“Hi Sadie!” Stephen said with a warm smile.
“Awk Steve!” Sadie replied, matching his smile. “Long time no see! How are you?” she asked, patting his upper left arm.
Stephen nodded. “Yes, good. All good. What about you?” he asked, feeling strangely giddy.
They moved out of the doorway to let other customers pass by as they continued chatting.
“Yeah, I’m good.” she said.
“You’re looking well.” he said with a smile, conspicuously looking at her empty ring finger.
Sadie followed his eyes and raised her eyebrows, unable to keep a nervous giggle from escaping her mouth. “Yeah, so are you.” she said with a fondness. “I’m loving the beard!” she smiled. Stephen rubbed his beard quickly with his hand and raised his eyebrows. They gazed at each other and maintained eye contact. There was so much unspoken. Sadie decided to shoot her shot. “Would you like my number?” she asked, trembling inside at feeling so vulnerable.
Stephen was momentarily taken aback at her forwardness. He sighed a laugh and looked down, rubbing his cheek with his hand before looking back up at her. “That’d be good. Maybe I could take you out for a bite to eat?” he said, trying to sound relaxed and appear more confident as he lifted his head up straighter and took his phone from his pocket.
“That’d be good.” Sadie said with a warm smile. They exchanged numbers and hugged comfortably before Stephen left.
On Saturday night, Stephen arrived at Sadie’s house to pick her up for dinner. He wore a neat white shirt with a banded collar, grey jeans and Toms. He smoothed his neatly trimmed beard as he stood nervously on the doorstep but as soon as she opened the door, he felt calm and relaxed. They smiled at each other.
“Good evening Stephen!” Sadie said in a warm, calm voice, stepping out of the house.
“Good evening, Sadie.” Stephen matched her tone. They hugged tightly. “You look amazing.” he smiled.
“Thanks!” she replied, looking down at her black and white print silk tunic, black embossed skinny jeans and black boots. “So do you.” she said.
“Your carriage awaits.” Stephen smirked as he held his arm out towards the car. Sadie giggled.
Sadie looked at him while they walked out the gate to the car. Stephen opened the passenger door and held it for her. She raised her eyebrows and gave an impressed nod. Stephen gave a confident nod and smile as she got into the passenger seat.
Sadie had let Stephen pick the restaurant since he was a chef, and she was delighted that he had chosen a local favourite that overlooked the sea and had a laid back atmosphere and great food. They made general conversation while they settled quickly and comfortably into each other’s company.
When their food arrived Stephen noticed Sadie run her phone over the top of her arm and then hesitate before taking a black pouch out of her handbag. “Are you ok with blood?” she asked. “Cos if you’re not then just look away for a moment.” she said with a nervous laugh. Stephen frowned slightly, he wasn’t sure what was happening. “I need to check my blood sugar and take insulin before I can eat.” Sadie clarified.
Stephen shook his head and gestured he wasn’t bothered about it. “Have you always…no…you weren’t always diabetic, were you?” he asked, trying to think back to their school days. He watched her prick her finger with a pen that made a sharp click sound and then she placed a drop of blood onto the little stick poking out of a device in the pouch.
Sadie shook her head. “No, only since I was 25.” she said, gently sucking the drop of blood from her fingertip
“Sorry I just need to work out the carbohydrate content of my meal…” she said distracted as she counted on her fingers and concentrated on working out the figures.
Stephen shook his head. “No, don’t apologise. Take your time.” he said, sitting casually with his hands resting on the table.
Then Sadie took another device out of her pocket. “This is my insulin pump, I just need to tell it how much insulin to give me and then I’m all yours.” she said as she pushed the buttons quickly. The device beeped and she put it back in her pocket. Then she opened a small bottle and took a red capsule and swallowed it. “Thanks for waiting.” she gestured, smiling and nodding at him. He waved his hand dismissively indicating it wasn’t a problem and they started eating. “I’m glad you chose this place!” she said with a genuine smile.
“Yeah? Do you like it here?” he asked, smiling at her. She nodded and hummed in agreement. “It’s an all-rounder, isn’t it? Great food, great atmosphere, lovely venue, great views. They usually have a guy singing and playing the guitar but maybe it’s too early yet.” he said. She looked set her watched then nodded while she chewed her food.
“Did you ever work here?” she asked.
Stephen shook his head as he sipped his drink. “Where are you cheffing now?” she asked.
“Nowhere… I’ve got my own business.” he said.
“Very good! A restaurant or catering?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“No, I’m not working as a chef anymore. It’s a sports therapy and massage business I started 2 years ago.” he said, looking intently at her to measure her response.
Sadie raised her eyebrows and smiled widely. “That’s brilliant! Good for you. How is it going?” she asked in an encouraging tone, returning his gaze.
“Yeah, great actually. I was a bit unsure at the start. I started running about 10 years ago and met people through that who were in to Sports and Fitness Nutrition – personal trainers and that sort of thing.” he said. Sadie hummed in agreement. “I went back to study Sports Therapy & Massage and with my background as a chef it kind of all tied in. Then a friend of a friend was opening a gym and he offered to rent me a studio there to help out his clients and it all just…” he paused to take a deep breath and held his hands out in a shrug gesture.
“Went from strength to strength?” she teased with a cheesy smile as they kept comfortable eye contact.
Stephen laughed. “Nice! But yeah, it did.” he said.
“That’s really exciting, Steve. I’m chuffed for you.” Sadie smiled.
“Thank you!” Stephen beamed. “What about you? Still running Europe?” he joked.
Sadie laughed. “From the spare bedroom in my little terraced house?” she gestured out the window with her thumb and shook her head.
“Working from Home, no?” he teased.
“No I didn’t quite make it. I worked abroad for a year for the third year of my degree, then went back to uni to finish my degree, graduated…I was working a couple of jobs and saving to do my Masters in London but then I ended up in hospital and everything changed. Diabetes and other consequences arrived as a result and I couldn’t get anyone abroad to employ me without health insurance but I couldn’t afford the health insurance without a job so…” she shrugged. “Close but no cigar!” she pursed her lips.
“Awk no, I’m sorry to hear that.” Stephen said, looking at her with kindness in his eyes. “You were always so excited about working abroad and using your languages.”
Sadie shrugged. “Naw, there’s nothing anyone could do about it. I did some remote freelance work in French and German for a couple of years after but it just wasn’t worth it and I found it isolating.” she said. “I took a part-time Clerical job in the hospital while I was doing that and it has become my full-time job. I’ve got promoted and now manage a team of staff. I enjoy it, it’s a very rewarding job and I’m happy there.” she said. “It’s a kind of ‘paying it forward’ thing, you could say.”
“I was going to ask how you feel about it but if you’re happy and you enjoy it then what more can you ask for?!” Stephen smiled.
“Mm hm, exactly. Life is too short.” she said as she lifted her drink. “Are you still in touch with many from school?” she asked.
Stephen nodded. “Yeah, Andy…he used to work here actually.” he said, pointing towards the floor. Sadie nodded in agreement. “He’s in South East Asia now, married with a kid, and twins on the way!” They both laughed remembering him at school. “And Dave?” he said, questioning if she remembered him.
“Mm hm, didn’t he marry Kyla?” she asked.
Stephen winced. “Yeah…ehh… they’re getting divorced and it’s…” he shook his hand from side to side. “Right now he wants to reclaim his misspent youth but he’s got 2 kids, a mortgage, and a mountain of debt with her.”
“Oh dear, that sounds messy!” Sadie said. Stephen nodded and his eyes widened.
“And then there’s Johnny?” He said. She nodded. “Yeah, he got me into the running so I see him Tuesdays when we’re training and most weekends if there’s a race. He’s the same as me, still single, no kids.” he said.
Sadie looked at him and tilted her head. “I thought you had a little boy? When we were in our late teens/early 20’s?” she asked with a frown. She saw Stephen’s face fall. “Oh have I put my foot in it?” she asked cautiously, her face flushed. “Sorry, Stephen.”
“I forgot you’ve got a memory like an elephant!” he sighed an awkward laugh. Stephen shook his head and swallowed hard. Sadie frowned and pursed her lips. “No, no, ehhh…I found out in the end…Nathaniel, he wasn’t mine.” he said slowly and quietly. Her face creased in a sympathetic softness. “Then she…” he hesitated. “Jodie, took him away to Spain in 2007 and I haven’t had sight nor sound since.” he said with a feeble nod.
Sadie shook her head quickly and closed her eyes briefly. “Aw I’m really sorry, Steve.” She felt so sad for him. He shook his head dismissively but she could see he was shaken by talking about it. He took a deep breath and they sat in silence for a moment.
“Are you still in touch with anyone from school?” he asked, taking a break from his meal and sitting back to sip his drink. “Cos you had like a massive posse!” he joked.
Sadie laughed loudly. “A posse?!” she exclaimed.
“You did! There were about 15 of you lot. Walking around all cool, intimidating everyone.” he teased.