Chapter Twenty-Seven Between the Lines
‘Perfectly nice?’
Patty is not at all impressed with my analysis of last night.
‘It was,’ I protest. ‘We had a lovely meal, glass of wine and found out a bit more about each other. That’s what normal people do — we can’t all meet on a cruise ship.’
‘I suppose so... Didn’t you want to invite him in for coffee? You do know that I wouldn’t mind — this is your house without any restrictions. I would have vanished into my room with just a nod of the head.’
I tell her that I do know that but I knew I’d have a big day at work so didn’t want to risk it turning into a party. I didn’t mention that I couldn’t imagine David ever coming back to party. My reasoning seems to placate her and we move on to the book club meeting which I’m currently getting changed for.
‘So it’s about walking,’ she says, picking up the book we’re discussing tonight.
‘Kind of. It’s really about a couple who lost everything.’
‘So it’s a bit like that film with Reese Witherspoon? Exhaustion, adversity, some kind and some cruel people along the way?’
‘I really wish you’d read some of the books we select instead of just trying to reduce them down to soundbites,’ I scold her. ‘This was incredibly moving.’
‘I promise to try next time.’
‘You always say that. Why don’t you pick something for the group? Then you’ll have to read it and can come along.’
She has that thoughtful look on her face and then suddenly smiles as if a light bulb has appeared over her head.
‘I know exactly what I’ll pick,’ she declares with a glint in her eye that can only mean mischief.
* * *
Work today has been tiring with the final preparations for Vienna as well as the ongoing bookings, but I think we’re ready. In an ideal world I think I’d be happy with the sofa and a cosy crime on TV tonight, but I know when I get to the book club I’ll be glad I went and will probably sleep much better than if I’d been lazy for the whole night. Besides which, I really do enjoy seeing my friends.
We’re the last to arrive because Patty became all secretive after agreeing to select our next book. She vanished for half an hour and when I shouted out that we had to leave the house, she appeared carrying a large holdall stuffed with something — presumably book related. The regulars are all here and I shuffle in between Sarah and Caroline as Patty gets us a drink.
‘I’m really pleased you recommended this,’ I tell Sarah. ‘I found it very inspiring.’
‘Me too,’ adds Patty, handing me a glass of wine. ‘Such an odyssey.’
I glare at her and get a little grin in return. This woman has more cheek than a blue-bottomed baboon.
The discussion gets underway with everyone having enjoyed the book in some way. It’s the story of a couple, where the husband is diagnosed with an incurable brain disease and then they lose all their money and their home through a bad investment. They’re literally left with nothing except a few hundred pounds, so they buy a tent and set out to walk the 630-mile-long Salt Path.
‘I was lying in bed reading this,’ Peter starts us off, ‘and I realised how quickly life can turn from being perfect to horrific. I looked around me at my wonderful home and loving partner, knowing how safe and happy we are and simply couldn’t contemplate losing it all. I’m not sure I would cope half as well.’
Although everyone is nodding in agreement, I think Peter would cope well. He’s a strong individual and he would do anything it took to keep Charlie safe. I say all of this and he smiles.
‘I love him,’ he says, ‘but 630 miles? That would be stretching it!’
We all laugh and continue the discussion, wondering whether we’d take in a sodden, muddy couple who needed somewhere for the night and being thoroughly ashamed to confess that we probably wouldn’t.
After reviewing the book, we all grab another drink and the evening turns to general chatter.
‘David tells me you had a lovely time last night,’ says Sarah, and I’m a little surprised until I remember that she’s his cousin.
‘What did he say about it?’ Patty barges into the conversation with her trademark subtlety.
‘That you talked about eighties fashion and that you’re off to listen to Strauss in Vienna,’ replied Sarah. ‘He’s very envious of that.’
‘What else?’ Patty persists.
‘Erm... I think he thought the food was nice, and of course he really likes you, Angie,’ adds Sarah. ‘Oh, and he mentioned the charity event you’ve helped with. He’s really enthusiastic about that. He thinks it’ll raise his profile. I imagine you’re going to that, aren’t you?’
I tell Sarah that I am and that I had a lovely evening too.
‘Yes,’ Patty says. ‘I heard it was perfectly nice.’
I give Patty such a nudge that she almost spills the wine at her lips. I’m annoyed with her; just because my relationship doesn’t fit her ideal for me is no reason for her to dismiss it.
Caroline clinks a pen against a glass and calls the book club to order.
‘We need to decide on our next book. Now, we already have several suggestions on the list from last time, so rather than choose anyone’s particular preference, shall I just close my eyes and pick one at random?’
There’s a murmur of agreement, which is interrupted by Patty standing up and heaving the holdall onto the chair.
‘If you don’t mind, I would like to make a very different suggestion,’ she says, getting raised eyebrows from the whole group.
‘We’re intrigued,’ Ed says.
Patty slowly unzips the holdall and reaches her hand in.
‘Thank you for allowing me to come to my first actual book club meeting. As you have all probably guessed, I’m not much of a reader and am occasionally known to scour the book reviews before I join you on the weekend trips just so I know what to say.’
‘We would never have guessed,’ says Peter sarcastically.
‘She hides it well,’ I say with equal sarcasm.
‘Anyway,’ continues Patty, drawing the attention back to her. ‘I thought that if perhaps we all read something that I love, I might be able to take part properly. And so, if you’re amenable, this is what I suggest as our next read.’
She pulls out a stack of 1980s Jackie annuals and there is such a gasp of delight that other people in the bar turn round to see what has happened.
‘Oh, I loved this,’ says Caroline, quickly skimming through it.
‘Me too,’ adds Peter. ‘It beat the football mags all the other boys were reading.’
The annuals have everyone enthused, including me. I wouldn’t mind spending my evenings re-reading the problem pages that absorbed my teenage years. Happily, the group are delighted to give this a go, so Patty hands us one each and we agree to read and pass round so that we’ve all seen each edition. What a joy — I can’t wait to do this.
* * *
‘I didn’t know you still had these,’ I say to Patty when we get home. ‘They could be worth a fortune.’
‘They are to me. I know people collect them but I don’t think I could ever bear to part with them. I remember my mum coming into my room and telling me to turn the light out and go to sleep, so I used to do as I was told then switch on the torch from my bedside table and hide under the bedclothes to finish whatever feature I was reading.’
‘The equivalent of being on your mobile all night.’ I smile. ‘I imagine the experts back then said reading by torchlight would ruin your eyes.’
‘Probably. Every joy in life comes with a doom merchant telling you not to do it.’
I’m tired after my long day and am making myself a cuppa ready to take up to bed when Patty says, ‘I’m sorry for asking all those questions about your night with David.’
I’d forgotten how annoyed I was with her earlier in the evening and sigh as I could do without all that whizzing around my head as I try to sleep. I decide confrontation is not what I want right now.
‘That’s okay. I know you’re only looking out for me, but I am a big girl and you have to let me make my own mistakes.’ I instantly regret my choice of word.
‘Is it a mistake?’ she asks. ‘I mean, it’s only a mistake if you end up buying a house together or giving him all of your money for a sure-fire investment — you’d never do that, would you?’
‘Of course not. We’ve only known each other a few weeks. You’re making him sound like a con artist. If he declares undying love and says we could be married but he needs ten thousand pounds for a visa then I’ll let you know.’
‘Good, and if Jack does that I’ll let you know. Seriously, though, how do you feel about him?’
I pause and think about it, trying to find the right word, but unfortunately only one comes to mind.
‘He is nice,’ I say. ‘We only have a couple of things in common but he’s easy to get on with.’
‘What do you have in common?’
I tell her about the conversation we had in the tapas bar.
‘So the thing you have in common was being young in the eighties?’
‘That’s not fair,’ I say. ‘Do you have something against him? You’ve only met him once and seem to have formed an instant opinion. I wouldn’t dream of saying all this about anyone you dated. What do you and Jack have in common? He’s a doctor and you were an air stewardess. He has kids and grandkids while you hate children.’
‘It’s a spark,’ she says, looking quite annoyed. ‘There’s a spark between us and it’s enough to light a flame — we laugh together and have had incredible chemistry from the start.’
‘Love isn’t always like that,’ I tell her. ‘Sometimes you have to nurture it and let it grow slowly. It’s as much about companionship at our age.’
Patty looks at me as if I’ve grown two heads.
‘It isn’t, Bo,’ she says. ‘You’re not old and you’re as entitled to passion and excitement as you ever were. You’re right in that I don’t know David but please be honest with yourself, and if the spark isn’t there then no amount of nurturing or blowing on it will ever create a fire. Don’t settle for second best.’
I’m taken aback by her words — angry, hurt and shocked. It’s all right for her, she’ll be off on an adventure with the man she loves, leaving me here in a house that isn’t mine. I dread her coming home and telling me he’s moving in. She’ll let me stay but I’ll be the third wheel and I can picture us out with all our friends — all couples except me. They’ll be kind and include me but will have those coupley conversations and always use we rather than I.
I can see it all happening. I’m about to be left behind by everyone.
She’s wrong about David; I can bring him into our fold. Maybe Patty is too much for an introduction but perhaps he’d get on better with Peter and Charlie. Peter is a well-known local businessman so they may have things in common, although I doubt David ever read the Jackie annual. I’m going to show Patty that nice is a perfectly good launch point for any relationship.
‘I haven’t — goodnight,’ I tell her, taking my tea and marching up to bed.