Chapter 6
Nora didn’t have many close friends. Primary school had been a bit patchy in terms of friendships.
Quite a few in her class seemed to be mates with others because their mums chatted at school pick-up time.
Nobody spoke to Una at school pick-up. At that stage her English had been improving but her accent was obvious.
Discussions in class about simple things like what everyone had had for tea were baffling to a child who had no idea what a spaghetti hoop was, let alone eaten one.
The few friends Nora had made went on to a different secondary school.
When the popular girls at her school found out she was a maths geek, that was the final straw and she was singled out for seven years of misery.
So it was a revelation to Nora that she’d found people she called friends at Crafting and Cocktails and she was always pleased when it came around.
Nora was focusing on her knitting because with her dad’s birthday fast approaching she really needed to get the jumper finished.
Renee’s expert eyes would definitely help with the couple of issues she’d encountered.
She’d somehow ended up with the wrong number of stitches at the end of a row so daren’t go any further until it was resolved.
Dixie had set up the cocktails and after a brief welcome hug Nora was already taking a sip. ‘It’s like a slushy but for grown-ups. Very nice,’ said Nora, taking it to her seat.
‘It’s a Fuzzy Navel,’ said Dixie. ‘I had to freeze it for four hours.’
Jay and Renee arrived together and after a quick run-through of the cocktail ingredients they all sat down.
‘How’s the van?’ asked Nora. ‘I didn’t see it outside.’ Dixie usually drove as she had the cocktail ingredients and didn’t like walking along the road, clinking.
‘It’s not good for the environment to drive everywhere,’ said Dixie, avoiding eye contact.
‘Is this your vintage campervan?’ asked Jay. ‘Nora told me all about it and I think it’s a wonderful idea.’
‘Thank you,’ said Dixie. ‘It’s not running at the moment and fixing things under the bonnet wasn’t the sort of work I was planning to do on it. Mainly because I don’t know anything about vans or cars. Or bikes, to be honest.’ She looked thoroughly dejected.
‘The engine’s not under the bonnet,’ muttered Renee, but she received no response.
‘It’ll still be in warranty so you need to get the garage to sort it out,’ said Jay.
‘That’s the darnedest thing,’ said Dixie. ‘I called them but nobody is answering and I can’t take Elsie to them because she’s too poorly. I guess they’ll pick up eventually.’
‘I’d go down there and make a fuss,’ said Renee. ‘Which garage was it?’
‘It wasn’t local. It was a big one in Yorkshire, but the salesman came all the way here to deliver it, which was kind.’
The others shared knowing looks. ‘What?’ asked Dixie.
Nora felt for Dixie. She was a lovely trusting person but having lived her life in an upper-class bubble she wasn’t the most streetwise. Nora needed to break the bad news. ‘I’m a bit worried that maybe—’
‘It’s a scam!’ butted in Renee. ‘There are some rotters about. Don’t worry.
I’ll have a look at it for you. I know my way around VW campers.
I spent most of the Flower Child Festival in one.
I’ll soon have it back on the road.’ All heads spun in Renee’s direction.
‘What? You don’t think I shared one of those with half the members of The Alan Price Set in sixty-seven? ’
‘I do believe you but sleeping in one is quite different to fixing one,’ said Jay.
‘True, but Robin Gibb would tell you I’m a dab hand with a spanner. If he was still alive, of course. Anyway, do you want me to have a look at it?’ Renee tilted her head at Dixie.
‘Er … yes please,’ said Dixie. ‘When’s good for you?’
‘Well, weekends are at leisure, which means we do sod-all. On Mondays we have armchair Zumba, Tuesday is Singalong Sally (who can’t actually sing a sodding note but that doesn’t stop her), Wednesday’s Mindful Meditation, which is when everyone falls asleep and I play who will fart first, bloody Brain Training Bingo is on Thursday, and Friday is Ninja Jigsaw night. ’
‘Really?’ asked Dixie.
‘OK, I added the Ninja part, it’s just chuffing jigsaws. And I can’t stand any of it so there’s naff-all in my diary – take your pick.’
‘Great. I’ll pop around tomorrow,’ said Dixie.
‘Not too early,’ said Renee. ‘The chiropodist comes on a Friday morning. I don’t have an appointment this week but he’s nice to look at. It brightens up an otherwise piss-poor day.’
Nora shared her knitting with Renee and she did a lot of tutting before declaring it ‘thoroughly ballsed up’. Nora sipped her cocktail while Renee tried to fix it. Nora was a bit down about her dad’s jumper but it was nice to catch up with friends and have a chat.
When their time was up, they packed away, and Nora and Jay said their goodbyes to Dixie and Renee and left them to fine-tune arrangements for Renee to look at the van. ‘Any news on that audition?’ asked Nora.
‘I didn’t get it. I’ve got a couple of auditions coming up, to destroy my already fragile ego again.
So, yay. And the film I did last year where they ran out of money – Undercover Bullets – found some cash from somewhere so it’s in editing.
Mainly because the American actor Tasha Blake was in it and she’s just had a break-out hit. ’
‘Oh, the sexy spy thing with the bloke from that film we watched and the woman that did that series I binged?’ said Nora.
‘I believe that’s exactly how they will describe it in the trailer.’
Nora stuck her tongue out at him, then said, ‘Oh wow! Jay, this is immense. Tell me everything.’
‘But then I’d have to kill you.’ He gave her his Roger Moore eyebrow. And in return she gave him the chilling stare her mother had taught her.
‘Fine,’ he said. ‘It’s an action thriller with a touch of comedy and a sprinkle of romance. Chances are it won’t be a huge smash hit, but my agent is positive about it, which is a weird thing because she rarely is about anything.’
‘Sounds great,’ said Nora as they left the building and began walking back to hers.
‘It also means I’ll be doing some schmoozing and publicity stuff with Tasha and she’s basically a goddess.’
‘Strong words. Does someone have a crush?’ Nora teased.
‘Totally. I’ll not even bother to hide it. She’s a talented actor, utterly gorgeous and supports a donkey sanctuary. Which ticks all my boxes.’
‘Does that make her your number-one celebrity crush then?’ she asked, quite interested in this revelation as Jay never talked about dating or who he fancied.
‘Definitely. My top three would be Margot Robbie, Sophie Turner and Tasha Blake.’
‘Got a bit of a thing for blondes then?’ she asked, given all the women he’d named shared that obvious characteristic as well as being stunningly beautiful.
‘I suppose I do,’ he said thoughtfully.
They walked on a bit. ‘Any news on your, um …’ Jay was tipping his head and raising his eyebrows as he clearly tried to convey something he wasn’t happy to speak about.
‘What?’ asked Nora.
‘The ex-boyfriend project. Or have you decided against tracking them down?’
‘I found Salvador. There are pictures of him with a woman and a baby so I don’t want to contact him if he’s in a relationship. That would be weird.’
‘It’s all quite weird,’ said Jay. Nora shot him a look and he held up his palms. ‘If these guys weren’t what you were looking for the first time around I can’t see how they would be now.’
‘There’s a chance I was a little hasty in the past. I’m not known for my patience.’ Nora knew she could sometimes be quick to judge.
‘What are you looking for in a man? Other than someone who looks like Timothée Chalamet.’
‘I actually lean more towards the Viking look, if I’m honest. Jason Momoa, Chris Hemsworth in his Thor phase, The Rock or—’
‘Yep, got the picture,’ said Jay. ‘Apart from looking like a marauding Scandinavian, what qualities are important to you?’
‘Good question.’ Nora gave it some thought as they walked in step along Dalby Road. ‘I like a man who knows his mind and will stand up to me. I can be a bit belligerent sometimes and I need someone who will call me on it but at the same time not piss me off.’
‘So an alpha male then.’
‘Not necessarily, although I guess a beta isn’t going to confront me. But I also want someone who is kind, funny and an animal-lover.’
‘Those things are more important than being solvent?’
‘Definitely. As long as he’s not sponging off me I don’t care what he earns but I do think someone who cares about animals has a good honest soul. And they’d need to love Oliver obviously.’
‘Obviously.’
‘On that note, I’m going on a course with work in a couple of weeks. I’ll feed Oliver before I go but do you think you could pop in and check on him please? I’d ask Dixie but she gets freaked out that his eyes look in different directions at the same time.’
Jay laughed. ‘As long as I’ve not had the phone call and been whisked off to Hollywood in a private jet to star in a multi-million-pound blockbuster alongside Margot Robbie, or absolutely anyone really, I’m not fussy.’
‘I love that you have standards,’ she said, giving him a nudge.
*
Dixie had only ever gone past Brinkley Place Retirement Village on her way to the village hall so it was a new experience to press the buzzer for Renee’s flat. Known locally as Wrinkly Place, it had a reputation as being at the luxury end of retirement living.
‘Welcome to Mozzarella Fellas Pizza. Can I take your order?’
Dixie faltered for a second. ‘Renee, is that you?’
‘Of course it’s me, you silly beggar! Come on in. Lifts or stairs on your right, I’m on the second floor, number twenty-two.’
‘Right, and do you buzz me—’
A click from the intercom and a buzzing sound from the door answered her question.
Dixie wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting inside but having visited her great-nanna in a nursing home some years previously she had prepared herself for the lingering smell of bleach with a hint of urine.
But what she was met by was something more akin to a Jo Malone candle.
She had a quick look in a room to her left where the door was wide open and was impressed by the comfy-looking sofas and rows of filled bookshelves.
She took the stairs to find Renee in her doorway wearing denim dungarees and waving at her.
Dixie waved back and noted the thick carpet underfoot as she made her way to number twenty-two.
‘Drink first and then work? Or the other way around?’ asked Renee, ushering Dixie into a small, bright pink hallway.
‘By drink, do you mean alcohol?’ asked Dixie, walking through to a good-sized living room painted entirely in lime green.
‘Nooo, don’t be daft. I was thinking a small G&T would set us up. What do you say?’ Renee picked up a bottle from the top of a 1930s sideboard.
‘If we get Elsie going, I’ll need to drive her to get petrol.’ Dixie dangled the keys. ‘And there’s a taxi waiting outside. Although there’s no rush,’ she added hastily.
Renee looked disappointed for a moment. ‘Oh well, I’ll pop a few in a flask in case of emergency.’
Dixie had a little browse while Renee sloshed alcohol into a Thermos. ‘Your home is really nice,’ she said. ‘I love the colours.’
‘I can’t stand sodding magnolia, and it’s a bonus to think that after I’ve pegged it it’ll take someone quite a few coats to cover it up.’
‘Well, I think it’s lovely,’ said Dixie. ‘Shall we head off?’
‘Let me grab my tools and I’ll be right there.’ Renee went to a tall cupboard in the hallway and started rummaging. ‘Here, take this,’ she said, passing a large toolbox to Dixie before reversing out carrying an industrial-looking piece of equipment and wearing a full-face shield.
‘What on earth is that?’ asked Dixie.
‘MIG welder,’ said Renee. She really was full of surprises.
Dixie had explained to Renee what it entailed to be an influencer and that she would be recording Renee working on Elsie for content.
‘OK, hello viewers, I’m Renee and I’m the oldest mechanic in the west.’
‘I’m not recording yet,’ said Dixie. ‘And I was thinking more fly on the wall, not directly to camera.’
Renee looked disappointed as she went to the rear of the van and popped the engine bay open. For a moment Dixie thought she was going to dive inside as she leaned so far over and stuck her face close to the engine. After a lot of tutting Renee declared, ‘It’s not pretty.’
‘But it’s fixable, right?’ Dixie had everything crossed, possibly including a part of her gut, because that was feeling particularly strange.
‘She’s a rhapsody in rust but there’s nothing I can’t weld. It’s the engine I’m most worried about. I’ll do my best but I think it might be, well … buggered.’
‘I had a nasty feeling you might say that, but I’d be grateful if you had a go at repairing her. I really don’t want to have to tell my folks I’ve been scammed … They’ll be so disappointed.’
Renee put an arm around Dixie. ‘I’m sure that’s not the case. Your parents obviously love you. I bet they’re quietly very proud of you.’
‘Hmm, I’ve not done much for them to be proud of. Well, not since being voted Most Adorable at university. That’s why I was hoping this time would be different.’
‘And it will be.’ Renee rolled up her sleeves. ‘Get recording again. I’ll fix Shitty Shitty Bang Bang if it’s the last thing I do.’
Dixie very much hoped it wouldn’t come to that.