Page 15 of Teacakes & Tangos
But why the sudden change? I was glad of it, of course, but it was puzzling...
The only explanation I could think of was that her chat with Rory in the supermarket car park had worked some kind of magic.
They’d been away a long time – far too long to simply be doing Lois’s weekly shop.
‘I was getting worried,’ I’d said to Rory when he arrived back at his place. He’d said he would cook that night, but I’d already let myself into the house and started making a salad to go with the pasta dish by the time he returned. I went into the hall when I heard his key in the door.
‘I couldn’t get hold of you. Is your mobile switched off?’
‘Oh. Sorry,’ he’d said vaguely, looking quite tired and distracted. ‘Yeah, my phone was dead.’ He dug it out of his pocket and slid it onto the hall table.
‘Right. Another hour and I’d have been phoning the hospitals,’ I joked, and I was rewarded with a smile as he hung his jacket on a peg.
‘Sorry,’ he repeated. ‘We... well, Lois was wanting to talk about Mark, you know? So we ended up sitting in the car after she’d done her shopping and having a bit of a heart-to-heart.’
‘Abitof a heart-to-heart!’ I’d chuckled. ‘You were ages. I think you should send my sister a bill for counselling services rendered.’
He laughed at that as he popped his head round the kitchen door. ‘Good idea. Nice salad. I’ll do the pasta.’
‘It’s all ready. Look, why don’t you go and get changed out of your horsey clothes and I’ll stir the sauce into the pasta. Ready in five minutes?’
‘Great.’
I watched him fondly as he went into the bedroom, then automatically, I picked up his phone to charge it. But when I looked at it, I realised it was almost fully charged already.
Not ‘dead’ at all, as Rory had said.
But then I’d smiled to myself. Poor Rory had been having his ear chewed off by Lois for the best part of three hours! That was enough to depleteanyone’sbrain function and make them confused...
Now, I listened to Lois singing as she went into the bathroom for her shower. I’d been pleased but surprised when she’d offered to help me over at the dance centre this morning. She must really be in a good mood!
Maybe Mark had been in touch, wanting them to get back together. I decided I’d probe a little as we drove over to Brambleberry Manor later...
*****
‘What? Get back withthatuseless waste of space? Er, I don’t think so.’ Lois laughed. ‘What on earth made you think that?’
I was driving us both over to Magic of Dance and I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask her about Mark. But by the sound of her reaction to the idea of a reunion, I’d clearly been completely wrong.
I shrugged. ‘You just seem happier these days.’
‘Do I?’ She smiled. ‘Well, that’s good, isn’t it?’
‘Of course it is. So listen, I’m trying out a Dancing in the Dark session this morning at eleven – just with a few people I’ve roped in to be guinea pigs – so do you want to join in?’
‘Erm... not sure I feel like dancing at that time of the morning to be honest. Isn’t there anything in the office you’d like me to do? Spreadsheet work? Finances? I’m good at all that stuff.’
I nodded. ‘You could have a look at my accounts if you like?’ I grimaced. ‘I hate doing all that stuff.’
‘Right. Yes, I’ll do that. No problem.’
I smiled at her. ‘Great. Hey, I like this new Lois. All chirpy and helpful.’
She shrugged lightly. ‘Glad to be of service. I like having a project to get my teeth into.’
When we arrived, I took Lois into the office and logged her onto my laptop so she could look at my rather quirky system for registering invoices and payments. ‘It’s all a little haphazard,’ I apologised, leaning over her shoulder rather anxiously. ‘I suppose the main thing isIunderstand it! But just shout if there’s anything that seems wrong or you don’t understand, okay?’
‘Fine. No problem.’
