Page 28 of Fix Them Up
‘As helpful as you’ve been, I can manage on my own.’
I nodded, disappointed to leave the small kitchen, where I had the excuse to watch Liam working. I walked back into the mainroom and was welcomed to the sound of Glenn Miller playing over the speakers. Every table was full, with some guests chatting happily while others were quieter and withdrawn.
Sandra touched my shoulder. ‘Some have more severe symptoms than others. It can show itself in very different ways, too. My dad, God bless him, struggled with fits of anger. He was so frustrated with himself. But others are more easygoing and relaxed. Why don’t you start on Dot’s table?’ Sandra pointed to the lady dressed in a black-and-white polka-dot blouse with immaculate black trousers.
Dot was inspecting her manicured hands like they didn’t meet her standards. She had perfectly coiffed white hair, which came down to her shoulders. Impressive, considering she must have been in her late eighties. She had bright red kitten heels with a matching red gloss handbag. She was glamourous. She was terrifying.
But I took a deep breath and approached her table anyway.
Chapter Ten
‘Hi.’ I smiled brightly. ‘I’m Kat. I love your top.’
Dot shifted in her seat and looked at me, perusing me from the top of my head to the bottom. My grin remained plastered on my face while she assessed me.
‘Moisturiser.’
‘Moisturiser?’
‘You have dry skin. You’ll regret it at my age if you don’t moisturise. Just like I regret not using sun cream.’ She rubbed her forearms absentmindedly. ‘We didn’t know, of course. I used cooking oil when I honeymooned in Cornwall with my husband. I covered myself with olive oil. Extra virgin, of course.’
I laughed. ‘Of course.’
‘My husband wasn’t by the end, though.’ She winked, and I snorted.
She played with the ring on her left hand.
‘Do you mind if I sit?’ I asked, pointing to the chair.
‘It’s a free country, doll.’ She shrugged, and I realised that was all the enthusiasm I would get.
‘How long were you married?’ I asked.
‘Sixty-seven years this year. I don’t like to stop counting, even though my Archie passed’ – she frowned – ‘it must be ten years now since he was gone.’
Large hands came down on Dot’s shoulders, and her hands came up to cover his.
‘Thirteen years, now, Dot,’ Liam said gently. His chef whites were gone, replaced with a light blue jumper that brought out the light brown in his hair. His relaxed blue jeans fit his muscular legs and had an irresistible worn-in look. They made me picture him pulling those jeans back on in the morning after…
No.
Nope.
I was not completing that particular dirty daydream.
Dot patted his hands. ‘Yes, you’re right, love. That’s it. Thirteen now.’ She smiled sadly but then seemed to remember that Liam was here, and her face transformed.
‘You. Sit with me. I never see you anymore. Always up a ladder, working.’
Liam put his hands up. ‘Okay, okay. Gimme a sec.’ He dragged a chair between me and Dot.
Dot gasped and grabbed his hands. ‘Oh. Are you getting more handsome? If I was twenty years younger.’
‘Cougar.’
Dot glanced at me. ‘Liam, have you met…’
‘Kat,’ I repeated.
