I was surprised she’d noticed, not having a well-rested Lolly to compare her to. “She is. Rehearsals, classes, school, being fifteen. And no one gave me a manual when she was born. Sit down. Although you’re more than welcome to go through this menu standing up.”
She sat down on the chair that had seen better days and needed replacing about twelve months ago. But it was comfy and worn in the right places so that if I fell asleep while watching NHL games streamed to the TV when I got in from a shift, I wouldn’t ache the next day.
“Where’s her mum?”
“I think she’s in either Canada or Greenland at the moment. She’s a scientist and she travels pretty much all over doing research in something to do with physics. I couldn’t tell you anymore.” I shrugged.
Lolly came back in the room carrying two glasses that were almost overflowing.
“Are you talking about Mum?” She passed one to Simone first.
“We are. Where is she at the moment?”
“Greenland. But she’s going back to Ottawa next week. She mentioned coming over to see my audition pieces but I think she’s got her dates mixed up as it’s when she’s giving a keynote speech at some American university.” She shrugged, almost spilling the wine that she gave to me.
“She sounds a bit clever,” Simone said, watching Lolly. “I was rubbish at science even at school.”
Lauren smiled. “I am too. Mum doesn’t get it. I mean, I could do better but I find it hard to be interested. I’d rather be moving. But if I can’t be a dancer I need another choice.”
“What’s that choice?”
“Probably a physiotherapist, maybe one who helps kids.” She yawned and tried to hide it. “I should go to bed. Make sure you use all Dad’s ideas.”
We were quiet until I heard the click of her bedroom door.
“When did her mum start working away?” Simone sipped at her wine.
“A few months after she was born. Lauren wasn’t planned. Rebecca was about to start her PhD – a paid one. We got to when Lauren was about three and decided that it wasn’t working out for either of us being in a relationship. Lauren stayed mainly with me, but as she’s gotten older, she’s here all the time and Rebecca visits. She isn’t a bad mum. She’s just different. High functioning. She loves Lolly more than anything but she has no sense of time or much outside her world.” It was a bit of an over-share but I didn’t want Simone to judge Rebecca. Nothing about her, or us, was conventional, but that didn’t mean Lolly had missed out.
“How often do they Facetime?” Simone smiled. She had sunk into the chair and looked like it was giving her a hug.
“Every night before Lolly goes to sleep. Unless Lol is exhausted, but even then she usually manages a couple of minutes. Rebecca loves her a lot. If it had been the other way round and me working away, no one would question it much.” It’d grated on me the amount of criticism that Rebecca received. As it was, Lauren had two parents who loved her, worked together to raise her as a good person and would walk across burning hot stones in the middle of Hades to look after her.
“I get that. I admire Rebecca’s choice. It must’ve been a difficult decision to make.” She sounded sympathetic which surprised me.
I’d thought she would’ve been more judgemental as it was rare that Simone didn’t see things in black and white.
“It was, but it was the only choice. If she’d stayed here she’d have lost herself. She had post-natal depression and that was hard. It’s unconventional, but it works. Have you eaten this evening?” I needed to move away from talking about Rebecca. Now Lolly was older, she co-ordinated visits to her mother rather than me, so our relationship had become one where we discussed necessities rather than made small talk.
Simone looked thoughtful. “I last ate about four with the Blue team, but not much. The reps from a new brand of whisky came in so I ended up talking to those.”
“Want me to make you something?” I stood up and gave her a shit-eating grin. I’d had a burger and fries with Lauren, but I’d also done a legs work out while she was at rehearsals that morning so I could now eat a bear.
“Showing off?”
“Always. Come with me into the kitchen.”
Simone followed, asking about the photos that were on the walls, mainly of Lauren in her shows, some posters from various rock tours. Like a lot of chefs, I liked my music heavy and guitar based
We talked about work while I cooked, putting together what Lauren called posh cheese on toast.
Simone sat down at the kitchen table, munching away and perusing the sample menu I’d written down. It was straightforward, nothing too taxing as it was short notice so I needed to use supplies that would be easy to get hold of and straight-forward to prep. We had a few food allergies too, so the best thing to do was to create a menu that excluded all the allergens.
“How about mussels instead of prawns? They’re in season and I spoke to Henry at the seafood place yesterday. Put them with the sauce we used for the short-sprint tasting menu.”
“That would work. How about repeating the fish pie?” It had been a success, which I wasn’t surprised about.
“Done. We have a winner.” She nibbled at the crust. “Did you make this bread yourself?”
