Chapter Ten
To Friendship
Three Months Later – A Saturday in December
‘SO, WHO BOUGHT IT?’ I asked, beyond impatient. The shop had been temporarily closed for weeks. It looked like there were major renovations going on, judging by the huge skip outside and various workmen’s vans coming and going.
‘Well, if you’d stop interrupting, I’d get to the point of the story,’ Daphne said with one of her wilting looks.
‘That put you in your place,’ Georgie laughed.
‘I’m lucky, I haven’t earned one of those looks yet,’ Quinn grinned. ‘And I don’t plan on it.’
‘Well, that all depends on what you do to my cottage, Quinn Garcia,’ Daphne stated. I pulled a face at Quinn, which earned me a cuff from Daphne. ‘Am I that bad? I was joking. It will be her cottage soon, she can do what she wants with it. Memories are just that. They aren’t tangible. You can’t touch them and you shouldn’t need to. The best ones stay in your head and your heart, they’re always with you. I don’t need my cottage staying in a time warp because people are afraid of upsetting me.’
‘That’s good, because the bulldozer is booked to tear it down the second we exchange contracts,’ Quinn said in a serious tone. Georgie and I gasped and shot a concerned look over at Daphne, only to see her smiling.
‘Really, girls. You’ve spent more time with Quinn than I have and you still haven’t learned when she’s teasing?’
‘Of course I’m teasing. Everything in the U.S. is new. Why would I want to erase all those years of history? I mean sure, there’ll be some major work to do on it to make it more my style, but I’m not ripping out the bones of the place. It has character and I kinda like that,’ Quinn smiled.
‘You’d better love that, or you will be on the receiving end of one of my looks,’ Daphne warned her.
‘So, thrilled as I am to have the whole “Quinn’s moving to Dilbury” talk, I’m still no clearer on who’s bought the shop,’ I reminded Daphne. If anyone needed to know anything, Daphne was the woman. She knew everyone in the village and had a social network to rival Facebook.
‘Parlez-vous Français?’ she hinted.
‘Is that Welsh?’ Quinn asked. ‘It sounds kinda sexy.’
‘She just asked if you speak French, in French. We have a hot and sexy Frenchman moving into the shop?’ I asked, my spirits lifting.
‘Oh, I love me a man with an accent,’ Georgie said wistfully.
‘Me too,’ Quinn and I sighed at the same time. We high fived each other with a smile. The expression “sister from another mister” could have been tailor-made for the two of us. We’d bonded so fast, and I was thrilled she was going to be moving here and we’d get to spend more time together.
‘Then I’m very sorry to disappoint,’ Daphne said. ‘Her name is Fleur, French for flower. Fleur Dubois. She trained as a pâtissier in Paris.’
‘She makes French pastries?’ Georgie asked, her eyes lighting up.
‘You’re telling me you eat cake?’ I scoffed. ‘With that slim figure?’
‘There’s cake and there’s French pastries, and I’m all over that action. My God, Weston’s going to have to work me out big time if I have those on my doorstep.’
‘From the noises I heard last night, it sounds like he’s already working you extremely hard,’ I giggled, making Georgie blush. ‘So, no more shop or post office?’ I asked Daphne.
‘Oh yes, she’s converting the upstairs into a self-contained, two-bedroomed apartment, then the downstairs will be open-plan to a certain degree. She’s having a custom kitchen and bakery built, with a small area for tables and chairs so she can sell cake and coffee and people can watch her work. She’s calling it French Fancie. Then there’ll be a new layout for the shop and post office. She’s already put out an advertisement for someone to run that side of it for her.’
‘How do you know all of this stuff?’ I asked, astonished at her investigative skills.
‘I talk to everyone and I listen in return. You ought to apply, Quinn. It would be a great way to meet all of the villagers and integrate yourself into village life.’
‘I’m going to have my hands full with the renovations in January. Plus, I’ve already talked to Severn Manor to offer my event planning services exclusively to them. We’re having a meeting next week.’
‘Wow, you move fast,’ I told her.
‘I’m still working at the frantic New York pace. I haven’t adjusted to the Dilbury tortoise way of life yet.’
‘I’ll get it,’ Georgie said, shooting up when there was a knock on the door. ‘It’s probably James and Caroline, the photographers.’
‘Is it rude for me to network while I’m acting as a bridesmaid?’ Quinn asked. ‘I had a huge list of wedding connections in New York. It’s going to be hard work setting them all up from scratch again here.’
‘As long as Abbie’s needs come first today, I don’t think that would be a problem at all, dear,’ Daphne reassured her. ‘She wants you settled here as much as Miller does.’
‘Loving the hair, by the way,’ I added as I eyed Quinn’s new do. She’d forgone her usual multi-coloured tips for a deep purple to match our bridesmaid dresses.
‘Well, a girl’s got to make an effort to be normal now and then.’
‘Humph,’ Daphne trumpeted, making us both look her way. ‘Normal would be getting rid of that ring in your nose. Why a man would find that attractive is beyond me.’
‘Well, from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t scare any guys off.’ Quinn was a bona fide man magnet, even with that slightly cold, moody, and insular vibe she seemed to give off around strangers. That actually wasn’t her at all. I’d already learned that she was as sweet and generous as her brother, but she didn’t like people to know it. She wasn’t exactly an open book, but from the time I’d spent with her, I’d already realised it was a self-defence mechanism for a woman who’d experienced so much rejection in her life. I had a feeling moving to Dilbury, being surrounded by love from her brother and new sister-in-law, not to mention being part of this circle of great friends, was going to melt her icy defences and heal her from the inside out.
James and Caroline headed upstairs to take some candid and relaxed shots of Abbie as she got ready. I made us all a whiskey coffee on Daphne’s orders. As I sat drinking it, soaking up the pre-wedding excitement, I wondered if it would ever be me. The rate I was moving with McFitty, I was going to be Daphne’s age before we were at the marrying stage.
It was soon time for all the bridesmaids’ photos to be taken in Abbie’s lounge, and Quinn chatted the couple up, explaining her possible job role and asking for their business card, which they happily gave her.
‘Ok, I’m coming down,’ Abbie called, making us all jump to attention. We helped Daphne up and gathered at the bottom of the stairs, letting out a collective gasp as Abbie appeared in her beautiful gown, the widest smile on her face.
‘Oh, Abbie,’ Daphne exclaimed, blotting her eyes with a handkerchief as Abbie slowly made her way down to join us in the hall. We stood in a circle, all five of us girls holding hands.
‘I’m getting married!’ she whispered.
‘The curse is well and truly lifted,’ Georgie nodded, never having looked prouder of her best friend, which was so touching. ‘You look just … wow, Abbie.’
‘I’ve never seen you looking more radiant or beautiful, Abbie Carter,’ Daphne murmured, sniffing back some tears.
‘Stunning,’ I agreed.
‘I really don’t want to imagine how my brother’s going to react when he sees you, as it will scar me for life, but I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be dragging you up to the hotel suite the second you arrive,’ Quinn laughed. Abbie blushed and swatted Quinn’s arm. ‘I’m so happy, Abbie. I’ve been alone for so long, and now I have an amazing brother and a new sister too!’
‘Hey, how about me, Daphne, and Charlie? Are you saying we’re not much cop?’ Georgie scolded.
‘I have no idea what that means. You really need to give me a British expressions prep course,’ Quinn said with a confused look on her face.
‘She’s saying she sees herself as your sister as well. You’ve become part of this little family here too, Quinn,’ Abbie said softly, making Quinn show an uncharacteristic display of emotion as her eyes filled up. She quickly blinked them back, casting a furtive glance at us all to see if we’d noticed.
‘You are, you’re a lovely girl, Quinn,’ I said sincerely.
‘Even with that hair and the ring in your nose,’ Daphne said, giving it another of her infamous looks of distaste. I had a feeling she wasn’t going to give up needling Quinn about it. ‘You need to watch Wayne Davies, the farmer’s son. He’ll be putting a rope through it and leading you to the farmers’ market.’
‘She’ll be off the market soon if I have anything to do with it,’ Abbie said. ‘I couldn’t fix up poor Heath with Georgie or Charlie, so I’ve got high hopes of setting him up with Quinn.’
‘Who is this guy that no one wants? Do I really want you trying to dump him on me?’ Quinn asked indignantly. ‘Does he look like a slapped ass?’
‘Arse,’ we all laughed. I had so much to teach her when it came to the English language.
‘Hell no,’ Georgie said. ‘He’s super hot, both Abbie and I quite fancied him at one point, but the timing was off and we’re parked firmly in the friend zone now.’
‘I’d already fallen for McFitty, Dr. Fitton, by the time I met him, but if my crush ever fades, Heath’s one stallion I’ll be attempting to ride,’ I giggled.
‘Then let’s get to the church and meet this stud, it’s been a while since I had a ride,’ Quinn grinned.
‘Girls, this is my nephew we’re talking about,’ Daphne groaned as she shook her head. ‘Come on, before poor Miller thinks Abbie has changed her mind. The curse isn’t lifted until she says the words “I do.”’
Everyone headed outside, ready to make their way up the lane to the church for the early evening ceremony. I turned to close Abbie’s front door and locked it behind me, slipping the key under the plant pot. I couldn’t wait to see Abbie and Miller exchange their vows. No one deserved a happy ending more than they did. I also couldn’t wait until we got to Severn Manor and I could let my hair down and party with Quinn. I’d worked so hard the last couple of months, it would be good to have a night off before getting back to finishing my current manuscript.
‘Three, two, one, drink,’ Quinn counted down, both of us grabbing the first of the shots we’d lined up on the bar and tossing it back before moving on to the next, and then the next.
‘Damn, girl,’ I whined, screwing up my face as the alcohol burnt the back of my throat and brought tears to my eyes. ‘I’ve never met anyone who could out-shot me.’
‘You never met me before,’ she laughed. ‘Though I kinda wish you had. I could have done with a friend like you growing up.’
‘Well, you’re stuck with me now, neighbour,’ I grinned, clinking my empty shot glass against hers. ‘I think you’re going to be really happy here.’
‘You know, I think you might be right,’ she agreed, beckoning the bartender over. ‘Line up another three each, will you?’
‘Quinn, are you trying to kill me?’ I gasped. ‘My liver is fast approaching middle age, it only behaves badly once or twice a year.’
‘Well, get it used to behaving badly a lot more now that I’m in town. We’ve got to get you onto the fun programme.’
‘And talking of getting some fun, Heath’s looking at you again.’
‘I know,’ she nodded, leaning against the bar but not looking his way.
‘How? How do you do that?’ This girl had eyes in the back of her head.
‘I can see his reflection in the mirror behind the bar,’ she grinned, flicking her chin towards the long piece of glass that ran behind the vast array of coloured bottles.
‘So what are you going to do about it?’
‘Nothing,’ she shrugged.
‘You’re telling me you’ve suddenly become the shy and retiring type?’ I scoffed as our glasses were filled again.
‘Hey, this is me,’ she laughed. ‘I’m not going to do anything about it because he’s Daphne’s nephew. I don’t need complicated.’
‘Why does it have to be complicated? Heath fancies you, and I’ve seen some of the sneaky looks you were giving him over dinner, so don’t try telling me you don’t find him insanely hot.’
‘I do, of course I do. I mean, look at him …’ She trailed off as she carried out her inspection of him in a seriously sexy fitted three-piece suit, which was so unlike the combats and grubby t-shirts he usually wore to do the gardening and odd jobs in.
‘So?’ I prodded.
‘I don’t do relationships, Charlie. I’m never letting another guy get close enough to hurt me again. I’m into short and sweet and I move on before it gets serious. He’s not a short and sweet guy. He’s long haul, and he’s Daphne’s nephew. That package of hotness right there is complicated, and we’re back to me not doing complicated.’
‘So you’re never going to settle down with a guy, never going to get married or have a family?’ I asked, my heart aching for her as I saw her defences quickly arming themselves.
‘Nope. Now, are we drinking or what?’ she said, picking up the first shot glass and giving me a look that told me that however friendly we’d become in the last couple of months, she wasn’t open for a deeper discussion on her issues. I sighed and nodded. We had time. We all had time to work on her once she moved here next month. And she was naïve to imagine that with our close-knit group, she’d be able to fend us all off when we set our minds to helping her find happiness in Dilbury.
‘This time I’m taking you down, Garcia,’ I warned her as I lifted my glass.
‘Bring it on, Faulkner, bring it on,’ she grinned.
‘To friendship,’ I toasted.
‘To friendship,’ she replied, moving her glass towards mine.
‘Three, two, one, drink,’ I yelled as fast as I could before I knocked back the first one, taking her by surprise.
‘Hey, that’s cheating.’ She lifted the glass to her lips, desperately trying to catch me.
‘All’s fair in drink and friendship,’ I laughed, wiping my lips on the back of my hand as I set the last glass down and waited for her to do the same. I got a scowl that Daphne would have been proud of before she shook her head and started laughing.
‘You’re a piece of work. I’ll get you back for that.’
‘Yeah, yeah, talk to the rump, Garcia, as this one’s on its way to shake its stuff on the dance floor,’ I told her as I spun and unsteadily made my way over.
I grinned when I cast a look over my shoulder to see her sigh and follow me. I was glad she was here. Everyone except for Heath was coupled up. I hated being at weddings as a single thirty-something. It was like all heads spun Exorcist-style to stare at you, like you were an alien species. Miller had been really sweet and invited Kitt to the evening party, but he wasn’t able to make it.
The three guys had got on really well when I’d treated them to a day out, even if Kitt had totally thrashed them both in all things target practice, leading to them setting up the event as a quarterly thing to try and win back their pride. Miller and Kitt had started having a few pints together in The Cock on a Friday night, Kitt either getting a taxi home or crashing out in my spare room. It was great to see him free of some responsibility from time to time, just being a thirty-year-old guy hanging out with his pal.
I didn’t regret encouraging the boy’s time, but I did kind of miss having him to myself each Friday night. I hadn’t realised just how much I looked forward to our few hours together each week.
New Year’s Eve
I heard a car pull up and a door shut, and even though it didn’t sound like Kitt’s car, I quickly pushed a sleeping Tibbs off my lap and ran to the front door. I threw it open and looked out, but my drive was empty.
‘Hey, gorgeous.’ A masculine voice that sounded like Weston’s drifted over the hedge.
‘Hey, you. How are you?’ Georgie replied.
‘Better for kissing you. But I think I need more kisses, just to be sure.’
‘Just to be sure.’
I giggled to myself as I heard the unmistakable suction noise of a passionate kiss and padded across the grass to look over the hedge, only to find them locked in an embrace on the front door step.
‘I’d shout “Get a room,” but it’s not like you need to go far,’ I yelled to surprise them. I succeeded in making them jump and quickly separate. Weston coughed and bent down to pick up his overnight bag. Georgie tried to discreetly wipe her mouth before she looked over at me, and I gave her a wide grin.
‘Hey, Charlie.’ Weston saluted me and disappeared inside with Bertie.
‘So freakin’ hot to watch,’ I said, fanning my face. I couldn’t remember the last time a guy had kissed me with that intensity.
‘Try being on the receiving end, I think he just incinerated my underwear. What are you doing out in the garden at this time?’ Georgie asked.
‘I got excited when I heard a car pull up, I thought it was Kitt with my pizza delivery.’
‘I still find it hilarious that you’ve ended up such good friends with the pizza delivery guy,’ she laughed.
‘He’s a really nice guy, we’ve become close through my love of pizza,’ I smiled.
‘Anyway, why are you having pizza delivered? I thought you’d be out painting the town red with Quinn on New Year’s Eve.’
‘She decided to go over to New York to see her old friends,’ I shrugged. ‘She asked me to go with her, but I have a deadline to meet.’
‘All work and no play.’
‘I know, I know, but now that I’m traditionally published, I’ve got to keep up my end of the deal.’
‘You can come and join Weston and me, we were just going to have a quiet night in,’ Georgie offered.
‘Nah,’ I said, flicking my wrist. ‘It’s so sweet of you to offer, but you don’t see much of each other as it is, go get loved up. Anyway, Kitt’s coming down the lane with my pizza and I didn’t order enough for all of us, and you know how I hate to share my food.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Positive, I’ve always been tight when it comes to food, especially pizza. How do you think I managed to get all these sexy arse curves?’ I winked.
‘Well, you know where we are if you change your mind.’
‘I won’t, but thank you for offering. Happy New Year, Georgie, enjoy your romantic evening.’ I blew her a kiss and she blew me one back.
‘Happy New Year, Charlie. I have a feeling this is going to be your year. Dr. Fitton is going to see what’s been in front of him all this time and sweep you off your feet.’
‘One can dream,’ I sighed. I’d felt so close to a breakthrough with him the last time I’d seen him, and now I was back to weeks of no sightings. She smiled at me and headed inside. ‘Hey, Kitt,’ I called as he got out of his car.
‘Hey you. What are you doing outside?’
‘Well, I raced out when Weston turned up, as I thought it was the pepperoni pizza.’
‘So you were more excited about the food than seeing me? Thanks,’ he laughed as he turned to dip his head back in the car.
‘You know I’m always happy to see you, pizza or no pizza, but I won’t lie. Knowing you’re coming with my favourite meal always adds that extra level of excitement to your visits,’ I teased. He laughed and reappeared, holding two large boxes with a few smaller ones on top. ‘You brought treats as well?’
‘Yes,’ he chuckled. ‘As it’s a special occasion, I brought spicy potato wedges and New York cheesecake, too.’
‘You fiend,’ I groaned as he headed through the side gate and over to me. ‘What will I ever do if that place closes? I’d be lost without your visits.’
‘Are you sure you want me to hang out with you tonight?’ he asked, making me slap his arm.
‘I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t. I need a night off from writing and if you weren’t here, I’d just end up with my head in my laptop. Do you mind if we eat the pizza out here? I know it’s kind of crisp, but I lit the fire earlier and didn’t realise how hot it had got in there until I came out.’
‘Sure,’ he agreed, flicking his head over to our bench. ‘I love sitting out here. It’s so peaceful and you get to see all the stars that I can’t see when I’m at home.’
‘It was like that in Cheltenham. You don’t realise how much air and light pollution there is until you move out to the countryside,’ I agreed as we sat down and he set the boxes in between us.
‘Do you miss not being in the thick of it all?’
‘No way,’ I uttered, almost salivating at the smells coming from the boxes. ‘How about you? You can hardly compare a market town like Shrewsbury to a huge city like Newcastle.’
‘I did miss it to start with,’ he nodded, handing over my pizza box, then opening the one containing the potato wedges between us. ‘But I did the whole clubbing scene in my twenties, it’s not really what I’m looking for now.’
‘What are you looking for?’
‘What most guys my age are. Settling down and thinking about a family, not that it will happen while I’m looking after Mum.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever asked how old you are,’ I mumbled as I set to work on my dinner. I was way past being embarrassed to let Kitt see me scoffing my food, he didn’t care.
‘Or me you,’ he smiled. ‘Take a guess.’
‘I’ll save you a cuff around the ear if you say a figure that’s way higher than I am by saying that I think you’re around my age, thirty-two next month.’
‘I think that instead of a cuff you’d have proposed to me, as I was going to say twenty-seven. You look good for an old bird,’ he chuckled.
‘Hey,’ I protested. ‘I could still cuff you, Daphne style. So, have I just insulted you?’
‘Not at all, I’m flattered myself as I’m actually thirty-three. I could be your hot sugar daddy.’
‘Ewww,’ I shuddered, pulling a face.
‘Thanks a lot,’ he huffed as he looked at me, aghast.
‘It’s the sugar daddy reference. It’s a hot taboo trope in my field, but I just don’t see the appeal of daddy role-play. It totally grosses me out.’
‘Me too,’ he agreed, grabbing a slice of his favourite seafood pizza. We were real creatures of habit.
We sat in happy silence, soaking up the crisp air and unhindered view of the blanket of stars overhead, until we heard a commotion from next door.
‘Treat? You call this a treat? Charlie, Charlie!’ Georgie’s voice screamed. I saw Weston’s head bobbing along the top of the hedge as he marched towards her front gate. ‘Help me, I’m being kidnapped against my will! Owww, what the hell was that?’ she exclaimed after the sound of a sharp slap.
‘Screaming is very unladylike behaviour, Georgina,’ Weston said, as Kitt and I stood up to see what on earth was going on.
‘Oh you … you … brute. Put me down. Charlie, seriously, do something!’
‘I wouldn’t be shrieking if he had me over his shoulder like that,’ I called back when I saw her hanging down Weston’s back with his hand on her backside. He flashed me a grin. ‘It’s seriously hot. I’m getting images of him just wearing those firefighter trousers and braces, his bare chest and biceps all oiled up,’ I giggled. Weston chuckled, and Kitt laughed when Georgie swore at me.
‘It’s not hot. He’s forcing me to go to The Cock,’ she moaned as Weston stepped out into the lane.
‘Are your neighbours always so brutally honest?’ Kitt asked with a look of amazement on his face.
‘Not Weston’s,’ I laughed, swatting his arm. ‘She meant The Cock & Bull pub. She won’t go inside and I think it’s a great idea he’s forcing her to go. You have every right to be in there, Georgie,’ I shouted as Weston jumped over the stile into the paddock opposite, with her still slung over his shoulder. ‘Don’t let either of them drive you out.’
‘Our friendship is officially over, Charlie,’ she hollered back.
‘Why’s she so upset about going to the pub?’ Kitt asked.
‘She was engaged, and her fiancé two-timed her with the slutty barmaid Rowena. Georgie’s too ashamed to show her face in there now, as that homewrecker still works there.’
‘That sucks.’
‘It does. I don’t get men sometimes. You have a beautiful and intelligent girl like Georgie agree to marry you, and you mess around behind her back?’
‘Some guys just want to have their cake and eat it, and they give the rest of us an unfair reputation.’
‘You’ve never cheated on a girlfriend?’
‘No. You’re either with someone or you’re not. If you love someone, there shouldn’t be room in your heart to let anyone else in, not even for a quick night of drunken fun. Hey, you’re shivering, let’s get inside,’ he suggested.
‘Ok, it has gone a bit chilly,’ I agreed. ‘But this time guard your pizza, or Tibbs will be off with it again.’
‘Does she have a thing for cheesecake as well?’
‘She won’t live to see the New Year in if she does,’ I said as we grabbed our boxes and headed in to the warmth. ‘There’s a taxidermist a few villages over. I’ve warned her that if she keeps misbehaving, I’ll have her stuffed and mounted in a curled up sleeping position, so I can put her wherever I want and pet her without losing a hand. All the benefits of a pet without the expense of food, litter, and vet bills.’
‘You’re evil,’ he laughed, shaking his head as I grinned at him.
‘You’re super fidgety,’ Kitt complained as I wriggled next to him on the sofa, trying to get comfortable.
‘I like to lie down on the sofa to watch TV when I’ve eaten,’ I protested.
‘So lie down,’ he said, putting a cushion on his lap and patting it.
‘Isn’t snuggling against the rules in the “friends of the opposite sex” handbook?’ I asked, eyeing him curiously.
‘There’s a handbook?’
‘No,’ I laughed. ‘Well actually, there probably is. Someone’s bound to have written one, explaining the lines that shouldn’t be crossed in case people get the wrong impression.’
‘For God’s sake, Charlie, lie down,’ he muttered. ‘I’m already aware that you’re in love with the doctor, it’s not like I’m about to read into you watching TV with your head on my lap and think my luck is in.’
‘Who said I’m in love? When did I mention love?’ I exclaimed.
‘You’re not?’ he asked with a frown.
‘I don’t know him. Trust me, it’s all about the lust, definitely not about love. You can’t fall in love with someone you don’t even know.’
‘So how many times have you been in love?’ he asked as he patted the cushion.
‘I don’t think I ever have been. I’m not sure I’d even know if I was,’ I said as I tucked up my legs on the sofa and snuggled down with my head on his lap.
‘Huh,’ he huffed as he stretched his arm along the back of the plump leather sofa back.
‘How about you?’ I asked, twisting my head to look up at him.
‘Once,’ he nodded. ‘We started dating in college, but it didn’t work out.’
‘How come?’
‘We didn’t see much of each other when we went to universities on different sides of the country, and when we graduated and got together more often, we realised we’d grown apart, so agreed to separate.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ he smiled down at me. ‘It fizzled out, it wasn’t a huge, painful break-up that had me turning to drink to drown my sorrows. Does that sound heartless?’
‘No. I guess if you know something’s not working, you’re prepared for the inevitable. You grieve for the loss of the relationship daily over a long period of time, rather than it being a shock and hitting you all at once.’
‘Hmmm,’ he nodded, with a serious, contemplative look on his face.
‘What are you thinking?’ I asked after a few minutes of silence.
‘I …’ He shook his head and ran a hand over his mouth. ‘We’re friends, right? Good friends?’
‘I’d say we’re the best of friends,’ I smiled. ‘Why?’
‘There’s things I think and feel about my situation that sometimes make me wonder if I’m becoming cold and heartless, and I’m worried if I tell you, you’ll see me differently.’
‘What?’ I gasped, quickly turning over to save getting a crick in my neck. ‘You’re one of the most warm-hearted and generous people I know, Kitt. How can you think that?’
‘Is it normal to sometimes wish my mum wasn’t suffering anymore? That she’d slip away peacefully?’ he asked in a pained tone, signs of confusion written all over his face. ‘I wouldn’t wish this life on anyone, not the way she’s living, or me. She has no idea what’s really going on around her, she doesn’t recognise her friends or her own son. She verbally and physically abuses me when she’s having an extra bad day, and it’s days like those that I find really hard.’
‘Anyone would find that hard, Kitt,’ I said softly, picking up his hand and squeezing it tightly. It hurt my heart to think how much he gave of himself for no gratitude. ‘I think what you’re feeling is perfectly normal. You want your mum back. You’re stuck in a toxic relationship, but feel obligated to stay because she is your mum and you remember how things used to be. And the fact that you do stay, that you haven’t stuck her in permanent care so you can get on and enjoy your life, says just how big your heart really is.’
‘You think?’ He gave me a pained smile.
‘I know,’ I said firmly. ‘You’re not wishing she was dead, you’re looking at it through compassionate eyes, wishing her suffering, and yours, was over. It’s like your relationship with the girl you loved. Without you being able to sustain it, it’s slowly dying. The only difference is you still love your mum. I’m sure when the day comes that she slips away, you’re going to be sad, but you’ll also feel a huge sense of relief, and there’s nothing wrong with that.’
‘Thanks,’ he said quietly, squeezing my hand back. ‘Jesus, talk about a depressing conversation to bring down the start of a New Year.’
‘It’s not depressing. It’s beautiful to see just how far people will go for the ones they love. It’s inspiring, actually. You, Kitt Fraser, Pizzaman extraordinaire, are an inspiration. I’m a lucky girl to have a friend like you in my life.’
I struggled up off his lap and planted a kiss on his cheek, then wrapped him up in a tight hug. He hesitated for a moment, then banded his arms around me as well. I closed my eyes and enjoyed feeling the warmth and comfort of being held so tightly. It had been a long time and I’d forgotten how great it felt, like I was cared for and protected, safe.
‘I’m the lucky one. How many customers would look past the guy who does a menial job of delivering food and see the man behind him?’ He shrugged as he released me and I sat back up.
‘There’s nothing wrong with what you do, it suits your life right now and is a means to an end. And even if it wasn’t, as long as you’re happy doing any job, that’s all that matters. People put too much emphasis on having to have “a career” or a “decent job.” Jobs pay money so you can live, they shouldn’t be the main focus of your life.’
‘Says the woman who buries herself in work,’ he laughed, his mood visibly lifting from one of melancholy to the cheerful guy I’d come to know.
‘But to me this isn’t work, I love what I do. It inspires me to get up each morning as I’m so excited to get words on paper. The fact it pays me a living is a bonus, obviously. So, if you weren’t delivering pizza, which by the way would break my heart if you stopped, what would you be doing?’ I asked.
‘I’m actually an architect.’ A slow smile spread across his face, his eyes lighting up with an enthusiasm and passion I’d never seen before. ‘I was working for a large firm in Newcastle, but obviously had to quit to come and take care of Mum.’
‘And that job made you happy? It was the one that made you want to leap out of bed every morning, like writing does for me?’ I asked as I curled back up on his lap and looked up at him.
‘It did,’ he nodded. ‘I miss it. I miss using my brain and I hate the way people look down on me without knowing what I’m actually capable of. Except you.’ He gave me a soft smile of gratitude and ran his hand over my hair, gently tucking some stray strands behind my ear, which sent a shiver down my spine. ‘You never treated me like just the delivery guy. You saw me when you didn’t even know me. You’re the least judgemental person I’ve ever met, and that’s a beautiful character trait to have, Charlie.’
‘Don’t make me blush,’ I giggled, doing just that as I tucked my hands under my heated cheeks. ‘I must have recognised another creative thinker, a kindred spirit. Your face just lit up when you said what you used to do. I like seeing you look like that. You’ve heard my entire life story since we met, but you never told me anything about your passion. Tonight, I’m all ears, and considering you know how much I love to talk, you’ll appreciate what a rarity that is,’ I said, making him laugh. ‘So, come on, the floor is yours. Tell me all about what your job entails and why you love it so much.’
‘You’re sure I’m not going to bore you?’
‘Do I look in a rush to go anywhere?’
‘No, you’re looking pretty settled.’ He laughed as Mrs. Tibbles jumped up onto the sofa and nestled herself on my side as she started to purr and painfully knead me. ‘And that definitely settles it, neither of us are going anywhere until she decides we can. They’re going to find our skeletons still sitting in the same position sometime next year as we’re too scared to move the demon cat.’
‘She’s not that bad, are you, Tibbs,’ I cooed as I bravely rubbed the side of her face. Her loud purr was a rare and welcome sound.
‘I bet she’s only happy as I let her have some prawns off my pizza, and now she’s hoping for some cheesecake.’
‘She can keep her grubby little paws off that. Oh no, it’s the countdown,’ I exclaimed as the chants from ten to zero radiated from the TV behind me. ‘God damn it, Tibbs, I’m going to miss the fireworks.’
‘I’ll record it, we can watch them together when she moves,’ Kitt said, picking up the remote from the arm of the sofa. ‘Happy New Year, Charlie. Wishing you wealth and happiness, and a serious bucket load of health, as you need all the help you can get.’
‘I do,’ I laughed. ‘Happy New Year, Kitt. If I could reach my champagne, I’d toast to friendship and good luck. I have a feeling that things are going to improve for you this year, because no one deserves a lucky break more than you.’
We smiled at each other as the sound of cheering and fireworks exploded behind us.
Another year full of possibilities and change. I was looking forward to finding out what it would bring. I had a sense that it was going to be momentous.