Page 58 of The Side Road
‘Encouragement, I like that.’ He kissed her again, and she returned his kisses. She might talk herself back into this.
His gaze, when his lips finally left hers, was heartfelt. ‘Mia, what do you want?’
Such a simple question – but she had no idea what the answer was. She shook her head. ‘I’m not sure.’
‘When you decide, call me.’
He left through the front door.
What did shewant? She looked at Snood. ‘I already have so much.’ She had a house, a job, a great best friend, family close by, and the best dog in the world.
She considered her reflection in the window. ‘What do I want…how?’ There were multiple interpretations of this question, and therefore, a myriad of responses, but she knewthat in this situation, it came down to two options: sex with Oliver or something more. Something deeper.
What did she want?
The answer was love. The answer was everything. She wanted everything a relationship could offer. There was no point doing the maths again. She wasn’t getting any younger. A successful business, a beautiful house, devoted friends, and the best dog in the world were not going to be enough.
‘Shit! Why does it have to be like this? Why can’t you be enough? Why can’t Holly be enough? This beautiful town? Blanche and Leo? And April and the Sit & Knit group.’
Snood barked.
‘You’re right. The Sit & Knit group will never be enough.’
Later that evening,Mia opened her laptop. She ran an internet search on why younger men liked older women. Multiple reasons were offered, but the one that stood out the most was that older women knew what they wanted. She closed her laptop and pushed it across the kitchen table.
Snood joined her. She admired the tufts under the dog’s ears and ruffled fur at his elbows. She saw how attractive his slim feet and strong ankles were. His black, expressive eyes were like dark pools.
She picked up her phone and called Holly. When she answered, Mia said, ‘Oliver came to my house today and we had lunch. Last week he reorganised my storeroom. I feel something.’
A long silence followed.
‘Are you expecting me to answer? The tone of your voice is unclear,’ Holly said.
‘The problem is, my life is great,’ Mia continued.
‘Is it? Is it really that great? Because the more you tell mehow great it is, the less I believe you. And just to be clear, organising your storeroom isn’t a metaphor for sex, is it?’
‘No. I’m content. Most days, I’m content. Do I want to confuse everything and invite pandemonium into my life? You know how long it took me to get over Alfie. Am I even over him?’
‘It’s been three years. We’re all over him.’
‘I think Oliver might be a player. Not a keeper, but…’
‘You like him.’
‘I do. I like him.’
‘Then, go out with him,’ Holly said.
‘But he’s a single dad – actually, that’s not a problem because I’ve met Tash and she’s great. He’s unemployed and, somehow, he’s misplaced his life savings. The rumour is that once the will is sorted, he’ll sell the parsonage and hit the road. I would be certifiably insane to fall for someone like Oliver.’
‘Then have sex with him.’
‘If we have sex, I might never hear from him again. Then, occasionally, I’ll bump into him on the street, or our paths will cross when he collects Tash from the Sock Club. I can already feel the pain from those moments.’
‘Mia, there is more to life than knitting. I think you know that.’
A long silence followed. Eventually, Holly said, ‘I know you’re happy, except on Mondays and Sundays. What happens if your unhappiness spreads to other days of the week? What will you do then?’
