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.
“Yeah, cos following the rules, buttoning your blazer and carrying your backpack on both shoulders is so cool and intimidating right enough.” she laughed.
“Well, I thought you were.” he smiled.
“You did not!” Sadie shook her head and laughed but Stephen didn’t react. “I probably see Carly the most, she lives near your eldest sister. I’ve seen your sister a few times out walking.” she said. Steve nodded. “Chris Boles?” she questioned. Stephen nodded. “He’s running hedge funds in America. Living in a massive penthouse with his dog and a guy who is some property mogul.” she said.
“Yeah that’s exactly what I thought he’d be doing.” Stephen said. “Well, actually I thought he’d be married to you first THEN come out, move to America…” He said as he rolled his hand indicating the rest.
Sadie’s head jerked back and she smiled with her mouth wide open in shock. “STEPHEN! No, just…no!” She shook her head and laughed. He shrugged and frowned. “Anyway!… do you remember Florianne, the French girl who joined in sixth form?” she asked.
“Curly hair, bit of a hippy, everyone fancied her?” Stephen asked. Sadie laughed and nodded, pointing to acknowledge his words. “Vaguely for a month or so before I left.” he said.
“I forgot you left in the first term. You got a place at the catering college?” she asked. He nodded. “That’s right! Well, Florianne has been all over the place, Austria, Nicaragua and finally Canada. Currently playing Earth Mother to some guy’s unruly brats and 3 rescue dogs until she gets fed up and leaves, as per!” she shook her head.
“Still a hippy so no change there then?” he asked with a laugh. Sadie pursed her lips and shook her head. “What about big Stevie?” he asked.
“He’s in Germany now. He married an English girl and they’re running some sort of language classes for business people.” she said, shaking her head to indicate she wasn’t really sure. Stephen pouted and gave an impressed nod.
“I used to see Reagan about a good bit, he worked in the bistro for a lot of years…” she gestured up to the left side of the street outside.
“Yeah, we overlapped for a while. I was his boss – it was short-lived.” He said flatly. “He’s still the same! Massive stoner, loves a bottle of White Lightening.” Stephen smirked and rolled his eyes. Sadie laughed and nodded. “He’s doing long-distance lorry driving now, fuck knows how!” he shook his head. Sadie made an alarmed face.
“I used to love going there when I was home from uni but I knew when you’d left.” she said. He tilted his head inviting her to contine. “The food went downhill rapidly!” she said.
“The bistro? You just didn’t get extra portions or free dessert anymore cos I wasn’t there!” he laughed. They maintained eye contact.
“Excuse me?! I never went to get extra portions or free dessert! The food was good and I was supporting local business.” she said in a teasingly defensive tone. “I always asked the waiting staff if you were working and told them to tell you hello from me!” she smiled, wide eyed. He nodded and she saw a fondness in his eyes. “But you never came out of the kitchen!” she said, with a mock hurt tone in her voice.
“I said hello back, just not in person.” Stephen smiled shyly. “Ahhh it just wasn’t my thing, Sadie. I’d rather stay behind the scenes and send you out Banoffee Pie or Apple Crumble.” he smiled shyly and shrugged. “Weren’t they your favourites from that menu?” he asked. She looked surprised and nodded but it made her heart feel warm that he remembered.
“Well, for the record I appreciated it and your food was always delicious.” she smiled softly. “When I found out you’d left and no one knew where you’d gone, I was disappointed.” she said.
Stephen felt awkward and wanted to change the subject before he disclosed more than he was comfortable with at the moment. “Anyone else from school you still hear from?” he asked, thinking quickly.
“There’s a few others I’m friends with on Facebook and if I saw them in public, we’d chat but that’s it.” she said with a shrug as she finished her food.
Stephen nodded as he finished his food. “Yeah, it’s the same for me. It’s hard to keep track and we’ve all grown apart. How long is it since we left school?…18 years?” he asked, closing one eye and squinting to think.