‘Do you think your mum will meet someone eventually?’
Zoe blew out a breath. ‘It’s hard to say. I don’t think she’s ready yet. I’d like to think she will be one day. Maybe after your wedding.’
‘You mean she still thinks we’ll call it off and your dad will go back to her?’
‘Maybe a little bit. Sorry…you probably don’t need to hear that.’
‘It’s all right. Better to know.’ There was a brief silence before Chantal spoke again. ‘Zoe…’
‘Yes?’
‘I’m glad you don’t hate me. When we first met, I think you did, even if you’re saying now you didn’t. I think you didn’t even realise yourself that you did. I mean, it’s all right, I understand. I just hoped I could win you over because I thought you were cool and I wanted us to be friends for your dad’s sake. Not just because of your dad, though. I really like you, even though you make me feel…’ Chantal let out a sigh and then stopped talking.
‘What?’ Zoe asked. When there was still no reply, she rapped on the wall. ‘Come on! We’ve just established we’re mates now, so what were you going to say? It can’t be that bad, can it?’
‘Rubbish.’
‘What? How? I never meant to?—’
‘I don’t mean rubbish like you were horrible, but rubbish like I’m not enough. I work in an office, filing stuff for an insurance company, and you’re an actual midwife. You’re clever and you help people and you always look like you have everything under control.’
‘I’m a divorcee, don’t forget. My marriage fell apart just like my parents’. As for my job, it’s a job I love, but it’s just a job, just like yours.’
‘I forgot about your marriage. I didn’t really know you much back when it happened. But you’ve got your Alex now. He’s coming to the wedding? He’s invited, of course.’
‘Yes, thanks for including him.’
‘He’s good to you? He seems lovely.’
Zoe smiled and leaned her head on the wall of the cubicle. ‘Yes…he’s amazing. He’s like the person I’ve been searching for my whole life. I never felt this about Ritchie…what does that say about me? I married a man who didn’t make me feel what I should have felt, and I didn’t even see that it was a problem.’
‘That’s how I feel about your dad. I know he’s so much older than me and I might not be the best person for him, but I look at him and I know he’s my soulmate.’
‘I understand.’ Zoe staggered to her feet and reached to flush. She’d had three gins over lunch and was forced to conclude she was a little tipsy. Perhaps that had been a good thing, in the end, because it had lowered her guard and enabled this conversation. Later, she’d look back and see it had helped everyone.
When she’d straightened herself and emerged from the cubicle, she saw that the door to Chantal’s was still shut. ‘All right in there?’
‘Yes. It’s just…are you out?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh. Well, I think I can say things better to you like this. Is that weird?’
‘You mean where we can’t see each other? A bit.’ Zoe smiled. ‘But I get what you mean. You’re not worried about what the look on my face might say if you can’t see it.’
‘That’s it. I love your dad so much, all I want to do is make him happy. I’m sorry I’m probably not who everyone thinks is right for him. I might not even be who is right for him, but I’ll take care of him, and I’ll make sure he’s never sad, and I hope that’s all right.’
‘Are you done?’
‘Yes, I think so.’
‘Then come out.’
The toilet flushed, and then Chantal opened the door.
Zoe pulled her into a hug. ‘What you just said in there is everything I need to know. You’re absolutely the right person for my dad because you care for him exactly as he needs to be cared for. So stop worrying because we’re good.’
As Zoe let go, Chantal gave a nervous laugh as she went to the sink. ‘That was a bit intense, wasn’t it?’
