Chapter 28
28
L ater that day, with a bit more musing on the situation, Cally became less than happy about what had happened with Logan. In fact, she was angrier than she’d been when she’d first found the marriage certificate. The more she’d dissected it, she just simply hadn’t liked the way he’d seemed to think that he could say sorry and move right on. For her, it threw everything up in the air. There was one teeny-weeny little problem, though; she was still head over heels for him. She wished she could just flick him off and be done with it. There was no chance of that happening anytime soon. Since the showdown, she’d not seen him, but she’d been thinking about him night and day.
She mulled over what he’d said about the marriage to Cassia. How they had got married on a whim and a few months later, it had been over. That had been good news as far as Cally was concerned, but it still hadn’t changed the fact that he’d lied by omission. Cally hated that. So much.
She walked into the kitchen at work, flicked on the kettle, got two mugs out for tea and waited for the kettle to boil. A few minutes later, with the Shipping Forecast playing from her left shoulder, Birdie, in her white pharmacist’s coat, came into the kitchen, sat down and gossiped about a woman who had just been in to pick up a prescription. Cally chatted and listened, made the tea, passed over a mug, and sat down.
Birdie smiled. ‘Everything good with you? How did it go at the races?’
‘Really good.’ Cally tapped her phone, opened her pictures, and slid the phone over the table.
‘Wow! Alice said you looked fabulous; she wasn’t wrong.’
Cally smiled. ‘She did an amazing job with my hair. I felt like a different person.’
Birdie scrolled through the photos. ‘I'll say! Look at you, hobnobbing with the toffs. You look like you stepped right out of a fashion magazine.’
Cally chuckled. ‘I've never worn anything so posh in my life. The dress was like something else. Honestly, I felt fabulous.’
‘What was it like? Did you see any celebrities? Did you win any bets?’
Cally cradled her mug. ‘It was good. Everything was so grand and everyone looked perfect. I felt a bit like a fish out of water some of the time, but loved it, too.’
‘But you look so confident in these photos,’ Birdie observed, gesturing to the phone.
Cally nodded. ‘I got more comfortable as the day went on. It came and went in waves.’
‘That hat, though. How on earth did you keep it on your head?’
‘A lot of hairpins and an entire can of hairspray. I think my hair is still crunchy from it all.’
Birdie laughed. ‘Well, it looked fantastic. You could've been on the cover of Vogue.’
Cally scoffed. ‘Hardly! It was nice to dress up, though. Just goes to show.’
‘What about the food? I bet it was fancy stuff, not a bowl of chowder in sight.’
Cally laughed. ‘You're not wrong there. It was all very fancy. Tiny little canapés that looked more like art than food. And the champagne! I've never seen so much champagne in my life. I think some people were pickled by the end of the day.’
‘Ooh, look at you, living the high life. Don't go getting too used to it, now. We can't have you turning your nose up at Lovely.’
‘Trust me. No fancy canapé could ever replace this place. I have to say, though, the people-watching was next level. Some of the outfits were incredible. Some though, let's just say not everyone has good taste, even with a lot of money involved.’
‘Did you see any real fashion disasters? When I see it on the TV, I always think surely it’s not real that people would wear those getups.’
‘Well, there was one woman with a hat that looked like an entire flower shop had exploded on her head. I swear, it must have weighed a tonne. I don't know how she kept her neck up. Another one looked like a walking ball of green feathers.’
‘Too funny. How was Logan?’
Cally's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Logan, but she quickly rallied. ‘Yeah, fine.’
Birdie, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in her mood. ‘Everything alright with him?’
Cally forced a smile. She didn’t have the energy to go into it with Birdie. ‘Yep. I’m just a bit tired, I think. It was a long day, and I'm not used to all that excitement.’
‘Well, it sounds like you had a wonderful time. I'm so glad you got to experience it. You deserve a bit of glamour in your life, our Cally.’
For a moment, Cally was tempted to spill everything—her discovery of Logan's previous marriage, her conflicted feelings, her fears for the future—but she held back. She needed to sort through her own thoughts first.
Birdie got up and picked up her mug. ‘Right, well, best get on. Those prescriptions won’t dispense themselves.’
‘Yep.’ Cally rinsed the mugs and walked into the back room. As she settled back into the familiar routine of the chemist, she felt slightly calmer. One step at a time, she told herself. That's how she'd navigate the complex situation with Logan.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of unloading drug cartons, missing prescriptions, and deliveries. Cally lost herself in it all and found comfort in the familiar rhythm of the chemist, such a contrast to the pomp and glamour she’d been right in the centre of at the races. She knew which one she preferred. As she sorted and worked, she felt an odd appreciation for her little job. It was certainly not glamorous, but it was very real and there was something oddly grounding about that. Just as she was pulling a cardboard carton out of the back room and heading toward the dispensary, Nancy came walking up to the counter on the other side of the shop. Nancy beamed.
‘Our Cally, how was it? I’ve been thinking about you. That post on Facebook! You looked stunning!’
‘Aww, thanks. Yes, it was good.’
‘Good? It looked more than good. I’m so jealous!’
‘Ha! Yep, it was a lovely day. How are you?’
‘Can't complain, can't complain. Not gadding about with the upper crust, like you, and going to the races, no less!’
Cally laughed. ‘News travels fast. It was quite an experience, I have to say.’
‘I bet it was. Did you see the King? I hear he loves the races.’
‘No King sightings, I'm afraid. Just plenty of fancy hats and even fancier people.’
‘Well, I hope you didn't let them turn your head. We need you here with us Lovelies.’
‘No fear of that.’
‘Good to hear.’
‘What are you up to?’ Cally asked.
Nancy held up a planner. ‘Up to my eyes in the Chowder Festival stuff.’
‘I bet.’
‘Are you up to date with what you’re doing with Nina?’
‘Yes, we’re all set, I think. You know what Neens is like. She’s all over it. There’s a spreadsheet and Robby has assigned roles. I think even Faye might have a job to do.’
Nancy laughed. ‘I know. She’s one of the few the organising committee has nothing to worry about.’
‘I’m going over there to do the preparation soon. We’re going to discuss the setup and suchlike.’
Nancy lowered her voice. ‘I can’t wait to see what her speakeasy is like. Don’t tell Birdie I said that.’
Cally giggled. ‘I know. I’ve already been told I’m a turncoat for not helping at the deli one.’
‘Too funny.’
‘Right, well, I’ll see you for the Chowder Festival, if not before.’
‘Yeah, let me know if you need any help.’
‘Will do.’
Cally went back to her cardboard cartons and continued to sort. At least she had the Chowder Festival to think about and a few things to take her mind off what was going to happen regarding the most important thing in her life.