Page 39 of The Winter We Met
Tears suddenly threatening, I smiled. ‘So the sloth?’
‘Yes. All gone. Sloths and llamas are still really holding their appeal.’
‘I think the parents like them even more than children. I’ll be lucky to order any more in, at this rate. I think its hammock, with suckers to stick it onto the inside of a car window, have made it a real hit.’
He rubbed his eyes. ‘Yesterday was even busier. I’ll need an early night tonight. At least Angela liked the new window display. Dangling cotton wool balls, to look like snow falling onto the top of that cardboard Christmas cake, so that they ended up looking like icing, was a genius idea of yours. In fact, that’s given me an idea for a special display the week before Christmas …’
It had been great watching Seb’s confidence grow. As he chatted away I tried to focus but Oliver’s comment about Nik missing the last train tonight was distracting me. What if…? My heart hop-skippity-jumped. Nik was just the distraction I needed at the moment to forget about all my problems.
‘So what do you think?’ Seb asked.
‘Huh? Um, sorry. I was miles away.’
He studied me for a minute and grinned. ‘With that wistful look on your face I imagine you are indeed thousands of miles away, on the other side of the planet. How is our tall, distinguished Aussie? When are you seeing him next?’
‘Tonight, as it happens.’
Seb bit into his wrap. ‘Pub? Club? The silver screen?’
‘The small screen. I’ve invited him for dinner.’
Seb suffered a coughing fit and I slapped him on the back.
‘I can’t remember the last time you invited a man around to your place. You’re going to need help.’ He removed the square of kitchen roll from his lunchbox and reached behind his ear for his pen. He scribbled furiously and eventually passed the square to me.
‘Before Tim, when I was on the dating scene, I was always super organised and wrote lists. You’ll thank me for this.
I put down my sandwich and scanned the sheet.
Shave
Nails
Teeth
Music
Lighting
Lingerie
Protection
‘Seb, we’re simply eating together, not even the menu will be this long.’
‘Time’s ticking. A month from now he could be back in Oz. What would Jackie Collins do?’
‘Kick ass,’ I replied automatically. It was an exchange between us Seb always instigated when he thought I needed encouragement.
I was still thinking about that when I got home at five. Oliver had reluctantly agreed he may as well stay out after finishing his shift at six. I took Buddy for a quick walk around the block and fed him when we got back, promising our haste would be worth it because it meant he got to enjoy the company – and cuddles – of a guest for the evening.
I walked past the bathroom mirror and stepped back to take a closer look, chuckling to myself about Seb’s list. However, my eyebrows were a little wild. My skin looked dry and a scrub and floss wouldn’t harm my teeth. Getting paranoid, I pulled off my socks. The nails perhaps needed a slash of red polish and my fingernails would need to match, and I’d got those lacy bra and knickers that I’d bought on a whim, not realising they’d feel super itchy. I stuffed a hand down the top of my jumper and ran a finger across my armpit. It had more stubble than Seb’s chin. I looked at the clock. This was a disaster, I hadn’t got nearly enough time to get ready. Thank goodness I’d got up extra early to prepare a cottage pie. I wanted Nik to sample good old-fashioned English home cooking. For pudding I’d thawed out a rhubarb crumble I’d made in the summer. It was Gran’s favourite fruit and I’d always make a batch when it was in season, for the days she’d come over for lunch and an afternoon movie.
I switched the shower on full-blast and washed my hair. I shaved and shaved again. Then I moisturised from top to toe once back on dry land. I went into my room and lit a lavender scented candle that was supposed to be calming, before filing my toenails. I was just about to apply the red nail varnish I’d bought once, but never used, when I caught sight of a clear lip gloss on my dressing table. It was a present from Oliver. Coconut – my favourite flavour and fragrance as it reminded me of suncream and holidays.
I put the nail varnish down, rummaged in the chest of drawers pushed up against the far pale turquoise wall, and pulled out the lacy bra and knickers. I recalled the last man I’d brought home for dinner. Max was a high-flying executive. We’d met in Misty’s. Seb and I had headed there for happy hour and a chat with Oliver, after a late-night stocktake. For that date, I’d straightened my curls and worn a skirt and high heels. Oliver took a double take when he came through the front door and joked that I looked nothing like my normal self.
His comment got me thinking as he’d grinned and left, warning curly-haired Buddy to watch out if I picked up my straighteners. I ended up changing back into jeans and roughed up my hair – I changed back to just being myself. As it was, Max arrived wearing jeans too – and a guilty conscience. Turned out he had a wife and this was the first time he’d considered cheating. I spent the evening listening to everything that was wrong with his marriage before sending him home early – to her.
