Page 63 of The Winter We Met
Love from
Mum X
29
Been meaning to get in touch?That was the best she could do? Mum was in for a surprise if she thought I was going to provide a response to that – especially after Gran’s recent upsets. Reading this email might tip her over the edge. Seb sensed something was wrong but didn’t quiz me – well, not once he’d established my date had gone well and that Nik and I were still a possibility. Instead he kept me supplied with coffee and biscuits.
Nik had rung first thing to check I was okay. With Oliver out on a date I invited him back to ours for takeout, after the planned crafting session at Willow Court.
‘Count me in,’ he’d said. ‘And I’ll bring the leftover Lamingtons for the residents to try this afternoon.’
‘My waistline says please don’t,’ I’d replied.
I came off the phone feeling brighter and decided I wouldn’t think about Mum’s email for a couple of days.
I’d just enjoyed a gingerbread latte from the coffee shop over the road before leaving for Willow Court. Angela had come in to help and try to get through some paperwork. I’d treated the three of us. Seb had swapped a shift again, so that I could leave at two. Angela didn’t mind as long as I kept on top of the stock and was on call to drop everything and go in if it got super busy or an emergency arose. Grateful, I’d gone to the shop a couple of hours before opening to get ahead with cleaning and replenishing the shelves. I’d hardly slept so it had made no difference to me to get up before the sun did. And when Angela discovered several invoices were missing, I promised to work through my lunch hour tomorrow and search the little office from head to toe.
It didn’t feel like work. I was lucky. Since Angela had started spending less time at Under the Tree I’d put my personal stamp on the office, with a cactus on the windowsill in a plant pot the shape of a Buddha. I’d rearranged the furniture so that there was room for another chair opposite my desk – this made the layout better for when Seb and I brainstormed ideas, away from the temptation of sweet treats in the staff room. I bought a toy aquarium I’d always loved that looked like a live tropical fish tank, to place on top of a filing cabinet. As it needed it anyway, Angela was more than happy for me to give the room a lick of paint and I chose a relaxing pale blue colour. Seb painted motifs of building blocks and teddy bears in the corners, and balloons on the ceiling.
‘You’re seeing Mr Down Under again tonight?’ he asked.
‘How do you manage to make so many things sound rude?’
‘You’ve no time to lose,’ he continued. ‘Isn’t the Christmas party just two weeks today?’
Seb was right. I’d turn off my phone, settle Buddy in Oliver’s room and I’d send my flatmate a reminder not to come back before midnight – although maybe that wasn’t necessary. Maybe Krish would invite him to stay over.
A sense of unease washed over me. She could be The One. Although that could be a good thing and give me the push I needed to sort out my own life. Oliver and I couldn’t share the flat forever. Thirty was looming – a new decade, a time for change. I needed to look at this positively. Oliver couldn’t make it to Willow Court today but would definitely be at Wednesday’s crafting session. He was at Misty’s all afternoon and then heading straight into London to see Krish. We’d cancelled our usual Sunday brunch as I’d wanted to get in early to work, but had met briefly, over bowls of cereal, and he hadn’t mentioned Nik or Mum’s email. However, he did give me a tighter hug than normal and let me have the last of the coffee.
Nik was already at Willow Court. Lynn had set up tables bearing the forest twigs and cones, and cans of white sprays plus tubes of glitter. Alf was handing out the invitations he’d written to those who still hadn’t got theirs. Nancy sat by the window, next to her record player and was swaying in time to a tune by Duke Ellington’s Orchestra. I gave Gran a kiss and squeezed Pan’s shoulder. Nik was chatting with Glenda.
‘Internet banking can seem daunting at first but you’ll soon get the hang of it.’
‘Having another pair of common sense eyes help me set it up is making it so much easier. You’re very kind,’ she said, looking especially smart today. She’d dyed her hair a warmer shade of brown and her red lipstick was a little brighter.
‘We can carry on our chat about where you move to next. I’d sure love to help. How about lunch out tomorrow, Glennie? My treat. We could go to The Silver Swan.’
Glennie?
‘No,mytreat, darling. I insist.’
Darling?
Nik beamed. ‘Okay. It’s a date.’ He turned to me as Glenda busied herself with the black and white photos. The collection seemed to have grown since just two days ago.
He clasped my hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Hi, Jess. How was work?’
‘Great! Although I’m already looking forward to chilling with takeout tonight. Have you thought about what sort you’d like?’
‘How about your childhood favourite, pizza? I haven’t had one yet, since getting off the plane, and I’m suffering from withdrawal symptoms.’
‘Deal.’
‘My fave back home has barbecue sauce as a base instead of tomato. And olives.’
‘I love ham and pineapple.’
‘Swap that fruit for mango and I’m in.’
