Mary had said she didn’t want anything today. She’d had a full English with all the trimming for breakfast and was full to bursting. Tony sat opposite her and smiled.

“You sure luv?” he asked as dug into his chicken and leek pie.

“I’m fine darling. I’ll save myself for tea.”

Tony knew she really wanted a sweet but ever since they’d both retired she had started saying she was watching her weight. Tony had never watched his weight. It was something Mary said often but they didn’t even own a set of scales.

“It’s very tasty. Sure you won’t try some?” he asked holding out a fork with some chicken dangling precariously from the end.

Mary shook her head and smiled. Tony muttered an ‘Oh well’ and stuffed the chicken into his mouth.

“I once ate a whole pie to myself after I came back from the pub drunk. Meat and potato...Felt as sick as a dog afterwards....Didn’t eat pie for ages after that...Just the sight of it...this one’s lovely although I’d prefer it with puff pastry.”

Tony carried on chatting in between mouthfuls. Mary looked on in silence. When he’d finished the waiter came out and asked if everything was okay.

Tony nodded vigorously, “Lovely! I told Mary she should have had some!”

The waiter looked at the empty chair in front of Tony and smiled knowingly, “She doesn’t know what she’s missing does she sir?”