Chapter 24
Picked the twins up on Saturday after work and took them to see Mam and Dad.
Mam let them sign her plaster cast. Dad regaled them with thrilling tales about Kelsea Sands and Kels Point during the World Wars.
I had to wake them up to take them back to the caravan, but apart from that little interlude they really enjoyed themselves.
We all had Sunday dinner at The North Star yesterday before I took them home.
I think they’ve fallen in love with Kelsea Sands.
Going to the hairdresser’s today. Rosie thinks I need a change of image, but she can think again. I’m a bit wary about going somewhere new. It’s hard to trust hairdressers when you don’t know them, but I’ll probably just have a trim so it should be okay.
Finally told Rosie this morning about Mac’s ex-wife marrying his ex-best mate.
She’s as appalled as I am. Poor Mac! He’s had such a hard time of it and he’s always so calm and kind.
We cooked salmon burgers last night with ginger and soy sauce and a bit of coriander.
They were yummy. Had another lovely evening at Watersmeet and then Mac walked me home again…
‘I’m just saying,’ Rosie said, as she adjusted the towel around her shoulders, ‘that Mrs MacMillan kept very quiet about Mac losing his kids and his business. We all thought he was doing really well in Oxfordshire and had a brilliant life. You said it yourself! You thought he was charmed. If Mam had known anything about it you can be very sure I’d have heard, so it’s all been hushed up. ’
Alison looked at her disbelievingly. ‘Why would Sheila MacMillan go around telling your mam, of all people? Or anyone else’s for that matter! It’s nobody’s business, and I only told you because – well, it’s you. But don’t go saying anything to anyone, Rosie. I mean it.’
She glared at her cousin’s reflection in the mirror, and the hairdresser, who was fastening a cape around her, laughed.
‘Well, don’t worry about me, love. I won’t say anything. I haven’t the foggiest idea who you’re talking about.’
It was a good job there wasn’t a hairdressing salon in Kelsea Sands, Alison thought, because news would spread like wildfire – even more than it usually did. Here in A Cut Above in Hilderstead she felt reasonably safe discussing the issue with Rosie, if not entirely comfortable.
‘Right,’ said the hairdresser, ‘what are we having done today?’
‘Be radical,’ Rosie advised. ‘Honestly, Jade, she’s been having her hair cut at the same salon in Hull for donkey’s years, and it’s always the same. She needs something doing with it, if you ask me.’
‘Well, I think that’s up to her,’ Jade said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She lifted some of Alison’s locks and let them drop, eyeing them critically. ‘It is quite fine, though. Have you ever thought about getting it cut shorter?’
‘Shorter?’ No, Alison hadn’t. She’d had it past her shoulders for as long as she could remember and couldn’t imagine it short. It was easy to put up in a ponytail or a bun at this length.
‘Just to give it a bit of bounce and body,’ Jade suggested. ‘The length of it is weighing it down. How do you fancy a chin-length bob? You’ve got great bone structure. You should show it off.’
Alison wasn’t sure but Rosie was full of enthusiasm. ‘Oh, go on, Ali! Be daring. New you, remember? It could be part of Project Alison. Hey, Jade, do you think she could do with a bit of colour?’
‘I’m not dyeing my hair,’ Alison said.
‘Maybe a few highlights?’ Jade suggested. ‘You’re very lucky. You’ve hardly got any grey, but a few blonde highlights would blend with what you do have. Nothing too extreme. Just to brighten your face a bit.’
Rosie was leaning so far towards her it was a wonder her chair didn’t tip over. ‘Oh, go on, Ali! You’d look brilliant with highlights, and I think a bob would really suit you. Do something different for a change. Go on!’
‘And when did you last change your hairstyle?’ Alison demanded.
Rosie looked wounded. ‘I don’t need to! My hair suits me perfectly.’
‘Thanks very much.’ Alison sighed as the hairdresser watched her reflection hopefully. ‘Oh, go on. Might as well give it a go.’
‘The bob or the highlights?’
Alison shrugged. ‘Both.’
‘Woohoo!’ Rosie punched the air. ‘You’re going to look fab, Ali. Trust me.’
It was almost two-and-a-half hours later when they left the salon, and Alison felt like a new woman.
‘Honest to God, it’s taken years off you,’ Rosie told her.
‘It’s taken nearly eighty quid off me, too,’ Alison said wryly.
‘Totally worth it.’ Rosie linked arms with her. ‘Come on, I’ll treat you to a cup of tea at the cafe over there. Help you get over the shock.’
The Trusty Teapot was just across the market square from the salon, so it was only moments later when they settled themselves at a table and ordered a pot of tea for two, politely refusing cake or scones to go with it.
‘You know, you didn’t even flinch when you said no then,’ Rosie observed. ‘A month ago you’d have been dithering about turning down cake but look at you now.’
‘It’s becoming second nature to me,’ Alison said, surprised.
‘I’m feeling a lot better, especially since I’ve started eating proper meals again.
The SlimKwik wasn’t great, but with the recipes from Mac’s cookbook and all your support and help it’s getting easier to keep going.
I can’t thank you enough for inviting me here and looking out for me, Rosie. ’
‘Don’t be daft. It’s a pleasure.’ She smiled a thank you as the waitress placed a pot of tea and two cups and saucers on their table, along with milk and sugar.
She stirred one spoonful of sugar into her tea and said, ‘Did you notice? I’ve cut down from two sugars.
I’m going to cut it out completely eventually. Taking a leaf from your book.’
‘That’s great. I thought black tea and coffee with no sugar would be vile, and to be honest, at first they were. But now I prefer them that way. It’s just a habit really, isn’t it?’
They sipped tea and admired the decor in the cafe, which was fairly plain but pretty, and spotlessly clean.
‘Heard you outside the caravan last night,’ Rosie said suddenly. ‘I wasn’t eavesdropping deliberately, honest! But you know how thin those caravan walls are…’
Alison blushed and Rosie gave an exasperated squeal and punched her lightly on the arm. ‘Oh, come on, Ali! I’ve been so patient, and I’ve been dying to ask you, but it sounded like Mac kissed you last night. Am I wrong?’
Alison’s face burned even more, and she was sure she must look scarlet by now.
‘Shh!’ She glanced around but no one was taking any notice.
Why would they? It was only to her that it was a huge deal.
And to Rosie, obviously. ‘If you say one word about this to anyone, I’ll leave Kelsea Sands and never come back. ’
‘Bit dramatic,’ Rosie said. ‘Anyway, as if! Leave the handsome Ian MacMillan behind? I don’t think so. So you did kiss then?’
‘It was nothing,’ Alison insisted. ‘Really. Just a peck on the cheek.’
‘Oh.’ Rosie looked bitterly disappointed. ‘Well,’ she said thoughtfully, ‘it’s a start.’
‘Give it up, Rosie,’ Alison advised. ‘We’re just friends.’
‘Are you kidding me? He bought a cookbook for you. He’s had you round at his house God knows how many evenings and afternoons now, cooking and eating at his place—’
‘Only when you’ve been at work,’ Alison said quickly. ‘And the times you weren’t he invited you, too.’
‘I’m not complaining about that,’ Rosie said impatiently. ‘I’m just pointing out that he’s gone to an awful lot of trouble for you.’
‘He’s a kind person,’ Alison said. ‘He wants to help me. Besides, it’s helping him, too. He was sick of beans on toast. This way we both improve our cooking skills, and we get to eat healthily.’
‘And is that all you’re doing at Watersmeet?’ Rosie asked curiously. ‘Really?’
‘No. I’ve helped him with the animals a few times. I’ve got quite fond of them actually. And we’ve discussed the garden – what he might like to do with it. That kind of thing.’
‘Riveting,’ Rosie said, clearly disappointed. ‘Have you thought about trying to move things on?’
‘Rosie, I told you already, I’ve had a happy marriage. I’m not looking for anything else but friendship.’
‘Well, I think you deserve better. Drew would understand. You know he would. It’s been nine years, Ali! It’s not like you’ve rushed into anything, is it?’
‘I think we’re both cautious,’ Alison mused. ‘And remember, he’s been badly hurt by his ex-wife and his best friend. How awful is that? I can’t imagine anything worse than being let down so badly by the two people you should be able to trust more than anyone in the world.’
‘Yes, that is horrible,’ Rosie agreed, pouring the last of the tea from the pot after checking Alison didn’t want it. ‘How long were they having an affair before Mac found out?’
‘I have no idea. He hasn’t volunteered any more information than I already told you, and I can’t exactly ask him. It would be insensitive to push it. But you can see why he’d be hesitant about starting a relationship with anyone, can’t you?’
‘But are you happy with that?’ Rosie persisted. ‘Really? You’re okay just being friends? He might be sixty-two, which obviously is ancient to me, but even I think he’s a good-looking man, and quite the catch. Are you sure you don’t want to—’
‘We’re fine as friends,’ Alison said firmly. ‘And less of the “ancient”, if you don’t mind.’
Rosie sighed. ‘All right then. Fair dos. Mind you, when he sees your new hairdo, he might have a change of heart. Fingers crossed, eh?’
Project Alison – Day 51 cont.: Had another lovely evening at Watersmeet and then Mac walked me home again…
He kissed me! It was so lovely and so sweet. I had a funny feeling he was going to do it because we’ve been getting closer and closer and we kept giving each other these looks all evening. My stomach was spinning round like the washing machine!
And then when we got to the caravan and he said goodnight I thought, well, maybe I’d got it all wrong.
But then he suddenly reached out and stroked my cheek, and kind of waited for me to see if it was okay, and when I smiled and did the same to him, he just pulled me closer – ever so gently – and kissed me, really lightly on the lips.
And I put my arms around him and then he, well, he kissed me a bit less lightly, and before I knew it, we were properly kissing!
I haven’t had a kiss like that in years.
And then he said, ‘Is this all right?’ And I said, ‘More than all right.’ And he smiled at me, and we kissed again, and then he said goodnight and I went into the caravan and it was a really good job Rosie had gone to bed because she’d have been able to tell straight away. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face!
But it’s early days and I’m saying nothing – not even to her. It might be a one-off for all I know. And Mac’s been through a lot, and maybe he’s just lonely. And then there’s Drew… We’ll see. It’s all a bit new and scary. But nice. Really, really nice.
Went to the hairdresser’s as planned. Only intended to get a trim but ended up getting a cut and colour. I was a bit nervous, but it looks great. It was time for a change, I think.
I keep imagining Jenna’s face when she sees it.
Just imagine what she’d say if she ever found out about Mac kissing me! Oh God, what am I doing? Feels like everything’s moving very quickly and maybe I should slow it down.
But I’m probably getting way ahead of myself. It was just a kiss after all.
Bet he’s forgotten all about it.