Tuesday night Laila arrive at the restaurant, Rem's was pacing up and down the street outside. "Remy?" he snaps out of his thoughts "Laila!" he rushes her "Hey, are you OK?" she wraps her arms round him "I'm so nervous," he mutters into her shoulder "It's going to be fine, I promise. Have you been in to see if she's there?" pulling away he shook his head "No, I didn't want to go in by myself." she smiles "Right, take a deep breath and we'll go in."
As they enter the restaurant and shown to Melissa's table when she saw the pair her face lights up. There stood her son, she hadn't seen in 16 years, her eyes become glossy as she holds back the tears, she stands with her arms held out "Remy!" she smiles. He avoids her grasp "Hi, Melissa," he looks awkward, which disheartens Melissa "Melissa, good to see you again," Laila says trying to break through the tension.
She looks over to Laila with a soft smile "Yes, it's lovely to see you, the both of you." they take their seats "Rem, how are you?" Melissa looks to her son "It's Remy." he almost hisses at her.
Remy has always been funny with people shortening his name, especially people he hardly knows.
"Remy, sorry! Old habits..." awkwardly chuckles and apologises. The waitress walks over, takes their drinks order and hands them a menu. "Laila said you moved to Bath?" He asks, Laila could see how much he wanted his mum back in his life, but she also saw the 10 foot barrier he had up not wanting to let her in again for her to hurt him. She was, she couldn't predict the future or even know if Melissa was genuine because if she wasn't it would be her fault. She would have to pick up the pieces again.
Was he strong enough for her to break his heart again? Rem snaps her out of her thoughts "Laila, do you want some wine?" She nods and he fills her glass. "So what does HE have to say about you wanting to reconnect? I can't imagine he's very happy!" Rem threw the statement at her "Well....no...but he doesn't have a say to be quite frank" she nervously says "He's not going to just turn up out of the blue and demand you have nothing more to do with me?" Remy lowers his head.
Melissa reaches across the table, taking Rem's hand "No, he isn't! I've told him that he won't stop me from having a relationship with my children!" Rem looks up at her "If I decide I want to build a relationship with you, I need to know you are one hundred percent committed to it...I can't...I mean I won't let myself go through that hurt again!"
Melissa smiles at him "I promise I want to be in your life for good," Rem finally smiles at her "Well don't think that we will just go back to normal this will take time." Melissa starts to well up "Absolutely!"
"Also, I'm not comfortable with calling you Mum!" Rem told her, Laila could see this cut her deep, but she tried to hide it "Whatever you are comfortable with I'll accept!" she nods at him in hope this ease her back into his life. He smiles at Melissa, Laila hopes this works out for all their sakes, but it also made her realise she hadn't spent much time with her own mum because of work, the pub, Harry and everyday life stuff.
Once Rem is settled, Laila makes her leave when Melissa has gone to the toilet "Laila, please don't leave?!" he pleads with her "Rem, Remy! You will be fine! You need to get to know each other without me hovering over you both," she hugs him "I love you, Rem's! You can do this." he sighs "I love you too, Lulu!"
She leaves the restaurant and pulls out her phone and dials. Walking back to Harry's flat, after a few rings they answer.
"Hi Laila! You alright?"
"Hey Mum, erm..yeah, what about you?"
"Yeah, I'm great just got in from work. What have you been up to?"
She's doesn't know what to tell her "I've just been with a meal with Remy. Work OK?"
"That's nice where did you go? Yeah, busy today but it is August and the sun is shining."
