Chapter 4 Family concerns
"They? So you've not dated since your husband or rather ex- was caught?"
"My sister and my mother-in-law actually set this up. And my ex- was comprehensively caught red-handed, was immediately ejected from the house and within six months I had the house free and clear of his input and without having to share my business but I did allow him to hold onto his business."
"You had a good pre-nup to fall back on, then?"
"No, it turned out that I was the blind and stupid ever-trusting one in our relationship, so no handy pre-nup in place, but I did have video and voice recorded evidence of his cheating," Lottie then laughed, "Both Rory's business practice and my pre-school were largely financed by his Mummy, he's an only son and his mother is comfortably rich. Anyway, ever since I was introduced to his mother, who holds the purse strings and wears the trousers in her second marriage to her very sweet second husband, has regarded me as a daughter, even after the divorce. She thinks that under the circumstances we split up on amicable terms, and she blames herself for Rory's general immaturity and has continued her support for me. Although I have increased the level of repayments for the last three years, just in case. My business income did dip during lockdown, but I was helped by Government furlough payments and a couple of local government grants to take on more children from essential services. And when the publicity went out that we were taking in children from nurses, doctors and hospital staff, the donations we usually get from local supermarkets and the local public went up, too."
"So, what was your ex's business, the one that you left alone?" I felt I had to ask.
"Dentist. Costs a fortune buying into a successful practice and Rory is handsome and charming on the surface, and he had money, which opens the right doors. Once he'd bought into a good practice with Mummy's money, I think he felt that intimately intruding into attractive and trusting women's mouths was also an invitation to intrude a little further, need I say more?"
"Oh, my god, he was … with his patients?"
"At least three of them, I got the videos, the telephone taps, even their history of appointments at the surgery plus the subsequent hotel room receipts and I left him the tee shirt to go with it," she smiled. "Actually, I got the tee shirt and every other shirt off his back too, his worries were about the reputation of his business and dental practice partners as much as the wrath of his mother."
"That is horrendous," I said, shocked, "I'm surprised you're even dating, I'm sure it would put me off relationships forever."
"My sister and mother-in-law insisted, as it has been three years since the divorce after all. They were very persuasive in this instance. And the timing, well, it is Valentine's Day. What could go wrong?"
"At least this is a safe crowded place to meet a stranger."
"Yes, I come here to eat a lot."
"Alone?"
"Mostly, although my sister sits with me a lot, occasionally my parents and, more recently, my mother-in-law has reacquainted herself with the place."
"Well, I don't think much of your blind date, he must be bonkers to shrug off such pleasant and beautiful company. Perhaps he has sent you a message or apology?"
"My phone hasn't beeped all evening. Look, Ken, I know you were going to have a starter, but I'm actually starving now. My first time out on a date in three years and I couldn't touch a morsel at lunchtime."
"Not even tea and bickies when the babies got their heads down?"
"No, not even then, I was far too nervous, but, well, you seem to be a nice married bloke, with no obvious agenda, and I see the maître d is fending off another couple at the door who haven't booked … perhaps we could share one of these tables between us and leave the other free for a couple to celebrate their romantic dinner?"
"Well, as it looks like Lydia is having pizza and not coming home until late …"
"And the kids are at the grandparents you said earlier, so we could carry on this entertaining conversation and enjoy some nice food, and also do the right thing for a romantic couple who might otherwise be turned away because the inn is full tonight."
"It is a night for lovers, so yes, we could share and free up a table. Shall I move to your table?"
"Why don't I move to yours? If your wife did show up, you would see her approaching and give me a head's up so I could get my handbag ready in case we come to blows." She laughed at the thought and so did I. Lottie had a delightful laugh.
As Lottie spoke she stood up and waved to the maître d and signed with limited hand movements that she was moving to my table. The maître d waved and nodded his understanding back in return, before turning to the new arrivals, an older couple, and collected a couple of menus before steering them in our direction. I moved the bottle bag and card envelope, that was in the place setting opposite, to the floor by the right of my chair out of harm's way.
"I am sure it wouldn't actually come to blows, Lottie."
"Is she not the jealous type, Ken?"
"In other circumstances possibly, but like you but obviously well before your time, she used to work here as a waitress, and well known to the owners and their kids working here. So seeing me sitting with another woman on our usual table booked in our names, knowing that she was expected at any time after 1900 hours would clearly not be an assignation on my part, I'm sure she would see it as it is, a chance meeting in all innocence and a sensible sharing arrangement to everyone's advantage."
"She must be an understanding woman, your wife," she said as slipped her coat over her chair and seated herself in what would've been my chair if Lydia was here. I noticed she hadn't brought a drink with her.
"I have a bottle of chianti here, which I will not finish on my own as I am driving. So, could I tempt you to join me in a glass?"
"That's very kind of you, Ken, thank you. It's nice to know that there are still gentlemen around. I wasn't sure what my date would want to drink, so I waited before ordering."
"No need to wait any longer and, as my guest at my table, I want you to know that I have already settled the bill beforehand in anticipation, so you can have whatever you like on the menu, it's on me."
"That is most kind, Ken, your wife is a very lucky woman."
"You'd have to tell her that."
"I will indeed, if she comes," she grinned in reply.
As I poured the wine for Lottie and topped up my own glass, the couple who had recently arrived at the front of the restaurant were led by the maître d to Lottie's now vacated table. They were a much older couple than us, not that we were a couple, and I estimated they were in their sixties or even seventies. I warned Lottie of their approach, she simply smiled in response. I thought that her dentist ex, Rory, was an idiot for losing this girl, in fact any person who cheated was an idiot in my book. If a relationship wasn't working, then surely you discuss the problems and work it out together and, if an end was the only solution, you finish it together. And as for Mr Blind Date, whoever he was, he was a fool for not taking a chance on this woman, especially if her mother and sister were equally or even half as beautiful.
As the older woman passed between us to reach the seat by the radiator, I could smell her perfume, an older, sort of familiar scent, although I had no way of knowing what it was. Probably something classy like Chanel as far as I knew, it certainly smelled as though it should be expensive.
The maître d lit their candle first, then turned, hesitated at ours and looked at me with raised eyebrows. I nodded, he lit the candle and departed.
Looking up I could see Lottie more clearly in the gentle flickering light than the sideways glances I'd been forced by our seating positions to point in her direction. The dark, soft ringlet curls hung down to bounce on her shoulders, perfectly framing her beautiful face, her features even, her eyes dark brown pools surround by the clear whites of her scleras, her lashes long and dark under thin arched eyebrows, her lips full and red. She looked up and smiled in return, revealing a slight dimple on her left cheek, her right cheek, on my left hidden by a bouncing curl.