Chapter Six #2
I wasn’t sure what to expect, having never been inside a retirement home in my life, but the lift opens up to a large lounge filled with a quiet buzz of companionship.
A couple of old gents are playing a board game, another group are watching TV with a nurse in a royal blue uniform and over in the corner, there’s a small circle of women crowded around a coffee table laden with cups of tea and plates of biscuits, and they all turn to grin as we approach.
Well, all but one - a stern woman in a lilac tweed suit glares accusingly at me, as if I’m trespassing on sacred ground.
Lucy strides confidently forward, and I have no choice but to follow.
‘Hi everyone, this is Alicia. Leesh, this is Alex’s mum, Phyllis.
’ She gestures to the lady in the wheelchair, then goes round the rest of the circle, finishing with the cross-looking one.
‘Rose, Alison, Winnie, and that there is Mrs Hickenbottom.’ She leans in to whisper, ‘her name’s Abigail, but she doesn’t let just anyone to call her that.
Apparently, I haven’t earned the privilege yet. ’
‘And what, pray tell, is she doing here?’ Mrs Hickenbottom looks me up and down.
‘She wanted to come along tonight, that’s all. Alicia is visiting me for a while, because she’s my maid of honour.’
‘Maid of what, now?’
‘Didn’t you hear?’ Phyllis beams with pride as she takes her future daughter-in-law’s hand. ‘Our Alex and Lucy are getting married.’
‘Oh yes, of course!’ Winnie claps in delight. ‘We’re so happy for you, Lucy, dear.’
‘Indeed,’ Alison adds. ‘You’re living out one of your romance novels in real time!’
‘Well, I don’t know about that.’ Lucy blushes prettily as she takes a seat next to Phyllis. ‘But thank you, everyone.’
‘Now, as you’ll all recall, we were discussing chapter seven of A Dalliance with the Duke,’ Mrs Hickenbottom silences everyone with the authority of a judge banging her gavel. ‘By own on Lucy Middleton here.’
I resist the urge to roll my eyes - I love Lucy and I know she’s a talented writer, but slushy romance has never been my thing. Winnie hands me a copy of the book and I flick through it in an attempt to seem interested, certain I’m going to find this entire evening an ordeal.
But astonishingly, I have a bloody good time with the book club girls, and we stay much longer than our allotted two hours.
I don’t know much about reading, but I’ve watched my share of rom-coms, and so I interject with my own observations on the stories they are discussing whenever I feel I’ve got something to add.
Even Mrs Hickenbottom starts to loosen up after a while, and we get ourselves in a good old debate about the merits and downfalls of the main character’s love interest.
‘Well, I think that Duke Henry needs to be knocked off that high horse of his,’ Mrs Hickenbottom declares. ‘Much too arrogant for Lady Francis, in my humble opinion.’
‘But it sounds as though he has a lot riding on his shoulders,’ I pipe in.
‘I mean, since his father was killed in combat, his mother and sisters rely on him to be the head of the house, he’s just projecting what is expected of him.
’ I smile gently into my teacup. ‘But Francis can see the real him, I know she can.’
Rose blinks in surprise. ‘For someone who hasn’t even read the book, you have a pretty good grasp of what’s going on!’
Fidgeting, I shrink into my chair. ‘I guess I’m into romance more than I thought I was.’
‘I knew it!’ Lucy points a finger in my direction. ‘I will get you reading my books, Alicia Spencer.’
With a smirk and a wry shrug, I lift my tea cup and saucer and take a demure sip. ‘Perhaps.’
I’m actually quite sad when it’s time to leave, and each of the book club ladies (bar Mrs Hickenbottom) gives me a sweet-scented cuddle and a little peck on the cheek.
‘Don’t be a stranger,’ Phyllis says. ‘We’ve loved having you.’
‘I’ll be back,’ I promise, then Lucy and I wave goodbye and head toward the lift.
Once we’re nearing the ground floor, I instinctively reach in my pocket and cold panic rushes through me. ‘Oh shit, I think I left my phone behind.’
‘Alright, you whiz back up and I’ll wait for you in the car.’
The book club girls are nowhere to be seen, but the tray of empty cups and crumb-filled plates is still on the coffee table, and thankfully, so is my mobile. I hastily pocket it and make my way back toward the lift, when someone calls out.
‘Hey, Alicia!’
Surprised to hear my name in such an unfamiliar setting, I spin around. I hold back a gasp when I spot Finn across the room, waving me over. My legs suddenly heavy, I traipse over, head ducked to my chest.
‘Finn.’ I haphazardly stuff my mobile in my pocket, coming over all hot and bothered. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘I volunteer here once a week,’ he explains. ‘I play chess with a few of the old boys, and sometimes I help out with the painting class on Fridays if I’m not working.’
‘You paint?’
He shrugs. ‘I dabble, though I’m not very good.’
‘Still, I’d love to see your paintings sometime,’ I murmur.
His shoulders lift again. ‘I’m guessing you came with Lucy for the weekly book club?’
‘Yep. I’ve actually had a really nice night.’
‘Yeah, the book club gals are a good laugh, especially that Abby, once you get to know her.’
I pull a face. ‘I’ll take your word for it!’
‘Understandable, she’s a tough nut to crack.’
There’s a taut sort of silence, and we both go to break it.
‘I -’
‘So -’
‘Oh, sorry,’ I hasten to apologise, certain I now resemble a tomato.
‘No, it’s okay. What were you going to say?’
‘I - I was just going to say I’d better go, Lucy is waiting for me in the car park.’
‘No worries, I’ll see you around.’
‘Yeah, see you.’
Lucy is tapping her steering wheel impatiently when I finally open up the passenger door to her car.
‘You took your sweet time!’ she snorts, starting the engine. ‘Did you find it okay?’
‘Erm, yeah, it was just where I left it.’
The radio crackles into action as we drive off into the silvery twilight.
‘So, tonight wasn’t so bad, was it?’ Lucy asks, nudging me with her elbow.
‘No, I had a great time,’ I bring my smile to her. ‘Thanks for inviting me along.’
Though I’ve not had a drop to drink, my head swims with blissful dizziness as I watch the starry sky fly by, secretly imagining my own little dalliance with a certain duke.