Chapter 41
FLORENCE
Clark’s right – we need to enjoy what little time we have left on earth. I should be crying or in the depths of despair, but weirdly, I feel calmer than I have felt in a long time.
‘Hang on,’ I say as he grabs my hand and pulls me out of the house. ‘Do you have any food we can cook?’
He grins. ‘Earlier, Pearl’s supermarket delivery came, and she realised she’d bought too much meat. She gave a load to me. We’re going to feed the cul-de-sac.’
I gasp. ‘Are you sure?’
He laughs. ‘Yes, come on. It’s time to party.’
‘But… events like this need planning and…’
‘Florence,’ he says, ‘the best things in life are unplanned. Trust me.’
This is madness. We are going to each house in turn in the cul-de-sac to invite them all to an evening garden party at Clark’s house.
Jane opens her door and when she hears about our impromptu party plan, a huge grin spreads across her face. ‘This is a great idea. I haven’t made tea yet as I was being lazy. Sunday evenings are for mingling and hot dogs.’
Clark nods. ‘Give me half an hour and come over. Bring Jack.’
Her smile falters. ‘He’s in a mood but I’m sure I can tempt him with food.’
Laura jumps up and down like an excited child when she hears about our idea. ‘Ronan might pop by – would that be all right?’
I nod. ‘Bring Molly and I can keep an eye on her if you decide to whisk Ronan away.’
Sam loves our invite. ‘I’ll come now and help if you want,’ he suggests. ‘I’m at a loose end, and I need to get out.’
‘Come on, Sam,’ says Clark. ‘Let’s go and have some fun.’
We stop at Pearl’s house and her face lights up at the sound of a party. ‘Will there be wine?’ she asks, making us laugh.
‘And hot dogs,’ I say.
‘Just wine for me,’ she says. ‘I’ll be over in a sec. Let me go and make myself look beautiful.’
Once we’re inside Clark’s house, he stops me by Dad’s photo. ‘Ring your mum and invite her and Steve.’
‘What? I don’t think I’m ready for Steve, and anyway, they’re off on holiday tomorrow.’ I then remember the afterlife’s message. ‘Oh, God, Mum will be away when…’
Clark kisses me as panic starts to engulf me. His warm lips find mine, and he pulls me close. When we break for air, he plants a kiss on the end of my nose. ‘Call your mum.’ He takes out his phone. ‘I’ll call mine too but I’m not hopeful.’
‘Okay – I will call Mum.’
‘I’m also inviting the lads.’
I let out a groan. ‘Does that mean Bread is coming?’
Clark nods. ‘He might try to invite the woman he met at karaoke who he’s in love with.’
‘Bread and love were not a good combo when we were at school. I remember when he had a thing for Tia from the hockey team and tried to be a stowaway on their hockey tour so he could get with her. He got caught and was dropped off at the first motorway services.’
‘My mum went to pick him up. And in the end, Tia got off with one of the lads from another school. Bread was gutted. Minty will want to come too, so I’d best cook a lot of meat.’
‘This will be quite an evening.’
He slips his arm around my waist. ‘It will be the best because I can kiss you.’
Clark was right about the best things being unplanned. This impromptu barbecue is great. The sky has turned a soft late-May lavender colour, and the kind that makes everyone look like a cinematic Instagram filter has been slid over them.
Sam is on the barbeque and he’s doing a great job.
Minty bought with him a large speaker, which we have placed outside, and the air is filled with funky jazz tunes.
Laura and Molly bought a bowl of strawberries and a tub of ice cream, and when Jane and Jack arrived, they were clutching a salad she’d quickly made.
Clark’s back garden is small but intimate.
I put up fairy lights around the fence, which looks across his garden decking, and the air is filled with the scent of sausages and charred burgers, and the sound of Pearl’s laughter, relaxing background music and Molly’s phone, which is playing a TikTok video.
I can’t believe what Clark and I have created. It feels nice to be around everyone.
‘Hello, Florence,’ says Mum as I whirl around. The first thing I notice is that those gold earrings from the nineties are back. She’s wearing a little makeup and she’s smiling. Standing next to her is a small guy with a bald head and a friendly face.
I outstretch my hand. ‘You must be Steve. I’m Florence.’
Mum looks like she’s about to burst with happiness.
‘I’ve heard a lot about you, Florence,’ Steve says.
Clark appears and drapes his arm over my shoulder, which makes my mother gasp. ‘What is this?’ she asks, staring at how I’ve leaned into Clark.
‘I’ve finally realised that Clark is who I want to be with,’ I gush.
My mum lets out an ear-piercing shriek. ‘I knew this day would come. Oh, how wonderful.’ She turns to Steve.
‘These two have been squabbling since they were six years old. They never stopped quarrelling. We had family holidays with his family and these two would always be shouting and screaming at each other. My entire time on holiday would be spent yelling at Florence to stop annoying Clark. His mum would do the same in reverse, but it made no difference. Within five minutes they’d be at each other’s throats again.
I’d go back to work with noise still ringing in my ears and looking forward to some peace and quiet. ’
‘Mum,’ I exclaim, ‘we were not that bad.’
She snorts with laughter. ‘Florence, trust me, you and Clark were a nightmare.’
My face is reddening with embarrassment.
Clark chuckles and jokingly says, ‘It was all Florence’s fault. She used to pick on me.’
Mum’s eyebrows rocket up her head. ‘Clark Fielding, you little liar. You wouldn’t stop playing tricks on her.
You knew she didn’t like spiders so you would chase her with them in your hand or put them in her sleeping bag.
One camping holiday I remember you dressing up as a ghost and terrifying her in the small hours.
The whole campsite awoke to Florence screaming. ’
I glance up at him and he grins. ‘At least we kept all you adults on your toes.’
‘Harry used to say that one day you two would fall madly in love. He used to say that even though you did nothing but argue, you couldn’t keep away from each other, and that was a sign. He would be so happy to see you together and relieved the bickering has finally stopped.’
We all chuckle, and Steve outstretches his hand to Clark. ‘Nice to see you again.’
Clark shakes his hand. ‘You too, Steve.’
I look at Clark.
‘Your dad and I used to play snooker at Steve’s place.’
‘Really?’
Steve nods. ‘Harry was a good guy. I miss his laughter and his rubbish jokes.’
Mum laughs and I suddenly realise that Dad won’t be forgotten. He’s still living on inside all of us.
Sam waves me over. ‘The food is nearly gone.’
‘You’ve done a great job, Sam.’
I turn away and wander to the back of Clark’s garden.
My mind keeps reminding me that this time tomorrow we will be preparing for the worst. Tears prick my eyes.
What will Mum do? I glance back and I spot her leaning against Steve.
His arm is around her waist and he’s gazing adoringly at her.
He seems a nice man and Dad knew him so I hope he will be there for her.
I don’t think Mum was telling me the truth when she told me there were no romantic feelings between them.
My eyes wander over to Laura, who is making Molly laugh. The sight of them both having a nice time and Laura not obsessed with her phone is a pleasing one, and a warm feeling engulfs me. They will be okay. Maybe Mum will even let Laura manage the café for a while.
‘Hey,’ says Clark, putting his arms around me. ‘Are you okay?’
I turn to him and he spots my watery eyes. With his thumb he wipes my damp cheeks. ‘No sadness, Florence.’
‘I can’t help it.’ Pressing my face into his shoulder, I let my tears stream and dampen his shirt.
He strokes my hair and kisses my head. ‘I will hold your hand and we will be okay.’
My plan for a bookish-themed wedding appears in my head. ‘There are things I will never get to experience.’
He pulls me closer. ‘Maybe the afterlife could supply us with a whiteboard?’
I lift my face from his shoulder. ‘Why?’
‘So you can draw me pictures of what our book-themed wedding would have looked like.’
I gasp. ‘You remembered? If we had lived and got married, would you have let me organise us a bookish wedding?’
He kisses me on the lips. ‘Yes, of course. Although I would be hoping you would wear the warrior queen outfit – sexy corset and sword.’
We both giggle.
‘Come on, Florence, no more tears. We are going to have the time of our afterlife up there in our little celestial bedsit.’
His words make me love him even more.
I remember that he phoned his mum. ‘Wait – your mum. Has she not come?’
He shakes his head. ‘She said I was the last person she wanted to talk to. You know Mum and her grudges. I tried to make it sound like tonight was a big thing for me but she hung up.’
‘I’m sorry.’
With a shrug, he says, ‘Her loss. I invited her. That’s the main thing.’
We stand for a few moments, watching all our friends enjoy the barbecue. I lean against him and he strokes my hair.
A thought pushes its way to the front of my mind. ‘Children – would you have wanted them?’
‘Of course. If we couldn’t have them for whatever reason that would be okay too as we would have cat children.’
I let out a groan. ‘Cats – really?’
He nods. ‘Or dogs. Our house would have been a noisy but happy place.’
I look at him. ‘I love you, Clark Fielding.’
‘I love you, Florence Hill.’