‘Hi, Mum!’ she answered in the brightest tone she could muster.
‘You’re still alive then.’
‘Yes, sorry, you know how it is. I’ve been so busy at work, and then of course we have Louisa now. I meant to call.’
‘That’s all right. I thought it would be something like that.’
Zoe frowned. Cherie was taking her excuse better than she usually would.
‘How is Billie?’ Cherie continued. ‘Do you think I might be able to come and see the baby? The pictures you sent me were beautiful. Such lovely skin and so much hair already!’
‘Yes, she’s very cute.’ Zoe’s frown deepened.
‘I suppose you’ve seen a lot of your dad since…’
‘Yes,’ Zoe said slowly, waiting now for the inevitable darkening tone. ‘I mean, he’s been living just across the fields, so it’s hard not to.’
‘Tom tells me he’s having to move out, though.’
‘Today, as a matter of fact. I’m going to see them off.’
‘That’s a shame. I’m sure you liked having at least one of us there.’
Zoe stopped on the path. She had to fight the urge to ask who’d kidnapped her mum and replaced her with an AI version programmed with all the correct responses. ‘It was nice,’ she said.
‘Speaking of…I don’t suppose you’re free over the next couple of weeks.’
‘Depends when. Are you thinking of coming over?’
‘I could come to you, or you could come here.’
‘For lunch or something more?’
‘Whatever you like, love. It’s just…’ Cherie paused, and when she spoke again, it was like she’d exploded. ‘There’s someone I want you to meet!’
‘Someone you want…’ Zoe paused and then grinned. ‘Someone? Likesomeonesomeone? You’ve met someone?’
‘His name’s Alistair. Would you believe we met at the supermarket café? I was having a cup of tea, and this man trips over my bag on the floor, and I thought, well, I’m for it now, he’s going to be furious because it was in the way, but when he looked at me, he just burst out laughing. That’s when we got chatting. Before I knew what was going on, he’d bought himself a cup of tea and some sandwiches, and we were sitting together like old friends. He’s lovely, Zoe. So kind and attentive. He’s taking me to Chester Zoo tomorrow! Isn’t it wonderful?’
‘Mum, it’s lovely! When did this happen?’
‘Only last week. Our first date was a meal out. We’ve been to the pub and the theatre – he took me to see the rep production ofCats, which was pretty silly; we mostly laughed all the way through it. And tomorrow he’s picking me up – he has a vintage Bentley, you know – and we’re going to the zoo like a couple of children! He’s sixty-five, but he really is very young at heart.’
‘He sounds amazing. I can’t wait to meet him. Let me check with Alex and Billie, then I’ll get back to you and we can work something out.’
‘Yes, that’s a good idea.’
‘Listen, Mum, I have to get on, but I’ll call you properly later.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that – I know you’re busy. Call me when you’ve got time.’
‘All right, well I’ll try for later, but if not, I’ll definitely speak to you after the zoo trip so I can hear all about it.’
Cherie ended the call with a fond goodbye, and then Zoe slipped her phone back into her pocket with a look of bemusement. And then she laughed softly to herself. Only her mum could meet a new man after all this time in a location as surprising as the supermarket café. But she sounded happy, and so Zoe was happy. Dad had Chantal – even though things weren’t going entirely to plan, he was still happy with his new wife – and now Cherie had someone. At least, it sounded promising. Zoe hoped with all her heart Alistair would turn out to be the one.
Still mulling over her mum’s call, Zoe walked the fields, where the sun was trying to break through fast-moving cloud and the swishing grass was glinting from the morning dew. When her old home came into view, she spotted a van parked outside, and it hit her that this was soon to be her dad’s old home too. She hadn’t been sure whether going to see them off was a good ideaor not, but eventually she’d decided to part with them on the best terms possible. It seemed the only way to do that was to be as open and available as possible, to wish them well and express the hope that they could still be close, despite what had happened.
Her dad came out of the house, staggering under the weight of a large box. He pushed it into the van and then turned and noticed Zoe walking towards him.
