Chapter 36
CLARK
I kissed her. She turned to me after we’d read the message and I got lost in her beauty.
Her caramel hair that frames her face, her honey-dipped eyes, those thick black lashes, and those plump lips.
Kissing Florence Hill felt like a firework display was taking place inside my chest. The kiss was special and something I will always remember for the rest of my days – even if those days are very limited.
We sat on her sofa cuddled for ages. When I left to go home, she pulled me in for another kiss and I knew I would have a sleepless night thinking about her.
We’re now on our way to Pixie Cove. Pearl is in the back of my car.
I can’t believe Florence has closed the café and given Laura an unexpected day off.
I glance at Pearl via the driver’s mirror. She looks tense and nervous. No matter how many times we reassure her about Mr Beaver, there’s still a little part of her that’s worried about seeing him again after all these years.
Florence is busy flicking through the radio stations, needing something to listen to.
An idea pops into my head. ‘Jane’s second episode should be out by now. We could listen to that.’
Florence grins. ‘Perfect. Let me find it.’
As the melody of Jane’s intro music fills the car, Pearl casts us both a worried look. ‘What’s this?’
‘Jane across the road has made a podcast,’ explains Florence. ‘It’s about lonely hearts.’
Pearl looks a bit bewildered. ‘Good heavens, who would want to listen to a load of lonely souls?’
‘You’d be surprised,’ I reply, keeping my eyes fixed on the road ahead. ‘Her first episode did really well.’
‘It’s good, Pearl,’ says Florence reassuringly as Jane’s voice comes through the car speakers.
‘“Welcome to The Lonely-Hearts Podcast. In each episode, I read out anonymous letters from lonely hearts, hoping that one day they’ll find the courage to break free from their loneliness…”’
Florence turns back around. ‘I’m looking forward to this.’
‘“On this week’s show, we are going to be hearing from BlueSpottedUnicorn, who is lonely after his boyfriend walked out and got full custody of their much-loved pet. We will also be hearing from SecretSpeedoLover, who is lonely in her large house after the death of her husband. She’s found love again, but her daughter doesn’t want her to move on.
Finally, we will be hearing from TheLonelyMechanic who cries while he mends cars. ”’
I glance at Pearl, who, to my surprise, looks like she’s listening intently. Florence is looking down at her hands, and I can’t see her expression. I wonder whether she will recognise her mum.
After Jane reads out the email from BlueSpottedUnicorn I spot Pearl shaking her head in the back.
‘Are you okay, Pearl?’
‘That poor man sounds like he’s going through some dark times. I could feel the love he has for that pet rat coming through in his words. Deary me – I want to give him a hug.’
Florence nods. ‘That was sad. Poor guy.’
Jane reads out Yvonne’s email, and I make sure I don’t look at Florence.
It’s quite heartfelt, and the way she speaks of Harry leaving a crater-sized hole in her heart makes me feel emotional.
She talks about how her new man has brought the sun back into life.
He’s kind and makes her laugh. The part about how she’s struggling to tell her daughter how lonely she’s feeling hits hard.
I steal a glance at Florence, who’s glaring at the radio.
Something tells me she knows the identity of SecretSpeedoLover.
I remain silent as Jane moves on to read a lengthy email from TheLonelyMechanic, who misses the woman who used to work for him in his garage’s reception.
She was a fan of floral air fresheners and always made the place smell nice.
He also loved the cups of tea she made and her home-made jam tarts.
At the end, he acknowledges that it was a missed opportunity as she moved to Ireland to look after her sick mother.
I glance at Pearl, who is busy dabbing her eyes. ‘That poor man weeping underneath all those cars,’ I hear her mutter. It looks like Jane has a new podcast fan.
Florence has a thunderous look on her face and has taken out her phone.
‘You okay?’ I ask.
She shakes her head. ‘I think Mum wrote into Jane’s show.’
‘Really?’
‘The second email was hers. She was referring to me as the one who was stopping her from moving on. I don’t know why she had to email a podcast show.’
‘Have you talked to her?’
She rolls her eyes. ‘Of course I have talked to her, it’s only been three years since Dad died. Everything feels a bit too soon. She’s rushing into this friendship with Steve.’
‘Is this to do with you missing your dad rather than your mum’s emotions?’
Something flickers across her amber eyes. ‘You wouldn’t understand.’
She looks out of the passenger window.
‘Florence, I know what it feels like when a parent moves on. My dad left my mum for another woman.’
We ride in silence for some time, but eventually I catch Florence glancing at me. Her tense shoulders have relaxed a little and I can sense all the fight gone out of her. ‘I’m sorry, Clark,’ she says. ‘You do understand. I should not have said that.’
I reach over and give her hand a squeeze. ‘I know.’
As we drive through Pixie Cove, I can hear Pearl’s sobs fill the air. ‘It still looks the same,’ she croaks. ‘It hasn’t lost its beauty or charm.’
Today, the sky is grey, and sinister rain clouds lurk on the horizon, but Pixie Cove still looks picturesque and quaint.
As we get nearer to Mr Beaver’s cottage, Florence casts me a nervous glance. Anxiety creeps over me. Pearl is not only my neighbour but she’s a dear friend. I am very protective of her, and I don’t want Mr Beaver to upset her.
‘It’s going to be okay, Pearl,’ says Florence, reaching through the seats and holding Pearl’s hand. ‘We don’t have to stay long if it gets too much.’
‘Thank you both,’ she says, dabbing her eyes. ‘I’m crying already and I haven’t even laid eyes on him yet.’
‘How long ago did you last see Mr Beaver?’
‘Well, I am seventy-five and I started dancing with Rodney when I was sixteen. We were partners first, and then we fell in love. I was twenty when my boss proposed. So, that would be fifty-three years.’
Wow. I can’t help but be floored by the strength of their love, after all that time.
I pull up outside Mr Beaver’s cottage. ‘Here we are, Pearl.’
She looks out of her window. ‘He said he would wait for me in Pixie Cove.’
‘Do you want to get out?’ All I can think about is how reuniting Rodney and Pearl could be the big thing we have building up to. This could give us a pass tonight. This reuniting of lost souls could mean Florence and I might finally get our lives back – for good.
‘No, Clark,’ says Pearl as my heart comes to a shuddering halt. ‘I can’t do it.’
Florence gasps and turns to Pearl. ‘But we have come all this way?’
Her voice is tinged with panic. The pressure of passing this test is bearing down on both of us.
‘Come on, Pearl,’ I say. ‘Just say hello to him.’
She shakes her head. ‘It will spoil the dream – the image of Rodney that I have inside my head. I can’t do it. What happened between us all those years ago should stay in the past. Please take me home.’
‘Are you sure?’ Florence asks, outstretching her hand for Pearl’s.
She nods, before giving Florence her hand. ‘I want to go home.’
Florence looks at her and says softly, ‘We will do whatever you want, Pearl.’
But I can feel the disappointment emanating from her. Florence hangs her head as I turn the car around.
‘Why don’t we stop for a cup of tea and some cake?’ I suggest, desperate for one last attempt at turning this around.
Pearl shakes her head. ‘I’m sorry. I want to go home.’