as though Freda actually went to the pub herself on occasion. Joely asked if it were true.
‘Rarely,’ Freda replied, unrolling her napkin. Then changing the subject, ‘I don’t have a computer, but I do have this iPad. Edward talked me into it and I must say I find it a very useful research tool.’ She took a mouthful of soup and continued. ‘I’ve compiled the music mentioned in the first two chapters of the memoir. I thought it would provide a good backing track to our discussions. Get us in the mood, so to speak, maybe even transport us back to that time.’ She laughed, and corrected herself, ‘Well me anyway. You’re far too young, obviously. Bread?’
She drew a large wooden board containing several crusty slices towards them as ‘Hey Jude’ faded to a merciful end and what Joely guessed to be ‘The Gaelic Blessing’ began – a sweet and melancholic melody that was quite hypnotic she found.
To Joely’s surprise Freda began singing softly with the choir while looking across the table almost as if serenading her.
Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you …
Unsure where to look or what to do Joely was relieved when it finished and Freda started her soup.
‘Rather fitting for where we are in our acquaintance, don’t you think?’ Freda asked. ‘And for where we are on this beautiful planet we’re so keen to save.’
Though it was an unusual next step in their acquaintance Joely had to agree that actually it did seem quite fitting on both counts, and feeling safe now to pop a spoonful of soup into her mouth she did so, not having wanted to during Freda’s performance.
‘Sunshine of Your Love’ was next, and Freda’s shoulders moved with the beat as she ate her meal and broke apart a chunk of bread.
‘He loved this,’ she said, casually.
Joely swallowed a mouthful of soup, realizing that they must be talking about Sir. She placed her spoon gently back on the table, eager to hear more. But Freda just continued to boogie and eat, clearly enjoying herself immensely. At least until, to quote from her memoir, the first two magical words of ‘Young Girl’ flew into the room and a change came over her that Joely found quite strange – as if the whole thing wasn’t strange enough. Freda became very still as though trapped in the words and their resonance, carried away into memories they seemed to stir … Was it pleasure or pain?
She put down her spoon and ran her knotty fingers through her hair. She seemed to be shaking as she sat quietly throughout the song, and when at last it played out she sat still for a while, staring at her bowl, until finally she looked at Joely with an expression that somehow managed to be both sad and faintly self-mocking. ‘If ever there was a theme tune,’ she murmured.
She was right, it could have been written especially for young Freda and her music teacher, and how powerfully it must have captured them when it was released at the very start of their … affair? It must have been that, surely, it had to be where the story was going, but perhaps more than an affair considering the need to write about it all these years later.
After a while Joely ventured, softly, ‘Do you know where he is now?’
Freda frowned, not in confusion but in something more like disapproval. ‘We’ll get there,’ she replied, ‘and please don’t ask me questions like that again.’
Stung, Joely continued her soup and quietly listened to the piano recital now playing – Debussy’s Claire de Lune, Freda informed her.
Halfway through, Freda said, ‘Tell me what you think of the writing style I’ve adopted. Do you find the first person, present tense an approach that works, or would you advise something different?’
Thinking fast, Joely lowered her spoon and said, ‘The way it is brings the reader right into the moment, so I wouldn’t change it.’
Freda considered this, tilting her head to one side as she smiled in apparent satisfaction.
Another piano recital began. ‘Chopin Nocturne Number two in E-flat Major,’ she said. ‘I’ve selected these pieces at random because they’re well known. I don’t actually remember what was played at the parents’ house the weekend private piano lessons were discussed. Do you think that matters? The fact that I’ve …