Page 46 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘How do you know all this?’ I ask. ‘It sounds like a lot of it is classified information?’
‘Maybe Mandy is this decade’s Matthew Broderick?’ Rob says, grinning. ‘Just don’t start World War Three, will you?’
Mandy grimaces. ‘Funny! No, I’ve just listened and read a lot since I’ve been in this job. You learn a lot of interesting stuff that way. Not only do they think everyone will have a computer, they reckon within fifteen to twenty years we’ll all be carrying phones that can do virtually the same thing as computers too.’
‘Will we all be riding hoverboards as well?’ Eddie asks. ‘Like in the secondBack to the Futurefilm – another of our video rentals! And will we be talking to each other over screens like Marty McFly did?’
‘It’s a definite possibility,’ Mandy says.
‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’ Eddie concedes. ‘Well, guys, if that’s the case we won’t have to worry about meeting up, it seems we’ll be able to do it all remotely.’
‘But until then,’ Suzy says, ‘we should try to make an effort to keep in touch with each other. Even if it’s just the occasional phone call or letter.’
‘Yes, let’s toast to that,’ I say and we all raise our glasses. ‘To keeping in touch with each other for a long time to come!’
‘And to making sure it doesn’t take one of us to get married for the Misfit Mermaids to remain friends,’ Claire adds before we can take a drink.
‘To friendship!’ Rob says, and as we all take a long drink from our glasses. I can’t help but notice his gaze remains steadily upon me.
As we leave the pub that night, we’re all in high spirits.
Claire reluctantly left us earlier in the evening. Sensible as always, she knew a late night in the local pub was not the best way to prepare for your wedding the next day.
The rest of us all stayed on until closing time, reminiscing about old times and passing on any gossip we knew from our various siblings or parents about people we used to know.
We realise we’ve fallen into our old habit of walking everyone to their house one by one. As we say goodnight, we’re all looking forward to another day spent with our fellow mermaids, both at Claire’s wedding in the afternoon, and afterwards at her reception at a hotel in St Felix.
Without Claire in our posse, after we say goodnight to Mandy, it’s just me and Rob.
‘That was a fun night,’ Rob says as we walk up the hill together. ‘Great to see everyone again.’
‘Yes, it was. I’m so glad Claire could make it. She’d have been gutted if she’d missed out.’
‘Do you really think she’s too young to be getting married?’ Rob asks.
‘Yes, I suppose so. But she’s happy and that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Not what we think.’
‘Indeed. You’ve met Jonathan, haven’t you?’
‘Yeah, at Easter. He seems like a nice guy, and you can tell he loves Claire.’
‘Can you? How?’
I hadn’t expected this question, so I’m momentarily caught off guard.
‘Er . . . you just can. He can’t keep his eyes off her for one thing, and she seems so happy when he’s around. Like he makes everything complete for her. It’s quite lovely to witness actually.’
There’s a moment of silence before Rob says, ‘Good, then I’m pleased for her.’
‘Me too.’ I pause for a moment. ‘Why did you ask that?’
‘I just wondered, that’s all. So, is there a budding Mr Right in your life yet?’ Rob asks, and I feel like he’s changing the subject.
‘No, not right now. What about you?’
‘No Mr Right.’ Rob grins.
‘You know what I mean.’
