Seven Minutes

Sally looks at her watch: 6:35. She tuts and takes another sip of tea.
'Sally!' 'Hey Sally!' He waves frantically from the front of the cafe. She looks down quickly, stares into her mug.
'Sally, hi! Didn't you see me waving?'
'No.' Sally purses her lips, something she hated her mother doing.
'What's wrong?'
'You. Are. Late.'
He looks at his watch, 'It's only five minutes. For God's sake Sally, get a grip... Just a coffee please.' A waitress is lingering around, she scribbles violently on a notepad and disappears. Sally waits for her to go.
'It is not only five minutes. I told you to meet me here at 6pm. I told you that very clearly Michael, now don't try and fool me you forgot that. I have had enough of your games.' She blows gently into the pale, luke-warm liquid.
Mike centres himself, his eyebrows weigh lower on his face. 'Why did you want to meet me here? What's this about?'
'This' - She hisses, lips pursed, teeth clenched - 'is about our daughter. You remember her don't you Michael?'
He sighs, 'Yes Sally, of course I remember her, don't be so dramatic. What's the problem?'
'The problem, Michael, is that our daughter... Belinda has a boyfriend.'
'A boyfriend?' He smiles, relaxes.
'You can wipe that smile off your face.' Another of her mother's cliches.
'Smile duly wiped.' He frowns theatrically.
'This is serious. I would not have come to you otherwise... Obviously.'
'Ok then, what's the problem? Is it him? Is he older than she is? Don't you think...'
'...well yes actually, he is older. He's fifteen!'
'Well that's hardly relevant. She's thirteen, that's only two...'
'...and you don't think that matters? I said he's fifteen Michael, don't you know what boys that age are like? You were one once yourself, if you can remember back that far...'
'Yes, I can as it goes, and if you can remember back that far, then you'll remember it was only a year after that I met you, and you were only...'
'...That is completely irrelevant... and anyway, she isn't old enough to have a boyfriend...'
'...But you were only...'
'...No Michael! Things were different then. Nowadays children aren't children anymore. I don't trust a boy that age. God only knows the things they could get up to...'
'...well I think it's great she has a boyfriend. Good for her. It's about time she had a bit of happiness...'
'...and what's that supposed to mean? Are you implying she's unhappy?'
'Well yes actually - no not because of you, you can stop looking like that - I just mean, well, she's a teenager... They are unhappy, aren't they? And after the divorce...'
'...And who's fault was that?'
'Yes, mine, you're right. That doesn't change the fact it was for the better and...'
'...Better for you!'
'Yes, better for me. Better for her too, I don't want my daughter growing up in a house of shouting and crying and...'
'...oh, so she's your daughter now is she? I never heard you crying!'
'No, that's because you're too self-absorbed. Look Sally, I don't want to get into...'
'Self absorbed am I? Well you obviously don't care about our daughter's future, otherwise you'd be more worried about this boy. She's too young to get into all of that...' Salt water stings her eyes.
Mike sighs, leans back in his chair. 'Look, Sal... I'm gonna go now, ok? This is just upsetting both of us, it's certainly not going to do Lindy any good is it?'
A sob escapes from Sally, she clasps her left hand over her mouth, forcing it back in. Mike notices she still wears her wedding ring. He puts some money on the table.
'Try and be happy for her, ok? Take care now. Give Lindy my love.' He stands and strides quickly down the aisle, out of the door.
Sally watches him. She looks at her watch: 6:42. She takes another sip of tea.