On the Saturday night of October thirty first, Mallory pulled on tight black jeans over a fitted black all-in-one T-shirt body. She tied her wavy brown locks in a high ponytail and donned contact lenses and an eye mask. She drew on fake whiskers with eye pencil and attached a tail to her jeans that she had made from a fluffy black scarf. Ruby gave her an inquisitive sniff when she descended the stairs but Mallory gave her a chew stick and she got busy devouring it as her owner wrapped a warm coat around her and headed for the spooky pub.
Greg was there in his Dracula costume. She hated to admit it, but he made a rather sexy vampire. Kate came through from the back carrying a tray of sandwiches to pass around. She was dressed as Morticia from the Addams Family. Mallory smiled and said hello and on hearing her voice Greg swung around. She watched him do a wide-eyed double take and his mouth dropped open as he scanned her body. Mallory couldn’t help smiling to herself.
*
Greg took to the stage at eight and the atmosphere was electric. Many of the customers had dressed up in costume. Colin had a fake axe attached to his head so that it looked like it was embedded in his skull which Mallory found hilarious. Ron had even joined in, dressing in a suit and a very tall hat. When asked what he was dressed as, he indignantly informed people that he was an undertaker and couldn’t seem to understand why this wasn’t blatantly obvious.
Stella had painted her face white, back-combed her hair and made herself up as a zombie complete with dripping blood; Christine was a mad scientist in a white lab coat also covered in fake blood. Frankenstein was there, along with a giant pumpkin, a werewolf and several vampires, amongst many other ghoulish guests. Everyone was having a brilliant time. Well, everyone apart from Mallory whose terrible timing meant she was forced to see the man she cared deeply for in the throes of moving on.
Greg kicked off with ‘The Monster Mash’ and managed somehow to follow that with an acoustic rendition of ‘Thriller’. The tone changed slightly, however, when he announced his next song.
‘Now I know this isn’t a high school disco, but I have to say that all these decorations are taking me back. I think, in true high school disco fashion, maybes we’ll have a smoochy number. So, if you’re here with a loved one, grab them and give ’em a cuddle. This one is dedicated to all those who are lucky enough to be in love. It’s by a young guy with more talent in his left bum cheek than I’ve got in ma whole body.’ Laughter rumbled around the room. ‘It’s a beautiful song called “Thinking Out Loud” and you have permission to dance but not sing along, even though you might be tempted.’ He winked randomly at the audience as he began to strum the opening chords.
People in the pub paired off and smooched in the small space. Greg’s rich voice sounded gravelly and filled with emotion as he sang the beautiful lyrics and Mallory wondered if, in his heart this time, he was singing it for Kate. A twinge of jealousy knotted inside of her and she glanced over to where Kate had been sitting only to find her gone. Looking back to Greg to see if he had noticed her absence, she found he was now singing with his eyes closed.
Wondering if she should check on Kate, she wandered around again to see if perhaps she had gone to the ladies but as the song was coming to its end she was still nowhere to be seen. Mallory was unsure why she was compelled to do so, but she decided to go outside and look for her there.
She clambered through the freakish, smooching couples and made it out into the chilled October evening. Kate was sitting, shivering, on one of the seats outside and as Mallory got closer she could see she was crying. Her make-up was now streaked down her face and Mallory immediately felt sorry for her.
She approached the sobbing woman. ‘Kate? Is everything okay?’ As soon as the words had left her mouth she realised it was a stupid question.
‘No. Everything is most certainly not okay. I’m an idiot!’ she blurted out.
Mallory twisted her hands together. ‘Mind if I ask what’s wrong?’
Kate scoffed. ‘You really need to ask that?’
Affronted by the unspoken accusation, Mallory asked, ‘Have I done something to upset you, Kate?’
Peering skyward, Kate sighed. ‘He won’t let go of you, will he? He still thinks there’s a chance. I was willing to get past the marriage thing until it’s dealt with but, oh no, Mallory can’t be replaced.’
‘Kate… I’m sorry to hear that but I can assure you Greg and I are not… together. We never really were. We’re friends but that’s all. He’s with you now and I won’t stand in your way.’ She swallowed the lump that had appeared in her throat as she spoke the painful words.
Kate wiped at her face, smearing her make-up even more. ‘Well you don’t need to waste your time helping me. He lives in hope that someday you’ll forgive him. He told me tonight that he can’t see me anymore. That it’s unfair whilst he still loves you.’
Mallory’s heart skipped a beat and she sat beside the distraught woman. ‘Oh, Kate, I’m so sorry. Really I am. I honestly didn’t intend to come between you two. He seemed to like you and I feel terrible that this has happened.’
After a thoughtful pause Kate smiled. ‘It’s not your fault really. People can’t help who they fall for. I just wish I hadn’t fallen so fast for Greg. It was one of those love at first sight scenarios for me. He’s just so… gorgeous. He’s funny, thoughtful, kind. He has the best taste in music too.’ She laughed as the sound of Greg singing ‘The Time Warp’ floated through from inside.
Mallory laughed with her. ‘Oh yes. The best.’
‘So, do you think you’ll ever forgive him?’ Kate asked.
Mallory shrugged. ‘The daft thing is… I think it’s me who needs the forgiveness. I tend to overreact to things since I lost my fiancé. I’ve had an emotional year and I think I’ve forgotten how to react rationally. He didn’t deserve any of it.’
Kate nodded. ‘I think we can all be guilty of that sometimes. But he really does love you, Mallory. It’s clear when he looks at you. When he talks about you. I’ll be honest, I wish it was me he felt that way about and not you but…’
‘Kate, I really am very sorry you got caught up in all of this. I do mean that.’
Kate shrugged. ‘Someday I’ll meet my prince charming, eh? And he’ll actually love me back.’ She shivered and rubbed her arms up and down her lace sleeves.
‘Look you should come inside and I’ll call a taxi for you… if you like,’ Mallory offered.
Kate smiled warmly in spite of their situation. ‘Thanks. I’d appreciate that… but I’ll wait here if you don’t mind. I don’t really want to go in there looking like this,’ she gestured to her smudged make-up and puffy eyes and Mallory was briefly transported back in time to her own make-up disaster at the pub.
Mallory went inside and called a taxi for Kate and she went back outside to sit with her until it arrived. Within ten minutes one of the local taxi firm’s cars pulled up outside the pub.
Before making her getaway, Kate turned to Mallory. ‘You know, I don’t know you, so I can’t pass comment on you as a person other than to say you seem to be a caring sort, but I think I know Greg well enough now. He’s such a wonderful man and he clearly adores you. You’d be silly to let him go over a piece of paper that means absolutely nothing to him. If I were you I’d be getting back in there and telling him how I felt. And if you say you feel nothing then you’re kidding yourself, girl.’ She climbed in the taxi and slammed the door before it pulled away into the night.
*
At the end of the night Greg was surrounded by his usual groupies. Mallory watched in amusement as the mobile phones came out one by one and they all took selfies with the minor celebrity. She resolved that she would give him a little space after what had happened with Kate and that she would speak to him over the next couple of days and see how things went.
She waved goodnight as Greg was packing his gear away and she headed for home. She felt a tingle of anticipation about what could potentially be the start of something official, if Greg still wanted her. She knew he still loved her from what Kate had said but whether he was willing to risk his heart again was another thing. She would have to wait and see.
Monday morning was very cold and Mallory decided to spend a day in the workshop getting some stock made up for the shop in Leeds and the potential new place she had seen up the road at Easdale.
She had a very productive afternoon in the workshop and created some lovely new designs that she knew Josie would be happy with. It felt good to be creating again. She had listened again to the beautiful CD that Greg had made her with heartfelt songs on and mentally made a list of songs she could put on a Spotify playlist for him once she convinced him to join the twenty first century.
She thought back to her conversation with Edith on the train and wondered if there was a song called ‘I’ve been a silly cow can you forgive me now?’ Maybe I should write one. She laughed to herself.
It was the start of November already and she was shocked at how quickly the last seven months had passed. Soon it would be Christmas and she knew how difficult that would be. But at least she had the possibility of sharing it with Greg even if friendship was all he could offer. Whatever he wanted, she would willingly accept.
Remembering she had a shift with him on Tuesday she planned to dress up nicely and invite him round for a nightcap after work. She had tried to memorise the things she wanted to say, but decided it was probably best to say whatever came to her when he was here. She hoped he still felt the same. Kate seemed to think so.