Alice decided to take a taxi into town to meet Rob Flanagan at Peploes, the busy city centre restaurant on St Stephen’s Green. He greeted her warmly when she arrived.
As she sat down the waitress hurried along to take their order. They both opted for the smoked duck starter and for her main Alice went for the hake on a bed of chive mash.
Rob ordered some wine for the two of them.
‘If we don’t finish this bottle before we leave for the theatre we can come back for the rest after the performance,’ he explained.
As she sipped her wine and ate, Rob entertained her with stories of previous operas he’d seen.
‘I’m not much of an opera buff,’ Alice admitted, ‘but I did get to see Aida performed in the open in Verona. It was such a magical night, and Liam and I brought the kids along. I remember about halfway through the performance we heard a sound like thunder, and thought it was special sound effects at first, until we saw the flashes of lightning in the sky. Then it began to rain, and we all had to make a run for it and go to the little bars and cafés around the amphitheatre for shelter.’
‘What happened then?’ he asked, laughing.
‘We waited and waited, and had a few drinks, and the kids had some ice cream, and then the rain cleared and the orchestra started up again and we all made our way back up into our seats. It was well after midnight before the performance ended. I don’t think any of us will ever forget it.’
‘Verona is beautiful. Kate and I went there a few times.’
‘That was our only family holiday in Italy, and I haven’t gone back,’ Alice said.
They had just finished their main course when they noticed a huge exodus as their fellow diners began to head for the theatre.
‘Come on, we’d better get going, too,’ urged Rob.
Looking around the foyer of the theatre Alice was glad she had put a bit of effort into dressing and worn her oyster-coloured silk shift dress, as some of their fellow opera-goers were in full evening dress, and it was quite a swanky affair. They had wonderful seats only a few rows from the stage, and Rob was so attentive and kind to her that she could feel herself relax and be taken up by the music and story.
Rob knew the opera well, and patiently explained some of its intricacies to her during the second and third acts.
‘Rob, thank you so much,’ she sighed as they watched the last act, with Violetta dying in the arms of her lover. ‘Why are opera stories all so tragic?’
‘That’s what opera’s about, and what brings people to it: life’s tragedies!’ he said quietly, as they went back outside. ‘Will we polish off the Merlot, or would you prefer to go for a nightcap somewhere else?’ he asked.
‘Another glass of the wine would be lovely before we head home,’ she agreed, as they walked back up on to the Green.
The restaurant was quieter now, and some of the tables were empty. They sat in the corner and talked about their families. Rob was very proud of his two sons and their careers, but Alice felt it must be hard for him having them live away.
‘You must miss them both so much,’ she said.
‘I go and visit them, and they try to get home once a year,’ he said, putting a brave face on it. ‘You raise sons to be bright and intelligent and strong and then you can’t really complain when they want to go and live somewhere else and take on new challenges.’
‘I’m so lucky,’ reflected Alice. ‘My gang are still around so far, and they’ve been brilliant since Liam and I split. I don’t know how I would manage without them all.’
They shared the taxi home, and when the driver pulled up outside her house Rob got out and gave her a big hug.
‘Alice, thanks for coming along tonight.’
‘Rob, it was lovely,’ she said. ‘More fun than I’ve had in a long time.’
‘Then we must do it again?’ he said softly.
She gave a wave at the front door as she opened it and let herself in. Lexy rushed out past her to the front garden.
It had been a lovely night and Rob had been far better company than she had expected. At first she had felt a bit awkward and ill-at-ease being out with a man, but Rob was so nice he had made her feel relaxed, and it had been such a treat to dress up a bit and go to the opera. Liam had hated theatre-going and opera and the like, and had only ever gone under extreme duress.
Letting Lexy back in, she was about to go upstairs to bed when she got a text message on her phone.
Are u home yet?
Honestly, Joy was such a curiosity box! She’d make herself a cup of tea and get comfortable on the couch in the kitchen before ringing her best friend who would, no doubt, demand a blow-by-blow account of the night.