“What?”
“I may be three months older than you, but apparently you’re the one who’s going deaf.”
“When did he call you?”
“Yesterday, while I was making chard pie for your Swede.”
“Stop calling him that! What did David want?”
“He wanted to use me to convince you to reply to his messages and give him another chance.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I wasn’t your secretary. I told him that what he did wounded you deeply, and that he’d have to be extremely creative if he hopes to win you back.”
“Why should I give him another chance?”
“Because he’s your husband. ‘I’m not over David yet.’ Your words, as you may recall, when you were pouring your heart out to me the other night. So. David had an affair, he had a fling, but you’re the one he loves. Mia, you need to get your head straight. The day you turned up at my apartment, you said you wanted to live in the present and have some time alone. Now you’ve done that. But your new American friend will be leaving for Korea to join his girlfriend in just a few days, and what will you do then? Keep waitressing at a bistro in Montmartre? Is that how you plan to escape your life? For how long?”
“I don’t want to go back to London. I can’t, not now. I don’t feel ready.”
“All right, but think about it. If you want to save your marriage, you’d better not wait until David finds a new girlfriend. And don’t forget, you’ve never had a very high tolerance for solitude. Don’t try to claim otherwise—I’ve known you too long for that. I can’t help it if someone else makes you suffer, but I’m not going to sit by and watch while you suffer for your own mistakes. I’m your friend, and if I don’t say anything, I’ll feel responsible.”
“So let’s go in on the restaurant together. You can deal with the cooking and I’ll take care of the dining room. We can plan our holidays. We could go to Greece for a few days, just the two of us, in September . . .”
“September is a long way off. In the meantime, let’s just enjoy these last two days without fighting.”
“What do you mean, last two days?”
