Chapter 47
Miranda is tidying up the non-fiction section while I’m rearranging the crime display table. I keep thinking about what I read in Mum’s notebook earlier. I felt so connected to her when I read it. Knowing that she and I shared the same… gift… was life-changing for me.
I’ve been saying the word ‘gift’ in my head repeatedly. It does sound better than the word ‘curse’.
The part about Dad and Mum made me think about Oliver. I never saw anything with Oliver, but he’s gone now.
‘Hello, Nelly,’ says a familiar voice.
I turn around to see Mr Ellis. He looks transformed from when I last saw him. His skin is full of colour, his nose is no longer bright red, and his eyes have added twinkles. ‘Mr Ellis, what a wonderful surprise!’
He smiles. ‘As you can see, the casserole worked wonders. I started feeling better after the first mouthful.’
‘That is brilliant.’
‘You and Oliver were amazing that evening.’
‘Mr Ellis, it was worth it.’
He gestures for me to follow him over to the empty armchair in the crime section. Once he’s settled, he clears his throat and says, ‘I would like to invite you to a thank you dinner, tomorrow evening.’
‘Mr Ellis, you don’t need to do anything. It was a pleasure to—’
He waves his hands to stop me. ‘Nelly, I would like you to come over and have dinner with me.’
‘What are you cooking?’
I giggle as he touches his nose and winks. ‘That’s a secret. But it will be something from Barbara’s book.’
‘I’m visiting my aunt tomorrow. I won’t be back until about six.’
He nods. ‘That’s fine with me. I will wait.’
‘Mr Ellis, Oliver has moved back to London.’
Something flickers across his face, and I detect a glint of mischief in his twinkly eyes. What is he up to?
‘We don’t need him, Nelly.’ He laughs. ‘Do you remember where I live?’
The thought of him slaving over a hot stove worries me. ‘Yes, I do. Please don’t go to a lot of trouble. I would be happy with a sandwich.’
‘I want to say thank you. I’ll see you at six.’
I watch him heave himself out of the chair and lean on his stick.
‘See you tomorrow, Mr Ellis.’
Before he hobbles away, he winks at me. ‘Looking forward to it.’
* * *
It’s early evening. I am in my happy place, the swimming pool.
I have spent the last hour or so travelling up and down the pool.
It’s quiet tonight as people are outside enjoying the summer evening.
I am now resting in the shallow end and thinking about my aunt and Hilary.
Their story goes against everything my gift has taught me.
They have shown me that love isn’t about first chances.
Sometimes it’s about the second ones. The kind that proved the first heartbreak wasn’t the end, just the beginning of something more profound.
Love can come back as something softer, wiser and more substantial.
Perhaps some endings are not endings. Maybe love has seasons. Some break-ups are like a plant shedding its leaves in the autumn and going back into the soil. When spring arrives, the conditions change, and love grows again.
Mum’s face flashes up inside my mind. Reading her notebook was transformational. I now know why she made me wear those awful gloves. Knowing she also had this gift has made me feel closer to her.
A man has entered the pool. He has the same black curly hair as Henry.
My mind drifts back to the last time we saw each other on that dreadful day when Nigella’s tyre burst. I recall standing on the hard shoulder and him passing me the blanket and cap.
I gasp as I remember the vision I saw when I touched Henry.
His love for someone ended when he was on the side of the motorway watching a figure standing in front of him.
My heart falters. That was me. He was looking at me.
Oh, God. The memory of him in the coffee shop and in the car trying to tell me something.
Was he going to ask me out on a date? I gulp.
Was Henry in love with me? This is new territory for me. I have seen myself in a vision.
He must have watched me stare into the distance and yearn for Oliver. Henry hasn’t been in contact since. I feel a twang of guilt. There was never an attraction on my part. He was a good friend to me, and I will always be grateful for him showing me Margo Lane’s book.
As I kick off from the side and start to swim, I think of Oliver and I hope he’s happy. It will take time for me to forget about him, but I am no longer alone. I have Lenny, Eva, Aunt Polly, Hilary, Mr Ellis and my newfound love of swimming. The water will always be my friend.
My gift is still with me, and I have accepted it will never go. With everyone’s help I am going to find a way of living with it and not let it stop me when I eventually meet Mr Right.