Chapter 34 #2
Her eyes scanned the room, watching folk scratch their heads, wondering where to start.
Some were drinking tea and leaning on ladders.
Mel from the Splash ’n’ Dash launderette had roped in her non-romantic husband.
Hedgehog and her fiancé were trying to look busy with a tape measure.
Horace was eating torta di mele, even though it was barely past breakfast time.
There were people of all generations, including plenty she didn’t recognise. But still no Devan.
‘Pining over your bloke?’
Mrs Halfpenny’s voice made Alyssa jump. Oh bleurgh, she had been pining – in a panicky sort of way.
‘He’s not my bloke,’ she said on autopilot.
Mrs Halfpenny rolled her eyes. ‘Anyway, it’s dandy that you’re trying to bring more love to the town.
But as one of those coach people, I shouldn’t have to remind you that loving you comes first. Take it from me, you can’t be mooning over folk who aren’t here.
Get out there and paddle your own steamer. ’
Alyssa couldn’t believe she was taking advice from a septuagenarian sporting a ‘Self-Love Is My Superpower’ badge and what looked like a knitted cape – but perhaps she had a point.
‘My new quest,’ she explained, as she saw Alyssa eyeing the ensemble. ‘Because love is love, even if it’s only with yourself.’ She gave Alyssa a wink. ‘Thanks for inspiring me to get up off my wingback chair and do something worthwhile. I think you’ve breathed life into us all.’
She rubbed Mrs H on the back, even if she wasn’t usually one for too much touching. ‘You’re a wise and wonderful woman. Let’s paddle.’
Buoyed by Mrs Halfpenny’s unexpected pep talk, Alyssa moved around the hall, discussing what needed to be done and making plans.
With her coaching hat on, she knew how to communicate, adapt and flipping well crack on.
A couple of the locals were builders, and there was a surveyor, a painter and decorator, an electrician, and plenty of people who were handy with mops, buckets, sewing machines and a kettle.
Alyssa was soon in her element, organising the slackers, making lists, tramping up and down ladders, moving rubbish and scrubbing.
If nothing else, it was a more appealing workout than pretending to like yoga in a sweaty pair of leggings.
Time flew so effortlessly that she forgot to look at her phone or worry about sharing photos.
She briefly considered calling Devan, but she’d got roped into learning how to change a floorboard, and it helped to have space to process her tricky memories of the hall.
He was a grown man, and it was a small enough town that if there had been a catastrophe, they’d know about it.
Alyssa took a moment to assess the scene, as she sneaked one of Sausage Sandra’s butties with a cup of her mum’s cold tea.
Was her aim to bring people together actually working?
Of course, it would take more than one day and a bucket of Mr Muscle.
But she could hear laughter and see people of all ages pulling together.
Was that a strange sense of pride she was feeling?
She’d be wearing a knitted cape and a self-love badge, at this rate.
‘Thanks for suggesting this,’ said Sylvie, tentatively coming over.
Alyssa had seen her across the room at various points throughout the day but had felt awkward and strangely nervous about approaching her, even though she’d pinged a last-minute text to Sylvie the evening before to say she hoped to see her here today.
It had been the first time she’d used the number Sylvie had given her.
Other than that, Alyssa hadn’t been in touch with her since their chat in the retirement home ladies’ toilets.
Maybe it was stupid, but she felt guilty and foolish for running out on Sylvie all those years ago – even though she’d thought she had good reason.
Could she trust herself to be a decent friend now?
What experience had she had, and what if she was leaving again anyway? And what about Emmalina?
Sylvie had brought some of the residents from Clucky Ducks Retirement, who were busy cutting out triangles for bunting.
‘I know the past was a mess,’ said Sylvie, looking at Alyssa with those big brown eyes, a pencil tucked behind her ear and her apron on backwards to try and hide some of the tea stains. ‘But can we …’
‘Start again?’ they both said, at the same time. Alyssa resisted the urge to say ‘jinx’ like they used to. She could tell from Sylvie’s smile that she was thinking the same.
They both nodded and Sylvie linked arms with Alyssa’s and gave it a squeeze, as though a lot of weird years hadn’t passed.
‘I can definitely see more love in the town today.’ Sylvie lowered her voice. ‘And feel it.’ She nodded towards Jess Halfpenny from the shop. ‘Did you know ’Appy Together has paired us? I didn’t realise we had so much in common. She’s such a cutie.’
‘Wow, that’s incredible,’ said Alyssa, feeling the good vibes inside her swell. ‘She is a cutie. And a genuine sweetheart too.’
‘Yep. Can’t wait to check out her tango moves.’ Sylvie giggled, like they were both still teenagers.
It had worked out well that Alyssa and Devan’s current love task was to learn to dance the tango, because it had inspired the first event they would hold at the hall – a tango night.
She and Devan had started their lessons already, even though she felt nervous about doing a demonstration on the big night, and she wasn’t sure she’d be getting on that stage.
The app wanted them to experience fun and closeness, although getting close to Devan with the intensity of the dance and all eyes on them would be a lot, when she was pretending to the world that the app wasn’t making her fall for him.
‘Emmalina really wants to meet you,’ Sylvie said gently. ‘She wanted to come today, but she had football practice. She wants to be a coach. Football, not love.’
‘That’s amazing. Though I’m really not sure …’
‘Devan told her you weren’t ready to get too comfortable here, because you weren’t sure if you were staying.
She said to tell you she’s not sure she’ll be sticking around either, when her coaching career takes off – unless this place perks up and gets a decent football team.
’ Sylvie laughed. ‘In her own words, she’d love to check out that ice-cream place in Taybury with you and Devan, followed by a shopping trip with me and you.
Apparently, she wants advice on tango night outfits, and I only ever wear boring jeans. But seriously – no pressure.’
‘Wow. They say what they think, these pre-teens,’ said Alyssa, adding a quick reassurance that her friend’s jeans and jumper combo looked great.
‘And Emmalina sounds like quite the organiser. She could probably teach me a thing or two about being a coach. I … I’ll think about it.
’ It was a big step, and Alyssa didn’t want to mess people around while her emotions were still so new.
‘Whatever you decide, I trust you,’ said Sylvie, echoing Devan’s sentiments. ‘Even if you don’t yet trust yourself. Fresh start, OK?’
How did her old friend see right into her, like she barely had to say a word? Though trusting and being trusted were two huge weights.
Sylvie pulled her into the biggest hug, which almost made a sob shoot up her throat. Because one hug from a real-life friend was worth a million virtual ones from total strangers.
Then the door swung open.