Narrative. Who: Gawain & Jeannette Robards. What: Jean has something to talk to Gawain about. Where: Coffee shop down the street from the Ministry. When: 15 December 1979; Early evening. Rating: G
Gawain wasn't usually the type to run late so of course the one day he found himself ridiculously behind was the day he was supposed to meet his ex-wife for coffee. He pushed through the front door of the cafe and immediately spotted her in the corner with a book in front of her face. She probably wasn't even reading it but more using it as a tool to make Gawain feel like he'd kept her waiting.
"I am so sorry, Jean. I've been three steps behind myself all day."
She rose to her feet with a small smile and snapped the book shut before leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek.
"It's fine, it's fine. Duty calls and all that. You're here now and that's all that matters."
He kissed her back and then sat down in the empty chair across from her. He glanced into her tea cup, spying the used bag on the saucer. She always drank black teas and it would seem her taste was still the same. It matched his own taste in coffee. A few moments later a waiter brought over a cup for him and Jeannette nodded at him.
"I ordered before you even got here," she explained.
He took a sip from of the hot coffee and then lit a cigarette, noting the look on her face as he leaned back in his chair. " So you said that you wanted to talk to me about something?" He had been dreading the meeting ever since he'd received her owl. Gawain had asked Noelle hypothetical questions to get an idea of how she might handle things if he and Kate ended up more involved. Now he imagined that his ex wife was about to let loose on him because Noelle had gone to her with some story made up in her wild imagination.
There was a few moments of silence and then she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table so she could look at him. "I don't really know how to start or exactly what to say. Promise that you won't be cross with me."
Gawain took a drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out of the corner of his mouth before he leaned in to copy her posture. It was very unlike Jeannette to worry about what anyone thought, let alone his own opinion. "I promise. We'll take care of it, Jean. Whatever it is, we can deal with it."
Jeannette gave him a forced smile and then finally sighed, rolling her eyes. She was being stupid. They were adults and she could deliver this news as if she were just giving any other piece of information.
"Well..." She took a drink of her tea and continued. "I met a man in France. It's nothing serious but I enjoy his company. We've been having lunch and going to book clubs for months now but it's taken a romantic turn. He's actually from Leeds. His name is Jack. I actually think you two would get on but I'm worried about what I should tell Noelle. What if she feels like I'm trying to replace her father? I'm not trying to replace you, Gawain! I just needed friends in France and we met and I really like him and...what?"
Gawain had held up a hand, a queer sort of look on his face. Jean frowned. Gawain was laughing. He wasn't even trying to hide his amusement, though she had no idea what he found so humorous. She reached across the table and swatted at his head, causing him to lift his arms and face up from the table where he'd been slumped over in fits of laughter.
" What could possibly be so funny, Gawain Robards?"
He shook his head, trying to regain composure. Finally he controlled himself and lit another cigarette (his other had burnt out in the ashtray during his small scene). "I'm not laughing at you. I know it looks like it, but it has nothing to do with you."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I think you should tell Noelle. She's more capable of handling this sort of information than you think. I'm...seeing someone too. It's only been going on for a few weeks but I may have mentioned something to Noelle about it. She seemed rather happy about it. I didn't come right out and say it, but she's quick, that girl."
Jeannette shook her head and chucked a balled up napkin at him. "What's she like?"
Gawain grinned. "She's fantastic. I work with her and we've always talked but it just seemed to evolve suddenly. She makes me happy." He chose, for the time being, to forget to mention Kate's age. He wasn't ashamed, he just didn't feel like dealing with that conversation just now.
She smiled, happy for him and happy for herself. "Did you ever imagine we'd be discussing our separate love lives over coffee?"
He shook his head. "I never did, no. I'm glad we're able to, though."
She lifted her tea cup into the air between them. "To our relationship endeavors. May they not end in heartbreak."
Gawain clicked his coffee against her cup of tea and suddenly the last handful of tension filled years seemed to melt away and the two ex lovers started over again as friends. One could never really have too many friends.