Mothers & Daughters by Kate Long Page B

mix.’
    â€˜Why? You’re not planning to shout at me again, are you?’
    The moment teetered while I decided whether to take umbrage. That’s why we’ve come to this place, then, I thought. Protective camouflage. I said: ‘I didn’t shout. Anyway, it depends.’
    â€˜On what?’
    â€˜On you.’
    â€˜I’ll order mineral water.’
    When it came, I let him pour. I asked the waitress for pasta, but I knew I was too worked up to eat.
    â€˜So,’ he said, ‘to business. What are we going to do, Carol? What practical steps can we take to help get Jaz and Ian back together? You are still agreed that’s the way forward?’
    â€˜I think so. I don’t know. Yes. In the long term.’
    â€˜OK.’
    â€˜No one can wave a magic wand here. He had an affair.’
    â€˜Not really an affair.’
    â€˜Yes, David. He slept with another woman. If you’re not going to call a spade a spade, then we’ll get nowhere. This is a complete waste of time.’
    He looked down at his serviette. ‘I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.’
    â€˜You do believe it was a one-off?’
    â€˜God, yes. My son’s not capable of any kind of sustained duplicity.’ He made it sound almost like a failing.
    â€˜Do we know anything more about this girl?’
    David shook his head. ‘She’s not important. Honestly. This – slip – was about a moment rather than an individual. We won’t hear from her again.’
    â€˜Ian told you that?’
    â€˜He did, yes.’
    â€˜Forgive me,’ I snapped, ‘but it’s a standard line. Adulterers tend not to go, “Oh, yeah, this is only the start, you ain’t seen nothing yet”.’
    â€˜All I can do is ask you to go with me on this.’
    In the intervals between talking I could make out background music. ‘Three Times a Lady’.
Love
stretched over five ludicrous syllables.
    â€˜I suppose,’ said David, ‘what I’m trying to avoid is any kind of hysterical reaction – no, listen a moment. It’s important to keep a perspective.’
    â€˜Hard to have much sense of perspective when your husband’s screwing around,’ I said. ‘I don’t believe you have any idea how it’s affected Jaz. She’s absolutely crushed. Unless Ian understands what he’s done—’
    â€˜Oh, he understands.’
    â€˜Does he? You don’t seem to.’
    The waitress came back and we both sat mutely while she moved cutlery around. Smile smile, we went, like a couple who’d come on a date or something.
    When she’d gone, David said, ‘All I’m trying to do is take the long view. After the immediate emotional reaction’s died down there’ll come a point where they see the bigger picture. When Ian’s not consumed with guilt and fear, and Jaz isn’t beside herself with anger.’
    â€˜And hurt.’
    â€˜And hurt. Then they’ll start to see the shape of their marriage as a whole, and Matty’s needs, and be able to weigh up the true impact of . . .’ He faltered over the word.
    â€˜See? You can’t even call it what it is,’ I said. ‘Who are you to start dictating the action?’
    â€˜For God’s sake, Carol, haven’t you been listening to a word I’ve said? I’m dictating nothing! That’s why I’m here. So we can talk it through together, and agree. I want you on board with this. Without you, any reconciliation plan of mine simply will not work!’
    The smart old lady at the next table looked across, and I felt ashamed.
    It’s your manner, I wanted to tell him. You sound like you’re running an executive meeting.
    â€˜I appreciate you’re feeling very let down,’ he went on. ‘Don’t make the mistake of assuming I’m not. I know full well Ian’s been a bloody fool.’
    â€˜Have you told