The Promise of Summer

by Bella Osborne

  ‘I’m not even going to ask,’ muttered Curtis and he traipsed back into the changing rooms.

  After a quick coffee and Coke break, they set off again. They didn’t last long in Hollister – the noise and smell were too much for Curtis – but she did manage to get him to try on a couple of nicely fitted plain T-shirts before she admitted defeat. He was a lot more at home in Jack Wills, the slightly formal side of casual was right up his street. Ruby found a few things she wanted him to try and he offered up a couple more. She felt a small drop of pride as he presented her with a striped shirt.

  ‘That would look amazing with these.’ She pulled some navy chinos off a rail, ushered him over to a mirror and held the clothes against him.

  Curtis stared at his reflection. ‘I like them,’ he said at last and Ruby wanted to hug him.

  ‘Try them on. That’s my top tip. Always try clothes on and remember the sizing is just a guide. Don’t get hung up on it. If you need a size bigger then go bigger.’ She heard her mum’s voice in her own.

  Curtis didn’t look like he fully understood but he said okay and took the bundle they’d acquired off to the changing rooms. This time when he came out, he looked different and not merely because of the clothes. The way he held himself, the comments and critique he made about the fit showed his interest. On his third change he came out in a logo’d T-shirt and tailored shorts.

  ‘I’m thinking yes to the shorts but no to the T-shirt,’ he said, leaning forward as if seeking her approval.

  ‘Totally agree. Try the pink T-shirt, with those shorts.’

  ‘Pink.’ He didn’t look sure. ‘Okay,’ he said, nodding his head vigorously as if he needed to psych himself up.

  When he emerged, Ruby felt a little emotional. ‘Look at my little boy all grown up,’ she joked.

  ‘Is it all right?’ He turned to check himself in the large mirror.

  ‘You look great.’ He looked more than great. He looked amazing. Gone were the formal suits and shirts and with it the crusty hard edges of Curtis. The man before her was like the male equivalent of the caterpillar to butterfly transformation. He definitely looked fanciable now and she was proud of the part she’d played in his metamorphosis.

  ‘And you think Cordelia will approve?’

  Hearing her name brought Ruby back to reality. They were doing all this for another woman. ‘Of course, she’ll love you. I mean it. She’ll love it.’ How could she not?

  It was a busy Friday in the shop and Ruby was finding it hard to concentrate. Unhelpful images of Curtis in a variety of new outfits kept popping up in her mind, especially the one of him trying on a pair of swimming shorts. They’d been in the sale, so she’d added them to the pile and he’d come out of the changing rooms to show her, like for all the other outfits, only on this occasion he had been topless.

  ‘Hey. You okay?’ asked the customer, waving a hand in front of Ruby’s face. She’d zoned out again.

  ‘Me? Yeah. Sorry. You want to pay for the Curtis … I mean cactus.’ She could feel Kim’s eyes dart in her direction but she ignored her. She finished the transaction and then went into the back room to give Boomer a fuss. He jumped about a bit, so she ignored him as Kim had instructed her to do and eventually, he sat down and she gave him a head rub.

  What was happening? She didn’t fancy Curtis. Being attracted to Curtis would be like being turned on by a robot. It made no sense. Her phone sprang into life, making the dog bark and Ruby jump. It was Curtis.

  ‘Hey, you,’ she said and cringed at the false way it sounded.

  ‘Hello, Ruby. I know this isn’t within your job description but I’ve been told that I can move back into my house and I was wondering if …’ Ruby’s brain filled in the slight pause with a multitude of options, some of them including Curtis in his swim shorts ‘… you’d be interested in helping me purchase new soft furnishings?’

  Okay that wasn’t one of the things she’d imagined. ‘You want me to shop with you?’

  ‘It’s something you appear to be well qualified for. The builders have finished and I’m moving back in tonight but the place is a bit sparse as a lot had to be disposed of. I’m not good with interior design but I have a feeling you are.’

  She didn’t want to seem overly keen. ‘I guess I could come over and give you a few suggestions. Let me check my diary …’ She left a pause.

  ‘I was thinking you could come over this evening to see what I have that’s staying because anything new would need to match. And then perhaps we could shop online?’

  ‘I can probably move a few things around,’ she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

  ‘I’m sorry. If you’re busy that’s fine. I can google someone local to—’

  ‘No, no, no. I’ve checked and I’m free,’ she said in a hurried voice.

  ‘Great.’ He sounded pleased. ‘Do you like cottage pie?’

  ‘Yeah. Who doesn’t? It’s as English as Saint George,’ she said, marvelling at her own geekiness.

  ‘He was Greek.’

  ‘Right. Thanks for that nugget – it’s good to know. I still like cottage pie.’

  ‘Then I’ll cook. I’ll pay you, too, for your time.’

  ‘Just the cottage pie will be lovely,’ she said.

  ‘Excellent. Seven o’clock?’

  ‘See you then.’

  She ended the call and held the phone to her chest. He was going to cook for her and then she was going to spend his money on soft furnishings – it was pretty much her ideal date.

  Kim’s head popped through what was left of the beaded curtain and she coughed, making Ruby hastily stop hugging her phone and shove it back in her pocket.

  ‘Customers,’ said Kim and she disappeared.

  Ruby served an elderly gentleman while Kim was taking details of an order. The door chimed and in walked Adrian. He glanced at Kim but waited behind the elderly gent as if waiting for Ruby. She gave the man his change and he left.

  ‘Hi, Adrian. Usual?’ asked Ruby.

  ‘Please.’ He gave a trite smile and watched her closely while she made up the bunch of flowers for him. Usually he would have been talking to Kim but, even if Ruby hadn’t been serving him, she got the distinct impression the two of them wouldn’t have been chatting. It was such a shame. Everything had become complicated thanks to Hayley.

  Kim finished with her customer and scuttled out the back where she had a word with Boomer. Ruby saw Adrian lean to one side to get a look at the dog – or was it Kim? ‘You can go and say “Hi” if you’d like,’ said Ruby. ‘To Boomer.’

  ‘What? Oh, it’s okay. Thanks,’ said Adrian, handing her his card.

  Another customer came in and Kim reappeared shortly after the door sounded. ‘How can I help?’ Kim asked the young man who was wearing a fluorescent jacket and carrying a couple of small bunches of sad-looking chrysanthemums.

  ‘I’m a bit short of cash but I want to give my girlfriend a really nice bouquet. Could you rewrap these with a big bow? What would that cost?’

  Ruby braced herself for Kim’s response. This had been happening more frequently after they’d done it a couple of times and now folk were taking advantage they’d had to put a firm stop to it. With Kim’s current mood this bloke was likely to get a very blunt response indeed.

  ‘Apart from my credibility and sanity?’ Kim’s eyes were doing that fixed stare you saw villains do in films right before they glowed red.

  ‘Sorry?’ The man looked confused.

  ‘Let me put it this way: would you buy a steak from Aldi and take it to The Ritz and ask them to cook it for you?’

  ‘No, but wouldn’t that be a lovely thing to do?’ He flashed Kim a cheeky grin but it only seemed to make her scowl harder.

  ‘Sod off!’ She waved her arm at him. The ferocity made him bolt for the door.

  He checked over his shoulder as he left. ‘You’ve lost my business.’

  ‘Good!’ Kim slammed the door behind him.

  Adrian cleared his throat. Ru
by was still holding his bouquet, transfixed by the exchange.

  ‘Here you go,’ she said, handing it over. Adrian took it and with a glance at Kim gave an imperceptible shake of his head.

  ‘Have you got something to say?’ asked Kim, her hands shooting to her hips as if in challenge.

  ‘Your temper is losing you customers now.’ He reached for the door and Ruby prepared for Armageddon.

  ‘What, him?’ Kim laughed. ‘He’s not a customer. He wanted something for nowt. I’m worth more than that. And anyway, I’m completely calm.’ She relaxed her stance, put her hands in her pockets and slumped against the counter at an odd angle, making her look like she may have had a stroke.

  ‘Boomer seems well,’ said Adrian, looking uncomfortable.

  ‘Why wouldn’t he?’

  ‘Okay, Kim. You know what? It’s none of my business any more.’ He held up his hands, and the flowers, in surrender and went to move towards the door.

  Kim beat him there and opened the door for him. ‘You’re right, it’s not.’

  Adrian paused for a moment and Ruby was willing him to say something that would make things better between them. She so wanted those two to get together.

  ‘Hello,’ called out a cheery voice. Vince stepped through the open door.

  Kim swallowed hard. ‘Well, hello, Vince.’ She said his name clearly and Adrian’s head snapped up. Their eyes met and Kim’s eyebrows jumped up, daring him to comment.

  ‘Bye, Kim,’ said Adrian. He put his head down and left. Kim watched him leave until Vince’s arm snaked around her shoulders and seemed to bring her attention back to him. She shrugged off his arm.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she said, shutting the door and pasting on a smile.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Curtis’s house looked quite different from the last time Ruby had seen it. The lorry had gone, the fencing had been replaced and there was no sign at all, apart from the freshly painted frontage, that there had ever been an accident. She noted the returfed section of lawn as she knocked on the door.

  ‘It’s open,’ came his muffled call from inside.

  She walked in and the smell of home-cooked food assaulted her nostrils. Her stomach rumbled in response. She shut the door and lingered a moment in the hallway to look at the single photograph on the plain white wall. A couple and an awkward-looking teenage boy smiled back at her. She could tell the man in the photograph was Harry and behind the braces, she could see Curtis.

  ‘Good, you did hear me,’ said Curtis, poking his head into the hall. He saw what she was looking at.

  ‘Your mum was beautiful.’

  ‘Yes, she was. Her name was Ayida,’ said Curtis and then he disappeared. Ruby followed him towards the increasingly strong scent of dinner. He was wearing one of the Jack Wills polo shirts in navy and had successfully teamed it with the cream chinos. She wasn’t sure about the flip-flops but the rest of the outfit looked good. He caught her scanning him over.

  ‘Does it not go together? Because you said stick with opposite colours. Light and dark so I thought …’

  She waved his words away. ‘It looks great. You’ve got it spot on.’

  ‘Only thanks to you.’ He took some cutlery from a drawer and handed them to Ruby. He nodded at the table at the far end of the kitchen. ‘Five minutes to dinner. Could you lay the table?’

  ‘Sure.’ Ruby looked around the kitchen. Gloss white units, white-washed walls and a plain slate grey floor. The room was in monochrome just like Curtis. Or how he had used to be. She snuck another look at him in his new outfit but he was bending over, so she quickly looked away.

  Curtis served up the food and they sat down to eat. Ruby tried a corner of her cottage pie. The flavours were a riot on her tongue. There was the mix of the creamy mash and the rich mince gravy she was expecting but there was a hint of spiciness too. ‘This is really good.’

  ‘You sound surprised.’

  ‘If I’m honest, I am. I suppose we all make assumptions about people but I figured you were all numbers, spreadsheets and logic and that is my bad. You’re a great cook.’

  ‘Thank you but cooking is very logical. And I always find it odd that people praise the cook when all they have done is read a recipe. The skill is in the balancing of flavours, the alchemy of mixing ingredients in the correct quantities, not the reading and following of instructions.’

  ‘I’d not looked at it like that,’ she said in between forkfuls. ‘Who have I got to thank for this recipe? I’m guessing it’s not a Delia Smith.’

  ‘It was Ayida’s recipe. I’ve a few like this. Her parents were Jamaican. She told me as a child they ate mainly Caribbean food at home but she loved to go to friends’ houses for tea because the food was different. When she cooked for herself, she sort of took the best of both.’

  ‘Great idea and this is delicious.’ Ruby noted that she was almost finished and she slowed down.

  ‘My favourite is her jerk roast chicken followed by banana, pineapple and chocolate trifle for dessert.’

  ‘I love pineapple. Stop, I’ll be moving in.’

  Curtis appeared momentarily startled at the prospect. ‘I can share the recipes with you. Ayida wrote out my favourites when I went to university. They are very straightforward. Like I said, it’s just reading.’

  They ate in silence for a while. She took time to pour herself a glass of water from a jug already on the table.

  ‘I might have found you a man,’ said Curtis.

  Ruby wasn’t sure how she felt about that as it had been a while since she’d even thought about their arrangement. ‘Let’s have some details then.’

  ‘His name is Martin and he is single. He’s one of the new testers and has an interesting background in analytics and—’

  ‘Stop.’ Ruby held up her fork. ‘I’m not looking to employ him. What’s he like as a potential boyfriend?’

  ‘I have a photograph.’ He got out his phone and showed the screen to Ruby. A slightly bewildered looking fortyish male was looking into the camera; assuming he had been propositioned by Curtis, the confused expression was understandable. Curtis continued. ‘He’s clean and tidy and calm in a crisis. I understand he enjoys snooker, both playing and watching it, so was very interested that you live near the Crucible. He is indifferent to Cleethorpes and the seaside but has made pension provisions and has no allergies to cats.’

  ‘Wow. You’ve done your research.’

  ‘Of course.’ He seemed mildly affronted at the inference that he wouldn’t have. ‘Shall I pass on your details?’

  Martin didn’t sound like he was going to set her world on fire but Curtis looked pleased with his work. She really didn’t have anything to lose. ‘Er, yeah. Why not?’

  Curtis took a photo of her with her mouth open. ‘Hey!’

  ‘He asked for a photograph.’

  ‘Then we’ll take a flattering one with filters after dinner,’ she said, taking his phone off him and putting it out of reach.

  ‘All right.’

  She had another look around the pristine kitchen. ‘They’ve done a good job in here. But it needs some colour to liven it up. Maybe some coloured small appliances; kettle, toaster that sort of thing. Plus a bright blind for the window and some pictures on this wall.’ She pointed to the expanse of white behind him and he spun around. He turned back to look at her with his usual slightly puzzled expression.

  ‘This room wasn’t affected. I didn’t think anything needed to be done in here.’

  ‘Whoops. Sorry.’ She focused on finishing her cottage pie.

  ‘It’s okay, Ruby. I value your opinion.’ He glanced around the room as if seeing it in a new light. ‘I suspect you’re right. I’ll add those things to the list. Could you choose an appropriate colour?’

  ‘With pleasure.’

  They stacked the dishwasher together. To be more accurate, Ruby started to stack it until Curtis took out the couple of things she’d put in, as he ha
d an optimum way of filling the dishwasher. After that, she handed him the dirty stuff and let him do it his way. They retired to the living room with drinks.

  Ruby took it all in from the doorway. It had the same white walls – she was sensing a theme. The room was spacious and uncluttered but somewhat sterile.

  ‘No sofas or chairs?’ she asked.

  ‘They were wrecked in the accident. I’ll get something for us to sit on.’ He disappeared and she studied the room: a wood burner and the sturdy wooden beam above it were the central focus, not a television like in most homes. A small TV was in the corner – from its angle she got the feeling it was little used. A large white bookshelf was crammed with books but at a glance she could see none of them were novels – they were all academic and if she wasn’t very much mistaken, they were in alphabetical order by author. There were no pictures, no photographs or ornaments.

  Curtis appeared with two garden chairs and offered one to Ruby.

  ‘Thoughts?’ Curtis opened his laptop and was poised, studying her closely for a reaction.

  ‘It’s a lovely room. There’s lots of light.’

  ‘That would be the windows,’ he said with a half-smile.

  She stuck her tongue out at him. ‘I’d say start afresh and go with a whole new colour scheme. What colour were you thinking?’

  ‘White.’

  ‘That’s not a colour scheme. It’s the blank canvas you start with. Like the kitchen, it needs some colour.’

  ‘But what colour?’ he asked.

  ‘Hmm, good question. What colours do you like?’

  Curtis scratched his head. He took a while to answer. ‘There aren’t any I don’t like.’

  ‘But what’s your favourite?’

  He narrowed his eyes. ‘Why would I have a favourite colour? I’m not seven.’ To anyone else he might have sounded rude but knowing him, as she now did, she just laughed.

  ‘Because normal people have preferences for this sort of stuff. It’s how the rest of the folk on this planet express themselves, by the choices they make and the impression they show to the world.’