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Lucie pulled a teaspoon from a drawer and dipped it into the stew. “Here, taste it.”
She held it up to Frances, a hand cupped underneath it.
“Oh, erm...” Frances hesitated, then leaned in, closing her lips around the spoon. “Oh, that is delicious,” she said, wiping her mouth as an explosion of flavour hit her palate.
“It’s my old neighbour Grace’s grandmother’s recipe.”
“I expected it to be spicier,” Frances said, reaching into a cupboard beside the hob. Their bodies brushed, sending her heart into a spin.
“I’m going to take some water up to Mum. I hope she managed to sleep. She was very excited about the theatre.” Frances filled a glass from the tap, adding, “Thanks for coming this morning, and for handling the appointment better than I did. I was a little overwhelmed by it.”
“It’s fine. I expect your mind was more on your mum and how she was dealing with it.”
Frances nodded. With the fuss her mum had made about not needing to go, it had been.
“How are you feeling now? I’m sorry I had to rush off after.”
Frances shrugged. “I don’t know what I was expecting. You always hope they got it wrong, that they’ll apologise and say she’ll be better soon. Sounds irrational now I say it aloud.”
“It doesn’t,” Lucie reassured her, clearly remembering having had the same feeling once upon a time.
“It’s strange being relieved that everything is progressing as expected.”
Lucie nodded. “It’s an odd thing to feel positive about. There were times when I wished Gran would have progressed faster so she’d suffer less. But I’m not sure it even works like that.” She paused. “It’s all a bit of a head fuck really. It doesn’t even sound like they’ve made any major affordable breakthroughs either.”
Frances swallowed. “It just feels so unfair, doesn’t it? Watching her slowly fade and knowing there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.” She glanced at Lucie, searching her face, then looked away. “I just wish there was something, anything, that could make it easier.”
“I know.” Lucie’s voice softened. “All we can do is support them and make it as easy as possible.”
Frances set the glass down on the island, unsure she was even managing that. “How did your meeting go?”
Lucie’s eyes brightened. “Really well. She wants me to start as soon as possible.”
“Oh.” The word landed flat. Realising she needed to say more, something generous, she forced a smile. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations. A fresh start for you.”
“She’s asked if I can meet some of the team tomorrow afternoon, so I won’t travel back with you, if that’s okay.”
“Of course,” Frances said, a little too quickly.
If it wasn’t for work, she would be tempted to extend her own trip.
“Do you want to stay here an extra night?”
Lucie blinked. “Would that be okay?”
“It makes sense. You’re already here.”
“That would be amazing! Thanks.”
Frances forced another smile. “I should check on Mum now.”
“Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”
“Okay,” Frances said, grabbing the glass of water.
She made it to the top of the stairs before her face relaxed. Pausing outside her mum’s bedroom and hearing nothing, she headed for her own, closing the door behind her. She sat on the edge of the bed, where she stared at the floor, taking slow breaths.
Lucie was never going to stay forever, but knowing something and hearing it confirmed were entirely different things. A feeling spread through her chest, not sharp enough to be pain, not dramatic enough to be heartbreak. It just felt like absence.
