Chapter 26
I really wasn’t in the mood for Freddie’s teasing. My arms and legs ached from hours working in the Grow-Well the day before and my resultant slower walk to the care home meant I was chilled right through, too. At least the sun was shining though.
It was the perfect weather for the film and sparkler night happening later in the garden.
Having had the equinox celebration indoors, everyone was keen to party outside before winter arrived and thanks to a concerted effort everything was set up and ready.
Other than providing some muscle, I hadn’t had anything to prepare or contribute for this regular event as it followed a tried and tested format, and with my mind still full of thoughts about the job offer, I was otherwise happily occupied.
‘What do you mean still making headlines?’ I frowned at Freddie, once I’d shrugged off my coat, hat and gloves and his words had sunk in.
‘Never mind,’ said Grandad George, who walked in behind me. ‘Ignore him. It’s most likely an old paper.’
‘You know it isn’t, George,’ Freddie said, as he held up the offending page. ‘This was hot off the press today.’
‘Let me see that,’ I demanded.
It was yet another photo of Erik and me.
This time we were walking along the street following our lunch in The Dragon.
When we’d got ready to leave I’d almost suggested setting off separately but knowing that Luke had had words with the photographer, I didn’t.
By the looks of it, I should have stuck to being paranoid, after all.
‘I don’t believe it,’ I said and slapped the paper back down on the table Freddie was sitting at.
‘Did you read the copy?’ he asked.
‘No,’ I said. ‘And I don’t want you to tell me what it says, either.’
After that, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind for idle chat, but that wasn’t what Mabel had in mind anyway.
‘You make a handsome couple,’ she said, when I went and sat on the chair next to hers.
‘Sorry?’
‘You and the fella in the paper.’
‘It’s not the best picture,’ I said brusquely. ‘And we’re certainly not a couple.’
‘He’s been here recently, so I know what he looks like and he’s a handsome chap.’
I couldn’t argue with that, but I was surprised he’d been to Cavell Care.
‘Erik has visited someone in the care home?’
‘The manager,’ Mabel said. I wondered what that was about. ‘He was with her a while.’
‘Right. How’s the tai chi coming along?’
‘Do you remember what I told you about my heart speeding up whenever I saw my Arthur?’
I wished she’d change the subject.
‘Of course.’
‘Does yours do that when you see Erik?’ I didn’t tell her that sometimes it felt like it was going to burst out of my ribcage. ‘Because if it does, you should be mindful of that. Follow your heart and you won’t go wrong.’
She patted my hand and for a horrible moment I thought I was going to cry. Fortunately, another resident, Violet, came to my rescue with a request to help her with a jigsaw she was struggling with.
‘You mind what I’ve said,’ Mabel persisted, as I gave up my seat for Bill who had just walked in.
I did mind. I minded very much.
‘Don’t let it get to you, love,’ Grandad George said after we’d had a chat and as I got ready to leave. Clearly, he had picked up on the mood I harboured beneath the sham sunny surface. ‘I would imagine Erik’s dad is feeling as surprised as you.’
‘Erik’s dad?’ I frowned as I pulled up my hood. I had been recognisable in the most recent photo so would be walking back to the square incognito. ‘What’s he got to do with it?’
‘The article accompanying that photo has a quote from him in it,’ Grandad George told me and I felt my heart sink. ‘He said he hadn’t been introduced to you yet, but Erik had talked about you a lot and that he was looking forward to meeting you.’
‘I didn’t know that. I wish he hadn’t said anything.’
Erik’s father had already suggested that Erik should set something up featuring the two of us, so he was no doubt thrilled to see us in the paper again. I hoped he wasn’t thinking it was a moment that we’d manipulated because I wanted no part of it and I was certain that Erik didn’t either.
‘He made it sound like the two of you are a couple and also that Erik was in Norwich on holiday, but then the journalist could have twisted his words to suggest that because I got the impression when I talked to Erik at the banquet that he was quite settled here…’
‘My guess is, the quote wasn’t even from his dad,’ I shrugged, even though I was certain it would have been. It must have made his day when he was asked to comment, and he realised he could say something to add further interest to the made-up situation. ‘Now, are you coming tonight?’
Grandad George and Freddie had both been invited to the bonfire party. Which was really a brazier party in lieu of an actual bonfire, but I supposed that didn’t sound as exciting.
‘No,’ Grandad George said. ‘And Freddie’s not either. It’s too cold for us.’
‘Fair enough,’ I smiled and gave him a hug. ‘You stay indoors and keep warm.’
‘I intend to.’
‘Oh, Skylar,’ Rafe laughed, as we got ready for the party, ‘it’s not that cold, whatever Dad reckons.’
‘I’m well aware of that,’ I said as I pulled my scarf right up over my mouth and nose, so my voice became muffled. ‘I’m in disguise remember.’
The only part of me that was visible was my eyes though I wasn’t sure I’d be able to properly see where I was going with limited peripheral vision, so Rafe’s guiding hand out of the square and across the road was going to be essential.
‘I’m sure that photographer won’t be hanging about now,’ he tried to reassure me, but I was beyond being placated.
I hadn’t heard from Erik so I could only assume that he wasn’t aware of this latest invasion of his, and my, privacy. I had thought about letting him know but with the situation with his dad already precarious, I didn’t want to potentially be the person responsible for estranging them for good.
‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’m not taking any chances. Come on.’
Once safely through the garden gate, I pulled my scarf back down, pushed back my hood and took a big breath.
‘Did you see anyone?’ I asked Rafe.
‘Not a soul,’ he said. ‘You mustn’t get paranoid about this, Skylar. With no story to go on, they’ll soon get bored.’
‘But they do have a story now, don’t they?’ I muttered under my breath. ‘Courtesy of Erik’s father and the clearer photo of us walking back from the pub.’
The gate opened behind us before Rafe could answer and we moved along the path. It was Freya and Finn.
‘Hey, you two,’ I said, forcing myself to get into the swing of things. ‘Are you heading to party central, too?’
‘We are,’ Freya smiled.
‘I want to check the braziers before it gets too busy,’ Finn said, and he and Rafe went ahead.
‘No Nell?’ I asked Freya. ‘This is a firework free party, isn’t it?’
‘It is,’ she confirmed. ‘But there’ll probably be others going off elsewhere and she’s not a fan. She doesn’t mind sparklers, but she’s better off at home.’
‘Bless her heart,’ I said sympathetically. ‘I adore sparklers myself. It’s the smell as much as the sight.’
‘Yes,’ Freya said, ‘they do smell good, don’t they? How’s your week been? It feels like ages since I saw you.’
‘Interesting,’ I told her, as we arrived at the Grow-Well where quite a crowd was already gathered. ‘A bit of a mixed bag.’
‘Such is life,’ she sighed. ‘Tonight will be a highlight though. Look, John’s already made some pizzas.’
‘Finally!’ I applauded.
With everyone assembled and the trestle tables groaning with food, it was time to get ready for the film, which would be followed by sparklers.
We all filled a plate before picking where we wanted to sit.
The kids nabbed the beanbags which the adults joked they wouldn’t have been able to get out of anyway and most of us sat at the back of the table facing the homemade cinema screen, which made it easier to eat.
Carole and Graham sat snuggled under a blanket on a bench to one side while Luke and Finn were sorting the projector.
‘John, this is amazing,’ I said, as I tucked into the goat’s cheese, beetroot, balsamic and honey dressed slice.
I had started to properly relax since no one had mentioned my third appearance in the newspaper, and as the company was made up of neighbours who had become friends inside the sanctuary of the Prosperous Place gates, the feeling deepened.
‘Worth the wait?’ John beamed, looking chuffed.
‘Totally,’ I nodded and wiped some dressing from my chin.
As well as a variety of pizzas, there were also hotdogs with all the usual accompaniments, a huge vegetarian pasta bake, twice baked jacket potatoes, autumn slaw and the stars of the feast, Mark’s edible glitter covered toffee apples.
Some had been left as the traditional apple and crunch formula, while others were coated in salted caramel.
Whatever the flavour, they all looked sparkly and enticing.
‘Do you know what the film is?’ Rafe asked the table in general.
‘The kids voted for Fantastic Mr Fox,’ Lisa told him.
‘Perfect autumn viewing,’ Rafe smiled and settled back in his chair.
He’d eaten his pizza in record time but declined a toffee apple. The plates and bowls were emptying fast, and I realised then that Erik still wasn’t with us.
‘Is Erik not coming?’ I asked Kate, who was sitting next to me.
‘He’s supposed to be,’ she said and looked towards the gate which he suddenly strode through looking grim. ‘Here he is. Oh, dear. He was on the phone when we left the house.’
‘I think I might know why,’ I sighed. ‘But I hope I’m wrong.’
Kate turned to look at me. ‘You saw it then?’ she asked and I nodded. ‘Damn, we were hoping you hadn’t and we’d all agreed not to mention it in the hope it had passed you by.’
‘Everyone here knows?’
‘They do,’ she confirmed. ‘But no one’s taken any notice of it since Erik explained the situation at the volunteers’ party, so please don’t let it spoil your evening.’
‘I’ll try not to,’ I sighed and dropped the last of the pizza slice back onto my plate.
My appetite had headed for the hills.