Page 127 of The Reboot
‘I’d love to travel,’ she said wistfully. ‘I mean travel properly like that – not just go on holidays. But I didn’t have the money when I was younger and, anyway, I had Roly.’
Ella tried not to flinch at the mention of him, but she was aware of everyone darting her anxious looks, and an awkward silence fell, as if his name was taboo.
‘Then when I could afford it,’ Loretta continued, ‘all my friends had settled down and I had no one to go with. I didn’t fancy it on my own. It’s hard when you’re single at my age. My friends are great, but at the end of the day, they have their own families.’
‘We’re lucky to have each other,’ Nora said, nodding at Ruth.
‘You are.’ Loretta smiled. ‘Anyway, I’ve met this lovely man – a good one for a change,’ she said in an aside to Nora, ‘and we’re planning a trip to India next year.’
‘Oh, lovely! That’s next on our list,’ Ruth said. ‘Nora’s been, but a long time ago.’
‘I’ve wanted to go back ever since,’ Nora said.
‘So tell us more about this man,’ Ruth said, pouring more wine.
‘His name’s Mike. We met on a dating site, but we moved onto private messaging very quickly. It’s funny, I feel like I’ve known him my whole life, and we’ve never even met. We’ve spent hours and hours messaging and talking on the phone, of course. But he’s moving here next weekend, and that’s the first time I’ll see him.’
‘Mike’s finally coming, then?’ Ella asked Loretta later as she saw her to the door.
‘Yes. He still can’t get access to his money, and the bank are no help. So I sent him some cash and paid for his flight, and we’ll sort it out when he gets here.’
Ella felt a creeping dread.
‘Don’t tell Mum, if you see her,’ Loretta added in a rush. ‘It’s just a loan. I know he’ll pay me back straight away once everything’s sorted out. But if Mum found out, she’d think I was being taken for a ride.’
Her cab arrived before Ella could say anything more. She hugged Ella goodbye and made her promise she’d come back to Pilates if she wanted to, and visit Christine.
‘I know Mum will feel the same,’ she said, and then she was gone.
‘Loretta’s lovely, isn’t she?’ her mother said as Ella helped her clear up. ‘Would it be awkward for you if we inducted her into our gang?’ Her mother and aunt loved finding new people to bring into their circle.
‘No, not awkward for me at all.’ She thought of what Loretta had said about all her friends being coupled up. ‘I think Loretta would really like that. Besides, you’re three grown women. I’m not going to police your friendships.’
It had been good to see the three of them getting on so well tonight and having fun. But what Loretta had said about Mike niggled at her, and she wished she hadn’t promised not to say anything to Christine about the money she’d given him. She was more convinced than ever that Loretta’s ‘boyfriend’ was a scammer. But she couldn’t voice her concerns to Loretta in front of her mum and Nora – it would be too humiliating for her – and then she didn’t get a chance before she left. Maybe it was just as well. She should have learned her lesson about interfering in other people’s lives. And it was possible she was wrong and Mike was on the level. She hoped so. Either way, it was none of her business and she should stay out of it.
35
Roly was shockedwhen he walked into his nan’s house to find Ella sitting at the kitchen table with her, drinking tea.
‘Roly!’ Christine looked up. ‘I wasn’t expecting you.’
He frowned at Ella. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I was just leaving,’ she said, getting up. She appeared flustered as she quickly pulled on her jacket and made for the door. ‘Thanks for the tea and cake, Christine. It was lovely.’
‘I’ll see you on Thursday,’ his nan said.
Ella swept past him and rushed out of the room. He heard the front door close. ‘I’ll be back in a sec,’ he said to his nan, then hurried after Ella.
She was already halfway down the street when he got outside. ‘Ella!’
She stopped and turned, and he jogged to catch up to her. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
‘I was visiting Christine.’
‘Obviously. But why are you visiting my nan?’
‘What’s it got to do with you? You don’t own her, Roly. She’s a person in her own right.’
