Page 52 of The Happy Hour
‘We haunt the market,’ Ash explained. ‘Because it’s more interesting than our own lives.’
‘There is nothing ghoulish about me,’ Felicity said, lifting her skirt to step over the bench. ‘I would much prefer to be a wraith. Hello, everyone. I know most of you, but not all.’ Shesmiled and gave Jess a little nod. Spade jumped up and went inside the pub without asking her what she wanted.
‘Do you want to be in our TikTok video, Felicity?’ Lola asked. ‘We’re shooting it here in a little while. We need people in the background, to show the market off to its full potential. Would you be up for it?’
‘I’d love to be a part of it,’ Felicity said. ‘As long as you allow me to do a little touching up beforehand.’ She patted her perfect bob, and Jess marvelled again at her poise and elegance here, how at odds it was with the chaos of her house. But she could see a long dark smudge on Felicity’s peach shirt, visible beneath her jacket when she shifted in her seat.
Jess glanced at Ash, and saw that he was frowning. He’d worked it outalready?
‘Jessica,’ Felicity said, once Spade had placed a cup of Earl Grey tea reverently in front of her, ‘I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind another little visit to my house?’
Jess froze. Below the table, she put her hand on Ash’s thigh. It felt bold, but she had to convey, somehow, that he shouldn’t say anything. She had to treat Felicity like a rabbit frozen in headlights, so they could tiptoe in slowly and catch her, not let her run off into the darkness where she’d be alone.
‘Of course,’ she said. Ash pressed his warm hand over hers, slid his fingers between hers, and it felt equal parts reassuring and incendiary, so she had to concentrate extra hard on the conversation. ‘When would you like me to come round? Is everything all right with the, uh...?’
‘The water feature is marvellous,’ Felicity said. ‘Twiggy, Bond and Artemis love it. They paw at the stream, and have started to drink from there rather than their water bowls.’
‘Your cats,’ Jess said.
‘My companions,’ Felicity corrected. ‘Since being on my own, they’re invaluable to me.’
‘I bet.’ Jess’s voice came out scratchy.
How many cats wouldsheend up having in her future, solitary life? She’d always pictured being by the seaside, running her own gift shop, selling trinkets for families to adorn their homes with. But the picture had changed recently, and in the living room of her imagined house, instead of a cosy sofa and polished coffee table, there were piles of newspapers, old towels, broken Tupperware boxes. Her dream was slowly morphing into a nightmare, and the thought of not helping Felicity made her feel frantic.
‘But there are some things they’re unable to do,’ Felicity went on, ‘so I wondered if you might help me decide where... where I could put that mirror, should I end up buying it from No Vase Like Home?’
Jess sucked in a breath. This, surely, was her asking for help.
‘I love a frothy mirror,’ Spade said. ‘The snazzier the frame, the better.’
‘This one is intricate and beautiful,’ Felicity told him. ‘It’s unlike anything else I’ve seen. But I amhopelessat knowing where to place things, and Jess is the expert.’
‘Oh, I don’t know...’ Jess started, and Ash squeezed her hand. ‘But of course, I’d love to help you decide.’
‘You can come too, Ash, if you’d like.’ Felicity gave him a warm smile. ‘If you’re at that inseparable stage.’
‘We’re not—’
‘You look super cute together,’ Susie said, holding the fluffy duckling against her chest.
Jess swallowed. ‘It’s just that—’
‘I’m afraid I can only get down here on Sundays,’ Ash said. ‘And only for this hour: I’m bookended either side. Although, for a special occasion, I could get here a little earlier.’
‘And I would be a special occasion?’ Felicity asked.
Ash’s laugh was so warm that Jess wanted to press herself against him and feel it rumble through his chest and into hers. ‘You and Jess don’t need my help with the mirror – she’s the expert, as you say, and it’s your home – but if you’re inviting me, I won’t say no.’
‘Well I... I am!’ Felicity said, and Jess watched her expression go from pleased, to horrified, to uncertain in the space of a few seconds. She must know what she was opening herself up to, but maybe she’d found the courage to tackle it. And Jess knew the impression Ash could have on people, because she’d fallen under his spell, too.
‘That’s settled, then,’ she said.
‘Next Sunday,’ Felicity confirmed. ‘Around eleven?’
‘I could do eleven,’ Ash said. ‘Count me in.’
By the time the meeting had broken up, they had fifteen minutes left. Lola gathered up the completed release forms and shot Jess an amused glance as Ash took her hand and dragged her away, to the narrow alley that led from the market to the busy roar of Nelson Street.
