Chapter Thirty
Updating Ella had been somewhat embarrassing.
As I’d refused to elaborate in the pub, we’d eaten our food in a rather tense silence.
On the walk home, I’d told my youngest how I’d met a man at the rehoming centre. His name was Dylan, and he was a widower. Yes, I’d thought him attractive – but only in the sense of observation.
‘I mean, sometimes you can look at a person and think whoa, mega monobrow. Or oops, bad hair day.’ I was aware that I was choosing my words carefully. ‘Equally you might admire someone and think yeah, she’s pretty or he’s attractive.’
‘So you’re basically saying that you met Dylan and thought whoa, hot guy alert.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ I ridiculed, hoping she didn’t spot the flush creeping up my neck. ‘I simply thought he was a nice man. That’s all.’
I wasn’t comfortable with this conversation. Not with Ella. If I’d been with one of my girlfriends or my bestie, Lyn, then it would’ve been different. I’d have cackled along with them. Glugged my wine. Tipsily regaled how those zingers had hit one or two erogenous zones. But no way could a mother share such info with her daughter. It simply wasn’t right. Apart from anything else, Ella would be repulsed that her ancient mother even had a fully functioning set of erogenous zones. As far as she was concerned, anyone over forty was a wrinkly.
‘So you didn’t hang out together?’ Ella pushed.
‘We went for some walks together. With the dogs, I hasten to add. It was a stipulation of the rehoming centre – to take potential adoptees for two walks. Dylan happened to be there at the same time as me.’
‘Hmm.’ Ella narrowed her eyes. ‘Rather coincidental.’
I shrugged.
‘It could have been anyone. Even a woman.’ I spread my palms wide. ‘Anyway, we went for those walks and, yes, we had a coffee too. As I said, it could’ve easily been a woman. She might have become a new mate.’
‘Is that what happened next? Dylan became a mate?’
I made a see-saw motion with one hand.
‘We made idle chit-chat. He mentioned he was a widower. Also, that he had a daughter who was getting married.’
Ella looked at me suspiciously.
‘He never asked for your number?’
‘No,’ I said truthfully. ‘That said…’ I trailed off awkwardly.
‘Yes?’ she prompted.
‘He gave me his business card. He said if I ever fancied a walk with our respective dogs, then to give him a call.’
Ella’s head jerked up.
‘And did you?’ she asked shrilly.
‘No!’ I shook my head vehemently. ‘Nor did I ever intend to.’
‘Why?’ she demanded.
‘Because I’m old-fashioned!’ I exclaimed. ‘You young things’ – God, now I sounded like my parents – ‘you don’t think anything of ringing up a member of the opposite sex. However, my generation rarely did that. We waited for the boy to ring.’
‘But regarding this man, it would have been a phone call about going for a walk. Not a candlelit dinner for two,’ Ella pointed out. ‘Or are you hinting at wishing it to become something else?’
I opened my mouth to speak but struggled to find the right words.
‘I guess it’s complicated… for someone of my age,’ I added. ‘I wouldn’t have minded calling Dylan up at some point. Asking if he and Charlie would like to take some air’ – jeez, now I sounded like a maiden aunt – ‘but, equally, I didn’t want to send out the wrong signals… like I was keen on him. O-Or something,’ I finished lamely.
For I had been keen on him. There was no denying it. Until Jemima had appeared from nowhere – with her blonde hair and dagger eyes.
‘Dylan didn’t mention that his daughter’s wedding was so imminent,’ I continued. ‘It never crossed my mind that she might be a client. No one was more surprised than me when he turned up with the bride.’
‘So what’s all this about you making a public play for him?’
I rolled my eyes and tutted.
‘Do you really believe that?’
‘You tell me,’ said Ella primly. ‘I won’t deny that Mabel’s gossip had me imagining all sorts. My mother flinging her camera to one side… propositioning the bride’s father… the livid girlfriend shoving the wedding cake in your face...’
‘What a rampant imagination.’
‘So, what really happened?’
‘What really happened’ – I parodied Ella’s tone – ‘was that Dylan walked his daughter down the aisle, took his seat, and smiled at me.’ No way was I going to mention that wink. ‘And… and…’
‘Yes?’ Ella prompted.
‘And I smiled back.’
I hoped my nose wasn’t impersonating a certain wooden puppet’s breathing apparatus.
‘And that’s it?’ said Ella. She didn’t sound convinced.
‘That’s it,’ I assured.
For a moment or two we walked on in silence. The light was now fading.
‘Something doesn’t stack up,’ said Ella. ‘Why was Mabel prattling on about love triangles? Did this guy’s girlfriend give you a hard time over this exchange of smiles?’
My daughter was rapidly morphing into an interrogating police officer. Any minute now, she’d be asking me to provide an alibi. I sighed.
‘To be honest, I have no idea who this woman was. Dylan told me he was a widower. So, this lady can’t be his wife. He never mentioned a partner or a girlfriend. No one was more surprised than me when this woman glared at me.’
Ella pounced.
‘What, like feck off, Bitch Face?’
‘Er, yes, I suppose,’ I said reluctantly. ‘She then linked her arm through Dylan’s. That immediately told me they were an item.’
‘I see.’ Ella pursed her lips.
‘So that’s that,’ I shrugged. ‘Even if I wanted to go for an innocent dog walk, it won’t be happening. No way will I ever phone Dylan. Satisfied?’
‘I guess,’ Ella conceded. ‘But you know, Mum…’ she trailed off for a moment.
‘What?’
‘It seems strange to imagine you dating again but… well, if you want to… what I’m trying to say is… if someone came along… someone suitable–’
‘Someone suitable?’ I repeated with a hoot of laughter. ‘You make it sound like you’ll be conducting an interview.’
Ella gave me a serious look.
‘Me and my sibs can’t have you dating any old Tom, Dick, or Harry. He’ll need our approval.’
‘Oh,’ I said, eyes wide. ‘You mean, like I gave you, Ruby and Tim?’ I questioned.
‘Okay.’ Ella had the grace to look abashed. ‘I know you and Dad never gave any of us a hard time when we rocked up with someone… who could’ve been better.’
‘That’s putting it mildly,’ I muttered.
‘I know what you’re thinking. That Troy was a bit of a prat.’
‘A bit of a prat?’ I regarded my daughter incredulously. ‘The guy was completely workshy. He endlessly sponged off you. He was one of those people who thought the world owed him not just a living, but a big fat inheritance too.’
‘All right, all right.’ Ella made a placatory gesture with one hand. ‘All I’m trying to say is, so long as you don’t date a Troy–’
‘Or a Jayden, or a McKenzie, or a Shane, or a Daz, or a–
‘Point taken,’ said Ella peevishly. ‘As long as the guy isn’t a dickhead, then I don’t mind you having a male friend.’
‘Right,’ I nodded. ‘A male friend. Good to know.’
I wondered if Ella would approve of a male friend that zinged all my erogenous zones.