Page 73 of Broken Beyond Repair

“I do?”

“Yes, and it requires a spotless kitchen.”

“Can I ask what it involves?”

“That’s the best bit. You get to sit there most of the day.”

Beatrice’s forehead twitched. She was all up for that, but what sort of special birthday involved sitting in one’s kitchen?

Her frown drew further comment from Sydney. “You’ll find out in due course. Just don’t act too surprised. You arranged it, remember.”

“I can’t believe he’s fifteen already. Where does the time go?” Beatrice pondered rhetorically. “For one of his birthdays, I took a day off from filming, and we flew him over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter. Those were the days when he adored me.” She sighed to herself; she missed those days.

“I’m sure he still does in his own way…” Sydney paused and cocked an ear towards the ceiling. “I think I hear movement upstairs. Follow me.”

Beatrice followed her into the entrance hall where she watched the woman take a seat at the piano. The sound of ‘Happy Birthday’ filled the hall as Alex reached the galleried landing halfway down the stairs. Sydney broke out into song, so she joined in, only for Alex to blush and run back upstairs.

“I’m only coming down if you stop,” his voice called down the stairs.

“Oh dear, Sydney. We already have a request and it’s not for an encore,” Beatrice chuckled.

As Sydney stopped playing, it struck Beatrice that she had no present to give him. Was Sydney’s special plan the present? Alex reappeared at the top of the stairs as Sydney joined her, shoving a heavy present into her hands. The woman was like clockwork.

“Happy birthday,” she said, handing the gift to Alex.

Alex took the present to the central table and tore into it.

“Wow! Henckels knives. These are what some of the top chefs use. Thanks, Mum, they’re brilliant. So much better than a watch.” Alex shot a smile in Sydney’s direction.

“I’m pleased you approve.”

“This is from me.” Sydney passed him a smaller, flat present, which he peeled open immediately, extracting a white chef’s jacket embroidered with his name.

“Thank you, these are amazing! Best presents ever,” Alex said as he collected them and headed for the kitchen.

“More coffee?” Sydney asked Beatrice as she followed.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Beatrice couldn’t stop smiling as she watched Alex fawn over his presents on the sofa. He laid out his knives and inspected each one until eventually he boxed them and placed them on his lap and watched television whilst scrolling on his phone. It reminded her of birthdays when he was little. He’d sit with his new toys and examine them for hours before he’d play with them. It was as if he was figuring out what to do with them.

She turned to find Sydney watching her.

“Thank you,” she said again.

“You’re very welcome.” Sydney smiled and blew on her coffee to cool it.

“I would never have thought of…” She trailed off, realising that was her problem. Thoughtlessness, at least when it came to others. “I’m grateful that you took the time to consider Alex. Though giving a set of knives to a child?”

“A chef, Beatrice. A chef.”

Beatrice pulled her lips to one side and nodded.

“Encourage him to be the best of what he wants to be, not what you want him to be.” Sydney tapped the work surface with her finger. “Oh, and no more watches, okay?”

The woman was infuriatingly perfect in everything she did. Perfection was something Beatrice always strived for herself, yet only achieved in her career, not personally. Sydney, on the other hand, appeared to have it in all aspects of her life. How did she do that? At least with the divorce papers signed she could finally breathe. Perhaps she could start again, another new beginning — until she got it wrong again no doubt.

The gate app flashed onto her phone.