Page 54 of Forever, Maybe
Pish. Neither sounded remotely convincing, even in his head. He groaned, raking a hand through his hair and letting it rest behind his neck.
Twenty-four hours. That’s all he had to figure out how to make her understand. How to explain why the Asda pitchhadto come first. Why he wouldn’t be there on her birthday, even though he’d promised.
The steady hiss of the shower on the other side of the door filled the room, a relentless reminder of time slipping away. Daniel envied the water for its simplicity, its unbroken flow. If only life could be so straightforward.
But it wasn’t, and he’d have to face it. Still, he’d wait until the guests had left, when Nell had a couple of glasses of wine to soften her mood. Then he would break the news and hope—pray—that she’d understand.
Chapter twenty-three
April2016
At Nell’s request, Stephanie arrived at the party an hour and a half early, clutching a giant canvas tote bag like it contained state secrets.
Nell whisked her inside. “Thanks for doing this.”
“No bother.”
She took a moment to admire her best friend’s outfit. God, the woman knew how to dress.
“As always, you look like every straight guy’s dream come true.” The compliment carried extra weight, considering what had happened the weekend before.
Stephanie struck a mock-glamorous pose. “What, this old thing?” she said, adding a wink for good measure.
‘This old thing’ being a jaw-droppingThe Vampire’s Wifedress—second-hand from eBay, naturally—made of red scallop-edged lace and silk georgette. It showcased her shoulders, cinched her waist into perfect Marilyn Monroe hourglass pre-portion, and was so dramatically over-the-top it deserved its own fanfare. Stephanie wore it like she’d been born in it.
High heels too, always. This time, a pair of black patent leather sling-backs with a small stiletto heel and pointy toes. Danny poked his head out of the living room to the left and gave a wolf-whistle—strictly under Nell’s orders to boost her friend’s confidence. It was obvious, of course, and didn’t really count since he was her husband, but even so, Nell caught the faint flush of pleasure that bloomed across Stephanie’s cheeks.
“Love your dress, by the way,” her friend added.
Nell’s faithful blue Reiss number, with its high collar and elbow-length sleeves, was the very definition of sensible. Possibly Victorian mourning chic. She tugged at the neckline self-consciously.
But Stephanie launched into an exaggerated soliloquy on its “timeless elegance,” complete with dramatic oohs and ahhs. The woman could flatter a bin bag.
“Anyway. Take me to your mother!”
She tossed a breezy “Hello, lovely to see you again” to Bobby, who was battling the vacuum cleaner in the living room, despite Nell explicitly telling both parents to do nothing. They headed upstairs.
On a whim the night before, Nell had texted Stephanie:Feel like arriving early and playing fairy godmother with a make-up bag?
According to her late-night Googling, sensory activities could be helpful for people with dementia—sparking memories, fostering connection, offering comfort when the world felt like it was tilting sideways. And her mother had seemed tilted since arriving at Nell’s home, nervously repeating the same questions about where she was and when she’d be going home.
Bobby might not be ready to say the worddementia, but the signs were banshee-loud.
Of course, Nell had another, slightly less noble reason for the invite. Stephanie could do her make-up too. Add some colour. Fake a little brightness onto a face that sorely needed it.
They turned left at the top of the stairs, into the main bedroom where Nell had left Cate just moments before.
Her mother was in the chair by the window, hands folded neatly in her lap, the light catching the bare patches on her scalp. She turned her head as they entered, her face flickering—just for a second—with the blankness of not recognising Stephanie. Then the moment passed, and her smile bloomed like always.
“Hello, love.” She beamed at Stephanie. “Hello. Gosh, you’re very pretty.”
No name. No Stephanie. She didn’t remember.
But Stephanie, bless her, didn’t miss a beat. “Hello, Cate! Long time no see. You look fabulous.”
She strode across the room and crouched to give Cate a warm hug. As she stood again, Cate’s eyes locked on the dress.
“Oh, what a dress!” she said, turning to Nell, wonder in her voice. “Do you think I could wear that?”
