‘You always were a fantastic arguer though. You could row with a paper bag. Still can, given the chance.’
Charlotte’s little joke had pulled her back into her adult body.
‘There’s a little more to it than that, I assure you. But I made sure that I got a first and became the best damn divorce lawyer in town, eventually. It was too late for mum, but I like to think I helped other people.’
‘You certainly did, baby. We’ve always been so proud of you.’
‘I actually faced her in court a few times, you know. My dad had retired by then, but the satisfaction I got when I beat her in a case was like nothing else.’
Maddie stroked Sofia’s back as if she was expecting a burp to come out.
‘Yeah, you did mention it once or twice. We’re not losing it quite yet.’
Sofia covered her eyes with her hands.
‘It’s the thought that it might all be over that’s bringing it back.’
Charlotte put both her hands together as if in prayer.
‘Nothing is ever truly over. It just changes into something else.’
Maddie put on a serious face.
‘Oooh, listen to the Dalai Lama over there. You’re not going to go all New Age on us, are you, Char?’
‘I happen to be a very spiritual person, actually. But we’re concentrating on Sof at the moment…’
‘I know. And at least you can have a break before you decide on your next move, Sof. We did wonder how you’d got so much time off at once, and why we weren’t being interrupted every few minutes by your office ringing. Now we know.’
‘You do.’
Sofia reached for both their hands. They were on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, and she wasn’t going to let the memories of her father’s betrayal spoil it for everyone.
‘And I’m thrilled we have so long to spend together. We’ve not seen each other like this, as in every day, sharing meals and laughs, since we were at school.’
Maddie went to speak, but Sofia put her hand over her friend’s mouth.
‘Oi!’
‘Before you say it, I’m aware these are not the simple days of school when the worst thing that could happen was a boy rejecting you or a big fat spot breaking out on your forehead. There are many reasons why we’re here together now, and many things going on in all our lives, both good and bad, but one thing’s certain, we need to make the most of the two weeks’ holiday in glorious Greece that we’ve got left.’
Maddie put her hand up.
‘What about motivational speaking as your next career… That’s a huge thing these days, isn’t it? You can talk the hind legs off a donkey that’s for sure.’
‘Cheeky cow.’
‘Just trying to help.’
Charlotte swilled the last of her wine around in the glass.
‘So, you’re not going to try and fight the redundancy, or take them to an industrial tribunal?’
‘There’s honestly no point. I wouldn’t want to be there after this, anyway, knowing I’m very much surplus to requirements. They’ve given me a very generous settlement, generous enough for me not to have to worry for quite a while. Maybe I do need to take a step back and think about what I really want, rather than what everyone else thinks I want.’
‘“Tell me what you want, what you really, really want.”’
‘Please stop singing, Mads.’
