Page 68 of The Reboot
Ella smiled, reassured that for once someone didn’t make her feel like time was running out.
‘Nan went to college when she was in her sixties and got a degree,’ Roly told her proudly.
‘Well done! That’s really impressive.’
‘I’d have loved to go to uni when I was younger, but we didn’t have the money. But there are advantages to being a mature student. I had a marvellous time.’
‘What did you study?’
‘History and Political Science. So you see, it’s never too late.’
‘That’s very nice to hear.’
‘Roly tells me you two are working out together and you’ve started running,’ Loretta said.
‘You did The Shred, didn’t you, Nan?’ Roly asked, throwing Ella an amused look.
‘I used to, but it’s been a while. My knees wouldn’t be up to it these days. I get down all right, but getting up again is a challenge.’
‘I thought I might take up running,’ Loretta said. ‘I need to get in shape.’
‘You’re already in great shape,’ Christine told her. ‘I hope this isn’t about that new boyfriend of yours. That’s not how you were raised.’
Loretta smiled. ‘Don’t diet-shame me, Mum,’ she said teasingly. ‘I just want to lose a few pounds, tone up a bit. It’s my body, my choice –that’show I was raised.’
‘Touché!’ Christine laughed, holding her hands up.
‘Actually, Ella,’ Loretta said, ‘I have an offer for a new Pilates class that’s starting next week – two for the price of one. You’re welcome to join me, if you’d like?’
‘Thanks, I’d love to. I’m not very disciplined at keeping up with stuff like that on my own, so a class would be brilliant.’
‘Great!’
‘So, when are we going to meet this man of yours?’ Christine asked Loretta.
‘Oh, not for a while yet.’ She sighed. ‘He was supposed to be moving here at the end of this month, but then his daughter got sick and he’s had to put it off. But I have a photo.’ She dug in the bag at her feet and pulled out her phone. She thumbed through it, then held it out to them, showing them a photo of a handsome, tanned man with cropped silver hair and white, even teeth, his arm around a dark-haired teenage girl. Their faces were pressed together as they beamed for the camera.
‘Very handsome,’ Christine said, taking the phone and scrutinising the picture.
‘That’s his daughter,’ Loretta said. ‘He’s a widower – lost his wife to cancer a couple of years ago.’
‘That’s sad,’ Ella said. ‘Where’s he from?’
‘America – Minnesota originally. But he’s in the military, so he travels around the world a lot.’
There was something about the story that gave Ella an uneasy feeling, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Then Christine produced a peach pie for dessert, and she put it out of her mind as everyone groaned that they were too full, but would make room anyway. It looked too good to resist.
‘All bets are off for the weekend anyway,’ Roly said, accepting a slice of pie from Christine.
‘You know where we are now, Ella,’ Christine said as they were leaving. ‘Call in any time. The door’s always open. Don’t feel you have to wait to come with Roly.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’ll text you about the knitting group.’
‘And I’ll pick you up for Pilates on Wednesday,’ Loretta said, waving them off.
‘I had a really good time,’ Ella said to Roly as they walked home. ‘Thanks for bringing me.’
