Page 34 of A Clean Sweep
She proceeded to relate how Emily had started dating but been very reluctant to share many details. How she'd found the shop where the mysterious Joe was based, only to discover …
'Your mum's dating a thirty-year-old? Oh, my goodness, that must have been a shock for you. Although, why the heck not? As long as he's not after her money, only her mind and body! Let's face it, Tabbie, your mum's a good-looking lady who's spent far too long alone. If they're happy together who are we to judge?' Meryl gave her a stern look, obviously anticipating a long list of reasons why it wouldn't work.
Instead, Tabitha gave a hands-up, "who knows?" gesture and forked up the last bits of salad. 'You're right. It's none of my business and if she's OK with the age difference – andhecertainly seems to be – then who am I to interfere? All I've ever wanted is for my mum to be happy and find someone who really cares about her. If Joe's the one, so be it.'
Suddenly feeling a bit emotional, Tabitha dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. Wouldn't it be strange if her mum ended up living with – evenmarrying–the undoubtedly handsome and charming Joe while she remained resolutely single. Destined to be the bridesmaid but never the bride. Except …honestly, Tabitha wondered if she had some kind of early onset dementia, so many things seemed to slip her mind these days. "Senior moments" was how her mum jokingly referred to them when she couldn't find her car keys or came back from a food shop minus a vital ingredient.
'Meryl, with all the drama of the past twenty-four hours I forgot something else. Orsomeoneelse. Not only did I meet Joe, I met theveryattractive Adam!'
As Tabitha related the tale of their flirtation at the shop and their text exchanges last night, Meryl called the waiter over.
'Two more glasses of fizz, please. Don't look at me like that, Tabbie. I promise to drink nothing but fennel tea for the next few days but I think we should kick back a little and mark the fact that two very special ladies have found themselves some hot men. If you could just find one formethen we could celebrate a triple victory!'
On the way back to the shop – both a little giggly and praying they weren't inundated with demanding customers – Tabitha found her thoughts returning to her trip to Where the Hearth Is. Meryl's mention of luck coming in threes reminded her of the third person she'd spoken to that day. Steve, Joe's dad. A fine-looking specimen and – if first impressions were accurate – a genuinely nice man,too. She had no idea if he was married, divorced or widowed but she could find out. And a chat with her mum was well overdue, if only to reassure her that her relationship with Joe wasn't an issue.
Unlocking the door of The Little Shop of Treasures, Meryl turned to Tabitha. 'You look very pleased with yourself, young lady. And you've been humming away since we left the restaurant but I couldn't quite name that tune. What was it?'
Tabitha looked at her with an expression of pureinnocence. 'Oh, nothing. Just a silly song I heard on the radio the other day. Come on, let's get ready for some serious selling!'
Following her boss into the shop she resumed her discreet crooning:Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…
Chapter 22
Tabitha had never been to Bar Belle. Come to think of it, there were lots of places locally she'd never been to. She and her friends tended to stick to familiar, established places. Where they'd been served under age, the staff pouring them a shandy in the knowledge they weren't going to get blind drunk and create a scene. She hadn't been ID'd in years but her mumhadbeen some ten years ago in a bar in Miami. Much to her delight and her dad's disgruntlement. 'I'm forty-two Tabitha, and they asked for proof of age!' She'd been totally chuffed, her enthusiasm somewhat dampened by Jim's comment that her oversized sunglasses concealed a multitude of sins. The teenage Tabitha had hated him at that precise moment. For deliberately crushing her mum's evident joy. And for what reason? Jealousy, perhaps. Her dad had faded over the years, age taking its toll in many ways until he collapsed and died. Emily, on the other hand, seemed to grow into herself. She was ten years older now but looked incredible. Slim, trim and effortlessly stylish, she knocked spots off women twenty years younger. Which was presumably what had drawn Joe to her. Maybe he'd tired ofvacuous twenty-somethings with all the conversational skills of an amoeba. Maybe he'd had enough of fake breasts, fake tans and obsessions with boybands and reality TV shows. God knows, Tabitha couldn't be bothered with any of that stuff. She was no intellectual but she knew she wanted more than that.
As she was a little early, she fired off a text to Derwyn and Fiona.On a hot date! At least, I hope it's hot! When you guys free to meet up? xx
She'd updated them on the Tom front, messages fired back expressing sadness with a hint of "saw that coming!" Both replied within seconds, demanding a summit meeting the following night. She'd just replied in the affirmative when a denim-clad groin reached her eye line. Lordy! Raising her eyes from her phone, she took in all of Adam in his absolute glory. Fitted white shirt showing just enough chest hair to induce instantaneous meltdown. Dark jeans clinging in all the right places. Face cleanly shaven, skin gleaming and eyes twinkling with merriment, mischief or mayhem. Enough with the letter M, thought Tabitha.
'Hi. Mind if I join you? You look thirsty and I could absolutely annihilate a pint right now.' Those eyes were now positively dancing with devilish delight. Two could play at that game, thought Tabitha.
'You may indeed, but only if you bring me a white wine spritzer and a shot of Sambuca. Flaming, of course.' Crikey, where hadthatcome from? The only time she'd witnessed a flaming Sambuca was when Aunt Celeste had ordered one and poured half of it down her sleeve. She'd been rushed into the restaurant kitchen, arm ablaze, emerging minutes later with an icepack and steely determination to finish her veal saltimbocca.
Adam returned with the drinks, Tabitha grabbing the Sambuca and raising it in the air. 'What shall we drink to?World peace? An end to global warming? No more crap about Kardashians or other nonentities on the tabloid pages?'
He raised his pint and clinked her glass. 'Let's drink to new adventures. You and me, Tabitha. Let's start at the very beginning…'
A very good place to start, thought Tabitha, stifling a giggle. She was back in Julie Andrews territory, except this time she wasn't the only one in on the joke. Adam was already on his feet and singing slightly off-key about "Doe - a deer, a female deer."
'You're far too young to knowThe Sound of Music. Unless…'
'It's true. My mum force-fed me some of the old classics. I know all the words to TheWizard of Oz,Mary Poppins,The Sound of MusicandThe Lion King. Which is much more recent, admittedly, but I was hooked the first time I heard it. "Hakuna matata…"
Tabitha joined in with enthusiasm. 'It means "no worries", for the rest of your days. Wouldn't that be nice? Improbable, but nice.' She looked directly at Adam. He looked back at her. Gave her a smile that would have melted ice caps. And proceeded to burst into a rendition of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" complete with Munchkin-like voices. People were staring from all directions. Tabitha decided she didn't give a monkey's. Even a flying monkey's. She got to her feet too and joined in. "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz." Linking arms with Adam she realised that the whole bar was singing along. Notquitein tune but with energy and enthusiasm. It was a strangely uplifting and life-affirming moment.
'If we left now do you think they'd be upset?' whispered Adam in her ear. They'd come to the end of the yellow brick road and the crowd were baying for more. Tabitha knew all the words to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" but wasdamned if she was going to engage the audience in another singalong.
'Who cares? Let's get out of here.' She grabbed his hand and hauled him towards the exit, aware of booing and cries of "don't go!" behind them.
Out on the street Tabitha was aware of two things. One – she was absolutely starving and two – she really,reallyliked Adam. He made her laugh. He definitely had a good head of hair and his teeth were worthy of a dentistry ad. She didn't know if he could cook or if he was a genius in bed but she was prepared to wait and see. And shewasgoing to wait. Much as she'd like to lure him back to her place and put him through his paces she knew she'd regret it in the morning.
'Fancy a quick pizza or something?' They'd stopped outside an Italian restaurant which had a decent reputation. Adam folded his arms and gave her a stern look. 'It goes without saying what I fancy, but you have the look of a famished lioness who's just watched several wildebeest disappear over the horizon. So, let's go and get some serious slices of pepperoni or whatever your heart desires.'
As they were guided to a table in the dimly lit interior, Tabitha did a double-take. Itcouldn'tbe, could it? She peered into the darkened corner, then attempted to retreat, nearly tripping over Adam who was right behind her.
'Are you OK? You look like you've seen a—'
Tabitha didn't hear the rest of his sentence. She was now staring at Tom, seated at a cosy table for two with a disgustingly dark-haired harlot beside him. OK, maybe she was a perfectly nice girl but she was still the one who got to go toHong Kong. Bitch.
