XH came to pick us up and drove in the opposite direction to all the cafes and restaurants that people who live in our part of town eat at, and that we used to frequent as a family, back in the day.
Obviously didn't want to be seen by anyone who knew us all.
S15 was sullen and non-communicative most of the evening, so i had to make light conversation. I was wracking my brain.
It was OK, like catching up with a family member - lots of 'have you seen this TV show, movie, You tube video?', etc.
At one point he said he had to go to the toilet and disappeared for about 15 mins. Too long to be normal.
He kept making elaborate offers to S15 to take him on holidays and give him things. Offered to take S15 sailing with him - he does it in the middle of a school day. Said he would drop by school at 2pm and pick him up. (!!)
After mains, he insisted we have dessert. I couldn't finish my gelati and offered it to XH. He took it and offered me half his coffee in exchange... rather intimate, I thought.
On the drive home, i thanked him for a nice meal.
XH concurred and said, "We should do this every week. Are you up for it?"
S15 and I were sort of dumbfounded.
When he left, he asked us 3X, repeatedly, if we would do this again next Thurs night.
And when S15 told him we were going horse-riding this Sat ((his birthday present), H said he wanted to come.
He asked me the time and date, and was disappointed that he had to work. Then he said he would organise for another horse-ridng session so that he could come with us.
