Page 57 of One More Day
‘Ah yes, of course it is! It really is a very cosy room indeed!’ she agrees, as if I’ve paid her a compliment of sorts. ‘I deliberately tried to make it so with the floral cushions and throws I chose, and the warm creamy colours. Rusty wanted more blues in this room, but I got my way in the end.’
I’ve no doubt about that.
‘And you know sometimes, between you and me, I’ve been known to come here of an evening and take advantage of the warmth of the open fire and the peace and quiet,’ she says. ‘It makes me nod off too. We don’t have a fire at home. Just oil heating. It’s not the same.’
‘It’s not the same at all,’ I say, really hoping she’ll leave, but she hasn’t finished yet.
‘It’s good to enjoy your own company sometimes. I do wish I could do it more often.’
She seems caught up in a trance now, but then she slowly meets my eyes again.
‘Well, anyhow, enough of my maudlin rambles. I’ve been thinking of you here all on your own for the past couple of days,’ she says, ‘and I do know that you want it that way, but just in case youdidwant something to do, our Christmas Fayre in aid of homelessness is on at three tomorrow afternoon in the community hall.’
‘Ah, lovely.’
‘It’s like a mini indoor Christmas market with charity proceeds,’ she says with a beaming smile. ‘You know, with stalls and a carol service and they serve some delicious mince pies, which I’m in charge of.’
She pauses at that. I can’t think what she is expecting me to say in reply.
‘Wonderful!’ I exclaim with wide eyes. She pushes back her silver hair and her eyes twinkle, followed by a modest shrug. She looks right into my eyes now.
‘They ask me back every year. It’s kind ofmything.’
‘Huh?’
‘The mince pies. Marion’s Mince Pies.’
I’m not sure if it’s the fire crackling, the fact that Marion doesn’t appear to know that Rose is here and that she might arrive back at any minute, or my fear that there may be a slight hint of flirtation in Marion’s manner that both baffles and unnerves me at the same time, but I feel a layer of sweat cover the back of my neck.
‘Excellent! Three p.m. tomorrow, then?’ I say, praying that she’ll hurry up and make a move. ‘It’s a date, then! A date for my diary, I mean!’
‘It’s a date!’ she replies with a giggle, fluttering her eyes once more before making for the living room door at last. ‘There’s normally a bit of a jolly in the pub afterwards with a few tunes and lots of craic. Rusty isn’t interested in going at all. In fact, he isn’t interested in much these days, but I’ll go if you fancy a drink and some company?’
‘Me, with you?’
I feel a bit dizzy.
‘Oh, not like that, Charlie,’ she laughs, but I’m not so sure. ‘The Fayre is always a bit of a milestone. It’s a sign of Christmas kicking off in the village so there’ll be lots of us local folk there. There’s Edith who does a crochet stall, there’s Hannah who makes cakes, and lots, lots more. I do hope you can make it. Oh, and bring your lady friend too if she happens to pop by again.’
I’m puzzled now.
‘My lady friend?’
‘I was chatting to Sadie.’
‘Sadie?’
‘Your friend Niall’s wife?’ she says with delight. ‘She and I have grown quite close over the years. It was Sadie who gave me a glowing review on your behalf, so—’
‘Ah …’
‘Some people around here might say I’m nosey, but I only wanted to see if you needed anything. And to invite you personally to the fayre, of course.’
‘I don’t have a lady friend here, Marion.’
‘No?’
‘It’s just me and Max.’
