Page 17 of A Recipe for Romance in Brambleton

‘I’ll think about it.’ Lauren gave her mother another smile. ‘But you just focus on having a great time. You’ll be so good at teaching, and this is a great opportunity to enjoy yourself and inspire other people.’

‘I hope you’re right.’ Myriam turned back to the riot of colours and material on her bed. ‘Now, I think I better decide once and for all what it is I’m taking with me, or Gary will be at the door tomorrow morning and I’ll still be putting things in the suitcase!’

Lauren thought about offering to help her mother choose but then thought better of it. Myriam got irritated about being micromanaged, which was a lesson that Lauren had learned over the years. Better to leave her to it and get on with sorting dinner out.

Forty-five minutes later, they were both tucking into a delectable moussaka. ‘I hope the food on the cruise is going to be as good as yours!’ Myriam said between mouthfuls.

‘This won’t be a patch on what you’re going to get.’

‘Who knows? Perhaps, by the time I get back, you might have found someone else to cook for!’

‘Not unless Gerard Butler comes wandering in through the café door!’ Lauren giggled. ‘Although, with Finn Sanderson living just down the road, anything’s possible, I suppose.’

Myriam raised an eyebrow at her daughter. ‘Never discount anything in this life. All those years ago, I wouldn’t ever have imagined that mine would have taken the turns that it has. And you know what? I wouldn’t change any of it. It might not have been the most conventional or the easiest of paths, but I’m thankful for every lesson it has taught me along the way. Most of all, darling, I’m thankful for you.’ Myriam reached out a hand and gave one of Lauren’s a squeeze. ‘I’ll miss you while I’m away, but you can be sure that I’ll be making the most of every second. Perhaps you can try to do the same.’

Lauren grinned. ‘Yeah, because Norwegian rivers have nothing on the view from the café’s window!’

Myriam’s eyes twinkled. ‘Depends on what, or who, you’re looking at.’

Lauren shook her head and focused on her food. Her mother’s view on the world was always quirky, sometimes surprising and never dull. She knew she ought to try to be more like her, but it was difficult when she was working all the hours God sent. All the same, as she stacked the plates into the dishwasher later, she wondered if Myriam was right: maybe she should ask Cathy to cover some extra shifts over the next couple of weeks. If nothing else, it would mean she’d get the chance to do some Christmas shopping.

16

The next morning, Lauren was awake long before it was light. She’d decided not to open the café until Myriam had left; she wanted to spend as much time with her as she could. She also couldn’t quite let go of the idea that Myriam would forget something, or there would be a sudden last-minute emergency that only she, Lauren, could sort out.

Padding downstairs so as not to wake her mother, she made a cup of tea and, by the time she’d finished drinking it, and scrolling a little on her phone, it was beginning to get light. She heard the creak of floorboards upstairs, suggesting that Myriam was awake, so she reboiled the kettle and took a mug up to her mother.

‘Thanks, love.’ Myriam sipped her tea gratefully. Lauren left her to it. Later, when they were both downstairs, she couldn’t help checking and double-checking things with Myriam.

‘Are you absolutely sure you’ve got all of your medication?’ It was a superfluous question, given that when her mother was still upstairs checking over her suitcase, Lauren had rifled through her mother’s wash bag, located the zip-up pouch where she kept her medicines and checked them for herself.

‘Yes, of course.’ Myriam’s voice held a trace of irritability. ‘And I know you’ve checked, too, so please stop asking me.’

‘Sorry.’ Lauren forced a smile. ‘I can’t help worrying.’

‘I know.’ Myriam smiled back at her. ‘But you mustn’t. I’ll be fine.’

‘I’ll nip up and get your suitcase.’ Eager to have something helpful to do, Lauren hurried out of the kitchen before her mother could reply.

Upon her return, she caught sight of Myriam scrambling through her wash bag and had to suppress a smile when she realised that her mother was indeed checking that she had definitely packed all of her medications.

‘Do you want me to pop up to the studio and grab your painting stuff, too?’ she said as she carefully pushed the handle back into the suitcase and stood it up.

‘No thanks, darling – I’ve got my best brushes tucked away inside my suitcase, and the cruise director emailed me a couple of days ago to say that they’ve sourced all of the paints and canvases that I’ll be using on the trip. So, I really will be travelling light!’

Lauren rolled her eyes and gestured to the suitcase. ‘I’d hardly call that light.’

‘Well, I decided, what the hell – if I wasn’t sure what to take, why not just take it all!’

Myriam’s laughter lifted Lauren’s heart. ‘I’m glad I won’t have to carry it at the other end.’

Myriam was about to reply when the Ring doorbell chimed its merry tune.

‘That’ll be Gary.’ Myriam’s face grew serious. ‘Now, don’t forget, I might be on the rivers, but you can call me any time you like. If I don’t pick up, it probably means I’m teaching a class, so don’t panic. I’ll call you when we get to Southampton, and I know that you can track my journey, at least as far as there.’

‘Sometimes I wonder who the parent is in this relationship,’ Lauren replied, a fondly wry note in her voice. But Myriam was only saying this to reassure her.

‘Well, I’d better get the door, or Gary’ll be standing out there all day!’ Myriam hurried out of the kitchen and a few seconds later Lauren heard her greeting the man on the doorstep. She blinked away sudden tears. She could cry later; for now, she wanted to send her mother off with a positive smile. That smile became a little brighter when Gary appeared at the kitchen door and gave a whistle at the size of Myriam’s suitcase.