Chapter Thirty-Nine
The doorbell rang, and Ruby’s question went unanswered.
‘Saved by the bell,’ she tutted.
‘Look, Rubes.’ I gave my daughter a frank look. ‘If you don’t mind, my private life is exactly that. Private. However, when we are all together, I’m happy to share my news about Dylan. After all, he’s not a tawdry secret. But when I tell the others, I’ll be keeping it low-key, okay? The guy is a friend. Not a fiancé.’
‘A friend, eh?’ She raised one eyebrow. ‘Since when did friends kiss?’
Ruby gave an involuntary shudder. Her body language wasn’t lost on me.
Bleurgh. My ancient mother has kissed a guy.
The doorbell rang again.
‘Instead of sitting there and judging me’ – I huffed – ‘could you instead do something useful?’
‘Good idea,’ Ruby grunted. ‘What’s this guy’s second name? I’ll look him up on social media. See if he makes it a habit of getting women – and their carrots – in a tizzy.’
The doorbell was now giving a series of short and sharp staccato bursts.
‘Lay the table,’ I snapped.
Bess, alerted to the constant doorbell ringing, came in from the garden. Like a bodyguard, she accompanied me to the front door. Ella and Archie were standing on the doorstep. Bess gave a joyful yip. People, she seemed to say. How nice.
‘Hey, Mum,’ said Ella, plonking a kiss on my cheek.
‘Hello, darling.’ I hugged my youngest briefly, before her attention diverted to Bess.
‘Hello, baby girl,’ she cooed, rubbing behind Bess’s ears. ‘Aren’t you beautiful!’
Archie stepped inside. His arms were full of flowers and a bottle of wine.
‘For you, Maggie,’ he said, pecking me on the cheek. ‘Oooh, what a lovely dog.’
‘She is,’ I beamed. ‘Gosh, these are beautiful,’ I said, sniffing the fragrant blooms. ‘Guys, go on through. Ruby is already here. We’ve both made a start on the wine.’
‘Aye aye,’ said my youngest. ‘My female intuition tells me something’s going down.’
‘Only the wine,’ I assured.
Ella gave me one of her looks.
‘Rubbish,’ she scoffed. ‘Not to worry. I’ll get to the bottom of it. Come on, Archie. And you, Bess. Let’s go and find Ruby and suss out the goss.’
‘There’s no gossip,’ I called after her.
‘Oh yes there is,’ Ruby trilled, just as the doorbell rang again.
This time it was Tim and Steph.
‘Hellooo,’ said Steph. She gave me a hug and squashed my flowers in the process. ‘Oops. Sorry. Let me take them from you. I’ll find a vase.’
‘Thanks, lovey.’
She headed off to the kitchen, and I opened my arms to my son.
‘How’s my boy?’ I grinned.
‘Good,’ said Tim, giving me a bear hug. He then stepped back. Gave me an appraising look. ‘Hmm.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I frowned, just as Josh stepped through the open doorway.
‘Hey, Maggie,’ said Josh, looking a little awkward. ‘Me and Ruby…’ he trailed off.
‘Don’t worry about it,’ I said. ‘Go on through.’
‘Make it snappy, Josh,’ Tim teased. ‘I need to have a quick word with my mother.’ He peered at my face. ‘You’re looking very pink. And rather flustered. Like you’re hugging a secret. Are you?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I spluttered.
‘Official announcement,’ Ella yodelled from the kitchen. ‘Mum has got herself a boyfriend.’
‘What?’ said Tim incredulously. ‘I thought you’d got a dog.’
‘The dog is in here with us,’ Ruby called. ‘Come and get a drink, Tim. I think you’re going to need one.’
God, my kids. A woman couldn’t kiss a bloody carrot without it becoming a newsflash.