CHAPTER SEVEN

Owen

“Do you two know each other then?” Tom asks pointing between us.

“Briefly.” I say still looking at her. She takes her drink from him and sucks through the straw. I don't think I can be here.

I nearly turned around and went back home after dropping Ella off at her grandparents. They were more than happy to have her when I rang this morning, in fact I'd go as far to say they overjoyed that I was going out. They told me I need to start living again which is weird since I told myself the same thing the other day - but it's hard. Rachel told me I should and it's what Vic would’ve wanted, but it's easier said than done.

“Well, fancy seeing you here.” Grace nervously says. “How’s Ella?”

“Good... thank you.” My head nods awkwardly. “Full of the joys to be stopping at her grandparents’ house.” I grin. I look around so I don’t have to look at the woman in front of me. It’s been so long since I’ve been out like this.

“So, I take it your wife is here too then, I’d love to meet her.” That stunned look comes back again as I feel Tom’s eyes on me, I look at him then my gaze shifts to hers. She’s waiting on an answer I don’t think I can give.

“Erm,” I clear my throat, “she’s... she’s not around... anymore.” I don’t look at Grace again, I look everywhere but at her again.

“Oh. I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Oh fuck, me and my big mouth.” She puts her glass on the table, “just, excuse me for a second.” I watch her turn away and push through the crowd.

I push my free hand into my hair. “Doesn’t she know?” Tom asks. I shake my head. “Then how do you know her, because I know you’re not the type to be screwing any woman you come into contact with.”

Looking at Tom. “She’s Ella’s dance teacher.” I sigh.

“And you haven’t told her?”

“No. I didn’t think I needed to broadcast that I’m a widow and I lost the love of my life. Do you?”

“Owen, mate. I just think she should’ve known that’s all”

I see her head bobbing through the crowd, she’s not very tall but with heels on it gives her some height.

“Are you going to tell her?”

“I see no reason to, she’s just Ella’s teacher that’s all. Now shut it, she’s coming back.”

Grace approaches the table again and straight away she grabs her glass. The straw sits between the gloss she has on her lips, I watch her throat work as she swallows it down. What the fuck, I can’t do this. “I need some fresh air.”

Before anyone can say anything, I walk away from them and I’m out of the door. I stand at the side of the entrance against the wall, my head rest against it as I close my eyes. What the fuck am I doing here? Why am I watching a woman I barely know drinking through a straw for fucks sake? Now I should be thinking of Victoria no one else. The only problem is this is the first time that Victoria hasn’t popped into my head.

“Are you okay?” I open my eyes cautiously, I know exactly who I’m going to see there, but I’m not sure if I want too.

“I’m fine... thanks.”

“You don’t look fine. Look I’m sorry for making things awkward. I didn’t know. Ella doesn’t mention her mum at dance and I only see her with you so I just thought that maybe she was a Daddy’s girl and her Mum was busy. So, I apologise, and there I go again, rambling.” She says more to herself than to me.

“It’s okay. Really.” I close my eyes again. “Maybe coming here tonight wasn’t such a good idea.”

“Look you don’t want me crowding you and I can see that you want to be alone so, I’ll go back in. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay and to apologise, really, and I have now.” My lips pull into a kind of smile, whatever that is - a smirk maybe. She nods then turns. My hand wraps around her bicep to stop her.

“Don’t leave.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “I’m sure.”

“I promise not to ramble on.” I smile at her again. I’m not use to this smiling lark unless it has to do with Ella. Not much gets said after that. She stands next to me by the wall as her perfume wafts towards me. I recognise the smell though I think. Grace starts dithering, she wraps her arms around herself to keep out the cold. I doubt it’ll do much good though.

“You’re cold, let’s go inside.”

“No, I’m okay.” she rubs her arms to stave off the goose bumps.

“Come on. Otherwise Tom will think I’ve bailed on him.”

She smiles, it’s nice. Smiling back, I reach my hand out in front for her to go first. “Ladies first.”

“Thanks.” We squeeze through the crowd and re-join Tom.

“Where have you been?” Grace’s friend shouts over the noise.

“Oh Meaghan, you haven’t met Owen, have you? Owen, this is my best friend Meaghan.”

“Hey.” I nod my head. Grace picks her glass back up drinks the rest of her drink. What is it that draws me to look at her, I don’t understand. She’s the complete opposite to Victoria. Where she was blonde, Grace is dark, Vic was quite tall but she’s petite. I shake my head from everything.

“Ross. How are you?” I don’t really like Ross, there’s just something about him, that gets to me but I’m always polite...

“Finally got you to come out then. I thought you were becoming a hermit.”

Grace stands closer to me but faces Ross head on. “Shut up Ross.”

“It’s okay Grace.” I say with a hand on her shoulder. Realising what I did, I remove it quickly.

“No, it’s not, he’s a dick.” She says angrily. I look again and he’s whispering in her friend’s ear.

“Right I think it’s time for a round of drinks.” Tom claps his hand as he doesn’t like conflict. “Grace, really... it’s okay...” She turns her back to him before giving him the evil eye and looks back to me and smiles, she’s relaxed and puts me at ease.

 

We have a few more rounds of drinks, Ross and Grace’s friend have disappeared. Grace shakes her head in disgust. “Do you know she pleaded me to come with her tonight, I was quite happy with a DVD and a bottle of wine... or two.”

“Yeah, when Ross asked me to come along I should have known he was up to something.” Tom agrees.

“Is that why you asked me because you wanted to someone to talk to?”

“No, Owen. I thought that it’d be nice to have a pint with my friend and maybe so you could have some adult time.” Grace looks between us.

“Ella is amazing though.” she smiles. She has a real nice smile, it’s contagious. It makes me want to smile. “She has so much spirit and she’s learning really quickly.” She looks at Tom and me. “I’m sorry, you’re supposed to be having a night off…”

“Grace? Stop apologising. You never get a night off with a child.” I take my phone from my pocket. No missed calls or texts. I don’t know whether I should be pleased or not. On one hand, at least I know she's okay but she's my baby.

“You okay?” Grace asks sounding concerned.

“Yeah.” I nod while putting my phone away.

“Guys, I gotta piss. Be right back.” I watch Tom leave us and look back at Grace as she’s looking around the pub.

“Where is Meaghan? I’m so going to kick her arse!”

I wish I could be natural around people. I used to be. Watching Grace, I see how comfortable she is. Why can’t I just let go? I never used to be this nervous. I look down into my pint, looking for answers I suppose but it doesn’t work. I drink the remains and empty my glass. The place has filled up since I arrived and there’s no tables now. I watch as Grace shifts her weight from one foot to another. “Are you alright?”

“My feet are killing me. If she doesn’t hurry up I’m going home. Can you hold this a second please?”

I nod my head and take the glass from her. She pulls her phone from her bag and starts tapping at the screen, with a satisfying look on her face and a smug smile, she holds the glass in one hand and take the glass back with the other.

“Happy now?”

“Yep, I’ve just told her if she’s not back in five minutes I’m going home. I’m not hanging around here while she has her way with that weasel.”

“You really don’t like Ross, do you?” I smirk.

“Nope I wish she’d meet someone nice, he’s got the morals of an alley cat...”

Fifteen minutes pass by, they’re still not back and she’s not received a text. “Look, you can say no but I don’t like the thought of you getting a taxi by yourself, so would you like to share one?”

“Erm, if that’s okay with you then yeah that’d be great... I’m so tired.” She yawns just at that moment and covers her mouth as she tries to speak.

“Tom, taxi?” I ask as he returns.

“No, you guys go I’m going to hang around here for a while.”

“Okay, well, if you see the scarlet pimpernel and my roommate/best friend can you tell her I got sick of waiting and went home.”

“Yeah of course. Tom says laughing as he leans down to kiss her cheek. “It was good to meet you Grace.”

Watching their exchange, the easy laughter and the kiss on the cheek makes feel like an intruder. I look away but I can’t help to glance back at Grace. Her hair hanging down her back, the way her eyes crease at the corners when she smiles. Fuck, I need to go home. I book the taxi through the app and tell Grace.

“Taxi’s on its way.”

“Okay. Thanks.” she drinks the rest of her vodka and places her clutch under her slim arms. My hand rubs down my face, what’s wrong with me. I shake Tom’s hand, then Grace and I leave to get into the waiting taxi.