Chapter Twenty-Nine
The night before Juan returned to Spain was a gamechanger for me.
‘He’s staying the night,’ Lisa announced, during our lunch hour. ‘Juan is leaving England tomorrow. I’m distraught. So, I’ve made that decision. I want to wake up with my boyfriend beside me,’ she said dramatically. Her chin wobbled like a jelly in an earthquake. ‘And anyway, it’s about time you met him.’
‘Right-oh,’ I warbled. ‘So, um, I take it you don’t mind if I stay in tonight too?
‘Oh,’ she said. Her brow furrowed as she worked out the logistics of her housemate’s presence while having hot sex. ‘Well, I suggest you meet Juan first, then go for a walk. Give us a few hours, as previously. Just be aware that, this time, he’ll still be there when you get back. But we should have, you know’ – she flashed a meaningful look – ‘be finished by then, so hopefully won’t disturb you.’
‘Excellent,’ I quavered.
That evening, Juan arrived bearing two bouquets. One for his girlfriend. The other for the gooseberry occupying his girlfriend’s sofa.
‘For you, Teely,’ he said gallantly, before thrusting the flowers up my nose.
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘That’s very kind.’
But I might as well have been talking to myself. His attention was already divested in Lisa.
I took a moment to surreptitiously study him. Juan was only a little taller than my bestie, but broad in stature. He was attractive in a dark-haired spaniel-eyed way. He was now giving Lisa all the smoulders.
‘For you, cari?o ,’ he said huskily, presenting her with a dozen red roses.
Lisa instantly melted like ice-cream in a heatwave. She endlessly simpered and giggled. At one point she sounded like a hyena that had sucked on a helium balloon. Juan didn’t seem to notice. It was obvious that the pair of them were besotted with each other.
Lisa rustled up a risotto for the three of us. I gamely made conversation throughout the meal, but they hardly touched their food. Mostly they appeared to be mentally undressing each other over the bowl of parmesan.
Now and again Juan managed to take his eyes off Lisa long enough to answer my nervous chatter. Yes, he liked being a lorry driver. No, long distances didn’t bother him. Yes, the risotto was gorgeous. Just like the cook. Although neither the cook nor he had made any further headway with their meal. They continued gazing into each other’s eyes, lost in love. Or lust. Or maybe a bit of both.
Leaving them to marvel at each other, I forked up my dinner faster than Cindy eating a rare steak. Two things were of vital importance. First, eat. Second, leave the maisonette. As swiftly as possible.
‘Mm, that was delicious ,’ I said loudly.
Neither of them replied. I was talking to myself. Juan and Lisa were emotionally elsewhere. The zingers scorching back and forth between them were enough to induce a giant peri-menopausal hot flush.
‘Phew,’ I said, picking up my serviette. I ineffectually flapped it about. ‘Lovely meal. Very… warming. I think I’ll cool off by taking Cindy for a walk.’
I looked from Juan to Lisa. Zero response. They were totally lost in each other.
‘Right, I’ll be off then. See you later. Um, you know, much later,’ I added.
After all, I didn’t want either of them thinking that I’d be back in ten minutes. The last thing I wanted was to find them stripped down to their undies… Lisa sprawled across the table... wine glasses knocked over… liquid dripping to the floor… squashed risotto all over the place.
‘Er, laters,’ I trilled.
I watched, momentarily transfixed, as the pair of them began, almost in slow motion, to lean towards each other. A lip lock was imminent. Juan’s left hand was already gravitating towards Lisa’s breast. Eeep ! Get me out of here.
I stood up and, in my haste to get away, promptly knocked over my chair. Whistling for Cindy, I nearly tripped over her, failing to see her already at my heels.
Mum! What are those two DOING?
If it was possible for a dog to boggle, then I swear the one at my side was doing just that.
‘Never you mind what they’re doing,’ I said under my breath.
Seconds later, the pair of us had crashed out of the maisonette.
Outside, it was way too cold to walk. I opened Octavia’s passenger door. Cindy hopped in. Seconds later, the little car’s engine roared into life. I spun the wheel, and we shot backwards – thankfully there was nobody behind us – then I hit the accelerator.
Without a second thought, I set off in the direction of Starlight Croft. No, I wasn’t going to stalk Milo Soren. Or make pithy banter with him. Nor was I going to exchange eyerolls with his snooty dog.
Right now, I just wanted to retreat. Have a quiet drink. Sit by a lit wood burner. Stare aimlessly at the dancing flames within. And try and work out where the hell I was going in my life. Because one thing was for sure. Juan might be going to Spain in the morning, but he would return. It was only a matter of when.
As I drove up the steep hill that eventually would become Starlight Street, Octavia’s headlights swept over the numerous hedgerows. The twin beams picked out squat bushes and the sweeping curves of the singletrack lane.
It was on a particularly narrow bend that I made the decision to abandon the idea of looking for a house to buy. The whole thing would take far too long. I needed an alternative solution. It was more sensible to find something instantly available. Like a room to rent. There must be someone, somewhere, looking to rent out their spare bedroom. Perhaps an empty nester, glad to have some company. Or maybe a pensioner, looking for extra cash to help with the winter bills.
Decision made, I instantly felt happier. Lighter. Parking outside the Starlight Arms, I switched off Octavia’s engine, then walked towards the entrance with Cindy.
The door creaked back on its hinges as I swiftly glanced around. Oh, lovely! The wood burner was loaded with kindling and logs. It crackled and popped, soothing me like a comfort blanket. I decided to order a hot chocolate and cadge some biscuits for my pooch.
As I headed towards the bar, my heart skipped a beat. For there, chatting with Polly the barmaid, was Milo Soren.