Chapter Twenty-Six
A busy couple of days later – Mrs Conway had decided to go for the pretty house, so Hattie had opened negotiations with the owners; Nick wanted to press ahead with a survey but all Hattie’s usual surveyors were booked up – Hattie got back from going through some conveyancing documents with her favourite solicitor, later than usual, to the news that Luke had visited Mary.
Mary was obviously pleased. ‘He wanted to check that the guttering he mended was still holding – he’s looked at that patch of damp we were talking about and says it’s drying out. He’s done a few other repairs. He really is an extremely helpful man.’
Hattie agreed that he was and sipped her tea. Mary had something else to say, she could tell. Since they’d been living together she’d got to know Mary better than she had before and could interpret her body language quite accurately now. ‘And?’
Mary laughed. ‘How did you know there was an “and”?’
‘I just do.’
‘I think you have second sight, sometimes,’ said Mary, making Hattie jump a little. ‘But you’re right. He wants to ask you a favour.’
‘I’ll ring him. Luke has always been such a good friend to me, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him.’
‘I know it’s nice to have friends,’ said Mary, ‘but don’t you really think Luke could be more than a friend?’
‘I don’t think so.’ Hattie sighed. ‘When I was at uni, a friend had a male friend who was very in love with her, and she thought: He’s so nice, who would make a better husband?
I can’t remember why she was so keen to get married so young – family reasons, I think – but she married her friend.
It all went horribly wrong, and they both lost their best friend.
’ She turned her gaze to the floor. ‘That was far worse than losing a husband, I thought. I’d never risk that happening with me and Luke, even if he was in love with me. ’
Mary started to speak and then stopped. ‘Well, give him a ring. Take him out for a drink to find out what he needs. A meal, even.’
‘You’re not matchmaking, are you?’
Mary shook her head. ‘I’m far too old and sensible to do that.’
Hattie doubted this, but didn’t argue.
She went into her favourite spot in the garden where there was an old bench, a nearby honeysuckle and a vista that showed glimpses of the river when the sun shone on it. She got out her phone.
‘Hey, Luke! How are you doing?’
‘Hey, Hattie. I was about to ring you. Fancy a drink sometime soon?’
‘I was going to invite you!’ said Hattie. ‘Maybe even have something to eat? I want to thank you for being so kind to Mary. As well as—’
‘What?’
She didn’t want to tell him she wanted to know what favour he wanted to ask her, not on the phone. ‘Never mind. When’s good for you?’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘I’ve got nothing else on. Where shall we meet?’
‘I’ll pick you up,’ said Luke. ‘In the old-fashioned way. And then you can have a glass of wine with your pie and chips.’
‘Pie and chips? You must be talking about the March Hare!’
‘Yup. No better place for pie or indeed chips.’
They chatted on for a few moments and Hattie was still smiling when she disconnected.
Luke could always make her laugh. And it would be good to have an evening together like old times before he got that job in Cornwall and she became a substitute parent to Xander.
She went to tell Mary of the arrangements. Mary nodded approvingly.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to wear anything from the wardrobe?’ Mary asked, obviously disappointed by Hattie’s outfit. ‘I mean, you look lovely, as usual, but Luke might like to see you in something different.’
Hattie laughed. ‘I don’t think Luke notices clothes. Now, are you sure you’re all right? Shall I bring a pie home with me? Or some chips?’
‘Silly girl! Off you go and have a lovely time. Tell me all about it in the morning.’
Hattie was about to say there wouldn’t be anything to tell but heard Luke drive up and so waved to Mary and went out to meet him.
‘This is very nice!’ she said, getting into the front of Luke’s big pick-up. ‘Being collected!’
‘I have a favour to ask you. I need to be nice.’
‘Is that how it works? You’re always doing me favours. I don’t think I’m particularly nice to you.’
Luke laughed. ‘This is a big one. And no, you can’t ask me what it is now. I need you sitting comfortably, with a big glass of wine.’
‘I can’t remember when I last went out and had a big glass of wine.’
‘Which is why I picked you up. I want your guard to be down a little bit so you’ll say yes to my favour.’
‘I would anyway, Luke! You know that!’
He was smiling but he didn’t comment. He waited until their pies, the vegetables, the chips, had all been served. Hattie had a glass of wine, and Luke had a lime-soda.
‘Now you have to tell me what the favour is,’ said Hattie. ‘I won’t enjoy any of this if I’m worrying about what you want me to do.’ She picked up a chip. ‘I’m only going to eat this one, and let everything else go to waste unless you tell me now!’
‘Ask you, rather.’
Hattie exhaled loudly. ‘So ask!’
‘I want you to be my plus one at an event.’
Hattie was almost disappointed. ‘Is that all? Of course I’ll do that!’
‘It’s black tie. An awards ceremony.’
‘I can do black tie!’ She put her hand on his for a moment. ‘Seriously, that’s no problem. I scrub up quite well if I put my mind to it.’
He looked down at her hand, turned his over underneath it so they were palm to palm. ‘That’s not the issue, you always look gorgeous.’
Hattie pulled her hand back.
Luke picked up a chip. ‘It’s the date,’ he said.
Suddenly Hattie was concerned. ‘It’s not the same day as my parents’ Golden Wedding do, is it? That’s the tenth of August.’
‘Not quite that bad, but nearly. It’s the night before. I know because Mary told me.’
Hattie took a sip of wine. ‘I was planning to go down the night before.’
‘I know. And I completely understand if you say no. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been to an event like this on my own.’
‘I’m sure I can make it work – go to my parents’ early on the Saturday morning – but what’s different about this event?’
Luke looked sheepish for a moment. ‘I’m up for an award, which I probably won’t get, but more to the point is the lads – the guys who work with me down in Cornwall.
’ He held Hattie’s gaze for just a beat before finishing his sentence.
‘They – and the architect and various others – have been teasing me for ages about not knowing any women.’
Hattie had heard about this group of people, who had started out as colleagues and now were mostly friends. The thought of meeting them was daunting.
‘Really?’ Hattie cut into her pie.
Luke nodded. ‘You know when you had the dogs for me? They first started teasing me because I would shoot off as soon as possible to come and get them from you. I tried to explain we were just friends but then they decided you didn’t exist and that I didn’t know any women.’
‘Why would anyone think that?’
‘There are no photographs of any women on my phone; no one visits me down in Cornwall. They challenged me to produce someone for this do. They don’t think I can do it.’ He seemed awkward. ‘It’s all very pathetic. There’s money on it.’
Hattie laughed. ‘Outrageous! And there’s no one else you can ask to be a proxy girlfriend?’
‘Loads of people but none I want to actually come with me to an event like this.’
‘In that case of course I’ll come with you.’
‘That’s very kind, Hattie.’
‘Not at all! It wasn’t long ago that you were rescuing me from an angry man with a grudge against me banging on my front door. Frocking up for an evening with you is the least I can do in exchange.’
‘I should mention that we’re expected to stay over. It’s in a fancy hotel.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But the rooms are big. There’ll be a sofa for me to sleep on.’
Would this be awkward? Surely if he was the friend she had assured Mary he was, it would be fine! ‘I trust you, Luke. Where is this fancy hotel?’
He mentioned a place about an hour away.
‘Oh! That’s on the way to where my parents live. So as long as I remember absolutely everything I need to take with me, that’ll actually be helpful.’
‘Thanks so much, Hattie.’
‘Don’t think about it.’ Hattie knew, if their positions were reversed, he would be there for her.
‘I would have liked to drive us both down but even if you weren’t going to your parents’ do, I’ve got to go straight off and start some snagging on my previous job that day. It’ll take me away for a couple of weeks, possibly longer. But at least I can take the dogs.’
‘What will you do with them during the event? Or is the hotel dog friendly?’
‘Luckily I have an old friend who’ll have them overnight. I’ll pick them up in the morning.’
She nodded. ‘And it’s no trouble for me to drive myself but should we have somewhere to meet up first? Or shall I just rock up and say I’m with the prize winners?’
Luke laughed. ‘I’ll wait by the door for you. We’ll go in together. This is so kind of you, Hattie. Now let’s eat!’
Mary was asleep when Hattie got home feeling gently merry, but in the morning extracted every detail from Hattie about the night before over tea and toast. In the end she said, ‘You must wear the blue silk dress, darling. You look so lovely in it.’
‘I’d love to, but supposing I spill something on it?’
‘Then you spill something on it! Not important. You just need to have a lovely evening with a lovely man.’
Hattie shook her head at her old friend. ‘Have you finished with your plate?’
‘Yes, thank you. I must admit I have got used to being waited on worryingly quickly.’
‘But you don’t feel smothered? Am I fussing?’
‘I love it.’ Mary smiled so warmly she almost glowed.
Hattie returned the smile, delighted to see Mary so happy. ‘Well, I must go. Give me a call if you fancy anything particular for supper. I’m aware we have a lot of omelettes.’
‘I like omelettes. You have a good day, darling, and I’ll see you later.’