"Will you take them back tomorrow?" He was referring to the bags which they had left spread across the living room when they had finally left for dinner.
"I think I'll keep them." He gave her a look of disbelief which she missed as they piled out of the cab and toward the restaurant, "I like them, and besides I'd be too embarrassed to take them back."
"Yes I suppose you would." He opened the door to the restaurant and ushered her in out of the cold, "what would you really say? I accidentally brought this while I was stressed, so I no longer need this blouse?" she giggled as their coats were taken and a waiter appeared to greet them.
"May I help you Sir?"
Robert found himself smiling at the waiter, Cora had moved to stand so that they were side by side, "Yes, I have a booking for Crawley." He placed his hand on her lower back as the waiter ran his finger down a list,
"Ah yes, right this way Sir." His fingers dug in lightly as he ushered her to follow the waiter to their table.
Robert was enjoying himself immensely as he sat across from his ex-wife, a glass of red wine in his hand. They were at a secluded table (as requested) and Cora was swinging her wineglass about as she recounted the story of how she had ended up on Bond Street earlier in the day.
He had forgotten quite how good company Cora was.
"I found a lovely pair of creamy pink wedges and well, once I had those" she paused for a sip of wine, "well you've seen the living room." She blushed, "someone from the bank called and asked if my card had been stolen."
He snorted a laugh before a waitress arrived with their main meal, fish for her and lamb for him. "What did you say?"
"That my daughter was in town and I was taking her on a much needed shopping spree." Again he laughed, "Luckily I wasn't using my American credit card or I'm sure they would have cancelled it."
They began to eat, the quiet music and chatter from other diners filled the silence between them nicely. Robert was loath to break her seemingly good mood and so far they had not discussed Bricker. He felt his phone vibrate and then begin to ring in his pocket. He had sworn he put it on silent and pulled it out to curse silently as he saw who it was.
Cora was looked at him questioningly,
"Its Mary, should I take it?"
She smiled as she cut another piece of fish, "I think so; she will just try again if you don't."
Mary had an annoying habit of continually ringing if she thought someone was ignoring her calls. Robert knew this would be the case if he did not pick up, and so he did.
"Hello Darling"
"Papa, how are you?"
"I'm fine."
Cora was watching him closely as he spoke to their eldest daughter. Her fingers fiddling with her fork, but her eyes concentrated on him. Mary who looked so like her mother and yet was her opposite in almost every other way.
"Are you out somewhere, it's very noisy."
There was disproval in Mary's voice and he wondered if he was about to get reprimanded by her. He considered his next sentence carefully, "Ah yes, out to dinner actually, might you be quick, I don't want my food to go cold."
"I just wanted to check that you were okay, Matthew said you had been bit off at work that's all."
"Did he?" he tapped his fingers on the table, he knew Mary was only trying to be kind,
"Yes he did and I would tend to agree with him. That Barnes fellow really shook you up and I haven't heard you get worked up about Mama like that in years. Is something going on?" he could hear her concern and sense of annoyance all at once. She must be worried though if she had taken the time to call him.
"I'm fine, just very busy that's all."
Mary considered his answer, "good Papa, because if something was wrong, I do hope that you would tell me."
"Of course Mary, its fine." Here he paused, knowing he should get back to his dinner guest, "anyway, I really should be going, I will see you on Saturday afternoon."
"Yes, I suppose so, good bye Papa."
"Good bye darling."
Cora had returned to her dinner and he wondered if she had heard what Mary had said. She did not inquire as to what they had spoken about, but picked up her wine and gave him a tight lipped smile. He had managed to get through that conversation without giving them away that was good. He put his phone back into his pocket and shook his head turning his full attention back to Cora.
"She wanted to see if I was okay." This caused her to laugh and they returned to their dinner in peace.
They were finishing off a second bottle of wine with dessert (panna cotta for her and pudding for him) when her phone rang this time. He nodded his accent, she answered, rolling her eyes as she did so
"Mary, how lovely"
She was trying not to laugh and Robert wondered not for the first time if that much wine was wise. Cora had become quite animated, but still tight lipped in regards to the things they needed to be talking about. Not that he was going to push it. He returned to his pudding,
"Oh no I can't darling, I have the gallery opening on Friday."
More muffled sounds from Mary, explaining he assumed. Actually if he couldn't hear what Mary was saying then neither would Cora. That was a relief.
"You know I would love to, how disappointing." Cora was nodding as Mary was obviously still speaking, then her face lit up as though remembering something very important. Now she was looking at him, smiling at him,
"I do have an idea though darling, why don't you try your father?"
Robert frowned and put down his spoon. Mary was quite obviously after a favour of some sort, one which Cora was clearly more suited to. Though he supposed it must be nice for George to see his Granny when she was in England.
Cora went on, still smiling at him as she did so, her hand reached across the table to take his gently, "I am sure he would be free Friday for George, why don't you ring him and ask, the worst he can say is no." Her pale fingers began to trace across the top of his hand and along his fingers slowly, a distraction,
"Yes, I will be and thank you darling, now ring your father, I love you."
And that was how he found himself agreeing to babysit his only grandson the following night.
