Chapter 33
Tess didn’t hear from Hannah that day or over the course of the following days, so she wasn’t in the mood for her planned meet-up with Gina and Suzy in Bramlingham, for a visit to a comedy club.
‘Look, Gina, why don’t you both come to me instead and I’ll make us some supper. I’ll feel more comfortable that way, just in case any news comes through about Hannah.’
It also meant it would give her something to occupy herself with so that she wasn’t spending the day fretting. At the last minute too, she popped next door to ask Dilly if she wanted to join them, who accepted the invitation eagerly.
That night, when the four of them gathered around Tess’s island, drinking the Pimm’s that she’d prepared earlier, garnished with fresh mint from the garden, she felt buoyed by her friends’ presence, especially as they were doing their best to reassure her about Hannah.
‘Honestly, she’ll be having the best time. I reckon she’ll have just completely overlooked the fact that she’s got parents and then when she remembers, she’ll be absolutely mortified and you’ll receive a flurry of apologetic messages.’
Tess really hoped that Gina was right, but it helped her to know that they all believed that Hannah would be having a glorious time and she really had no need to worry.
‘I sometimes think that the fact that everyone’s so easily reachable these days makes it harder for us to manage when we can’t get hold of someone for whatever reason.
I mean, in our day if we went off on holiday, or anywhere come to that, then that would mean no contact with home for the entire week or fortnight, bar a postcard if they were lucky,’ Dilly said.
‘We’re all too reliant on our phones and devices these days, even us old fogeys,’ said Suzy.
‘Err, excuse us,’ said Gina with mock outrage. ‘We are definitely not old fogeys, but you’re right. I’m absolutely lost without my phone.’
‘Well, you can’t do anything without your phone these days: make a doctor’s appointment, book tickets for anything, park your car or even go on a date, so I’m told,’ said Dilly with a glint in her eye.
‘Oh, talking of dates,’ said Gina, ‘we need to know everything there is to know about the sexy sounding Nico!’
Tess shook her head, ignoring the question with a dismissive look. ‘Actually, I think we’re about ready for supper. Why don’t you all go across to the table and I’ll bring it over. Do you want to pour the wine, Suzy?’
Tess had prepared a red onion, red pepper and goat’s cheese quiche with a rocket and watercress salad and some warm baked rolls, which were greeted with appreciative noises as she brought the food across to the table.
‘Right, do tuck in,’ she said to her guests as she took a sip from her wine, able to relax amongst her friends.
‘This is a proper treat,’ said Dilly. ‘Thanks for including me. You’ve all been so lovely and welcoming.’
‘Oh, don’t let them fool you,’ said Tess with a wide grin. ‘They seem quite normal and friendly, but they’re on their best behaviour tonight, and honestly, once you get to know them properly, you’ll discover what they’re really like and all their very peculiar habits.’
‘Well, you can talk, darling,’ said Gina. ‘You’re one of us and any questionable traits that we might have, you’ll have as well. You probably just don’t recognise it in yourself.’
Dilly laughed, enjoying the good-natured teasing between the friends.
‘It’s great to be in such a close friendship group, though. You’ve known each other since your children were small, is that right?’
‘Yes,’ said Suzy. ‘We’ve seen each other through the early school years, swimming classes, sports days, all the dreaded tests and exams, and then the traumatic teenage years too.
These girls have been there for me every step of the way, through all the good times and the bad ones too, especially when I lost my husband, Martin. ’
Tess stretched her arm across the table to squeeze Suzy’s hand in support.
‘You’ve been there for us as well, though,’ said Gina.
‘And the great thing is that we can now support each other through this next chapter in our lives. We’re all single, our kids are making their own way in the world.
This is our time now. The world is our oyster!
’ Gina flung her arms into the air dramatically.
‘We should have a toast to that. We’re the three musketeers!
All for one and…’ Gina stopped herself, her gaze landing on Dilly.
‘Scrap that, we’re the four musketeers now.
You can be an honorary member, Dilly. All for one and one for all!
’ cried Gina, raising her glass to the air.
The others followed suit before there was an eruption of warm-hearted laughter, and Tess felt truly grateful to have these amazing and supportive women in her life.
‘So come on, Tess, we can’t let you get away with not telling us all about Nico. You went out on one date with him and then what…?’
‘Ah well…’ Tess exchanged a conspiratorial glance with Dilly. ‘It was a very lovely date, and he’s a very nice guy…’
‘I can vouch for that,’ piped up Dilly. ‘I met him when he turned up here on his bike. He was a vision in tight black Lycra.’
‘Ooh blimey,’ said Suzy, ‘the mind boggles.’
Tess burst out laughing. ‘Oh, stop it. I think it was the Lycra that did for me. No really, Nico’s lovely and I really want to keep him as a friend, but that’s as far as it will go.
When you think about it, it’s not actually very long since Charles and I separated,’ she said with a wry smile.
‘There’s absolutely no need for me to rush into anything new.
I spoke to Nico today and explained where I was at, and he understood entirely.
We’re going to meet for a coffee next week. ’
She’d done some soul-searching over her feelings towards Nico.
He’d been keen to go on a second date, but she hadn’t wanted to give him the wrong idea, for him to think that she would be interested in a romantic relationship when she wasn’t.
Although she hoped they could continue to develop their relationship as good buddies because they got on fabulously and Tess sensed they could be a great support to each other.
She suspected her feelings for Nico had been muddied by her unresolved feelings for Rob too.
She gave a fleeting thought to him now, hoping he was doing well in the new job, recognising that she was missing him from the emptiness she felt inside her chest, which she found totally bizarre.
Had she misplaced her feelings for her husband and attached them to the kindred spirit who had taken up residence in the grounds of her home and in her heart too?
‘I’m proud of you for going on the date in the first place, though,’ Gina said. ‘I know you weren’t keen. It’s good practice for next time, with some other guy, if you want there to be a next time, of course.’
Tess wasn’t certain that she did.
‘And if you don’t, well that’s absolutely fine too, because remember you’ve got your friends, and really, isn’t that all that matters?’