by Heidi Swain
‘Need a hand?’ said a voice behind me.
It was Jacob.
‘Hey, Jacob,’ I squeaked. What had happened to my voice? ‘Yeah, thanks. That’d be great.’
I cleared my throat and stared ahead, ostensibly admiring the optics.
‘So,’ he said, sounding every bit as awkward as I was feeling, ‘how’s your week been? I heard the shop’s been really busy. I’ve been meaning to come along but . . .’
His words trailed off as I reached the front of the queue and ordered our round, remembering to ask for plenty of ice for Lou’s G and T.
‘You were saying,’ I said, turning to look at him while the guy behind the bar began to pour and fill.
‘Sorry?’
‘You said you were going to come to the shop, but didn’t get to tell me why you hadn’t.’
‘Well—’ he began again.
‘You haven’t been trying to avoid me, by any chance, have you?’ I interrupted with a smile.
There was no point in beating about the bush. If we didn’t at least give a nod to how our last encounter had ended we were going to face an evening of furtive glances and disjointed chat that the others would, no doubt, pick up on. After the week I’d had I didn’t think I could cope with that. Best to have the conversation now, while we were out of earshot.
‘No,’ he said, looking a little flustered, ‘no, of course not.’
‘That’s all right then.’ I nodded. ‘It’s just that I noticed you’ve been getting a lift in to work with Hannah and I wondered if that was because you didn’t want to walk with me.’
‘No,’ he said again, more firmly this time. ‘No, nothing like that. It’s just that it’s almost the end of term and I’ve had loads of extra stuff to ferry backwards and forwards. We’re putting on an end-of-year performance, the class that is, not me, and I’ve been working on the props and stuff in the evenings.’
‘Right.’ I smiled. ‘I see.’
‘Although,’ he added, dropping his voice, ‘I have been feeling really rotten about what happened, but that’s not why I haven’t been around.’
‘Well, that’s all right then,’ I lied.
It really wasn’t all right at all but I could hardly say as much, could I? I didn’t want him feeling rotten about it; I wanted him so overcome with desire that he had made a point of avoiding me for fear of finding the urge to kiss me again irresistible. I know I had told myself I didn’t want to jeopardise our bond, that the spark had to be snuffed out, that his baggage would help ensure I kept him at a friend-appropriate arm’s length, but actually standing there next to him for the first time since our lips had met, I was flabbergasted to realise that I was prepared to risk our friendship.
It was finally time to accept what I had, without comprehending it, been feeling for weeks. Jacob was the man who I wanted to go the distance with.
‘There you go, Poppy,’ said the barman.
‘Thanks,’ I stuttered, fumbling to hand over the cash. ‘Thanks very much.’
I took my change and the crisps and Jacob carried the tray out to the garden.
‘Evening, Lou,’ he said with a grin. ‘You’re looking very lovely this evening. What’s the occasion? Are you going on somewhere later?’
I sat back down, trying not to feel niggled that he hadn’t commented on my appearance, but then given that I’d had a sweaty day working in the shop there was nothing he could compliment me on anyway.
‘Thank you, Jacob,’ said Lou, shooting him a friendly grin as she sipped her ice-packed glass, ‘how lovely of you to say so.’
It wasn’t all that long ago that they’d met and fallen out within a matter of minutes. It was mind-blowing to think of how much had changed, for all of us, in such a short space of time.
‘I have no plans to go anywhere else,’ she added, ‘but the night is still young.’
Jacob laughed as Colin appeared, framed in the pub doorway, and I realised that his and Lou’s relationship wasn’t the only thing that had altered. Colin looked more relaxed than I had ever seen him, in spite of everything he’d recently been through with his father.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ he said, rushing over as Lou ushered me out of my seat to ensure that Colin had no choice but to sit next to her. ‘Mark popped in to say that he was bailing on us because Neil had finished work on time for once and Natalie called just as I was about to leave.’
The smallest sigh escaped Lou’s lips and I wasn’t the only one to notice it. Jacob caught my eye and I realised that he too was well aware of why Lou was going out of her way these days to look even more stunning than usual. Of course, the irony was that the only person who hadn’t realised was the one who had thought she was perfect however she looked for the last goodness knows how many years!
‘Is everything all right with your dad?’ Jacob asked.
‘Yes,’ said Colin, reaching under the table to make a fuss of Gus. ‘He’s doing really well, thanks. This was more of a social call.’
‘Right,’ said Jacob, looking at me again. ‘You and Natalie seem to be getting on well.’
I raised my eyebrows in a what the hell are you doing kind of way and he shrugged back at me, indicating that he had no idea but felt he had to say something. I looked at Lou, who had suddenly become more interested in something on her phone than the conversation going on around her.
‘Yeah,’ said Colin, his face flushing as red as Lou’s, ‘we are. I’m hoping to go and see her next weekend. And to check up on Dad of course,’ he hastily added.
‘But what about the shop?’ Lou asked, tuning back in as quickly as she’d allegedly zoned out. ‘It would be a shame if you shut for the weekend and missed out on all the extra trade the makeover is bringing in, wouldn’t it?’
‘You’re right,’ he agreed. ‘And there’s no way I’d do that. I’ve arranged cover.’
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘right.’
‘I take it things are still going well, Colin?’ I asked, keen to move the conversation on to safer ground. ‘With the shop, I mean.’
‘Really well.’ He smiled. ‘I know a certain amount of footfall is down to curiosity and that it will tail off a bit at some point, but so far so good. Lou and Ryan have really turned the fortunes of the place round. And Jacob with the new name, of course.’
Jacob raised his glass.
‘We were pleased to be able to help out,’ said Lou, sounding somewhat appeased. ‘Have you had many comments about the window display?’
The current display depicted a beach scene, complete with sand, flamingo-themed accessories and a variety of popular beach and summer holiday reads.
‘Loads,’ said Colin, ‘so many people have come in and said they didn’t realise I sold those sorts of books. I think because of the dark paintwork and gloomy interior folk assumed it was all non-fiction and musty second-hand atlases and encyclopaedias.’
That didn’t surprise me at all.
‘I sent Natalie a picture of the window earlier in the week and she’s made me promise to keep three of the books for her to take away with her on her holiday next month. Do you think you’ll be ready to change the display by then, Lou?’
I could feel my shoulders slumping almost as low as Lou’s had just dropped.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she said through gritted teeth.
‘Or I suppose I could swap the three titles that Natalie wants for three different ones, couldn’t I?’ he suggested brightly. ‘That way you wouldn’t have to change it and the customers would have some different books to look at.’
‘Great idea,’ Lou agreed.
We all jumped as Jacob’s phone suddenly began to vibrate across the table. He looked completely taken aback but didn’t pick it up.
‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’ Lou asked.
‘Yeah,’ he said, finally snatching it up and glowering at the screen. ‘Sorry. I’ll take it out front. It’ll be quieter there.’
‘I wonder who that was,’ commented Lou, her eyes
trained on his retreating back. ‘Did you see the colour drain from his face?’
‘Do you talk about everyone behind their backs?’ asked Colin.
There was no real sting in his tone, but Lou obviously felt one nonetheless.
‘Well excuse me,’ she bit back, ‘it was just an observation.’
I couldn’t remember a time when the pair of them had ever been so prickly with each other. Lou might have made a career out of teasing Colin and winding him up, but he usually just took it on the chin. I wasn’t sure their friendship was going to survive the changes Colin’s acquaintance with Nurse Natalie had instigated.
‘I’ll just go and ask for some fresh water for the dog bowl,’ I told them. ‘I forgot before and Gus looks as though he could do with a drink.’
There was no sign of Jacob out along the road and I hoped he hadn’t gone home. I didn’t much fancy playing referee to the pair I could now see, through the window, sitting with their backs to each other.
‘Can I have a pint of water for the dog bowl, please?’ I asked at the bar.
‘And how about a drink for your brother and his mate?’
‘Ryan!’ I jumped, turning round. ‘You’re back quick. Was everything all right?’
‘Better than all right actually.’ He grinned. ‘Poppy, this is Joe, Joe this is my sister Poppy.’
‘Hi,’ said Joe, flicking his hair out of his eyes. ‘Ryan’s told me a lot about you.’
‘Yeah,’ I said, looking back at my brother, ‘I’ll bet he has.’
‘Nothing bad.’ Joe smiled, revealing dimples that made him look more boyish than bloke. ‘Not that bad, anyway.’
‘Well,’ I said, feeling relieved that Joe didn’t look like the type of lad who would lead my brother astray. ‘That’s something I suppose. Ryan, why don’t you take that water out for Gus and I’ll get you two drinks. Will Coke be okay?’
‘Yeah,’ said Joe, ‘great, thanks.’
No request for rum and he had lovely manners. The lad was ticking all the right boxes. I was pretty certain that Ryan had asked his friend along to prove to me that he hadn’t hooked up with someone I wouldn’t approve of and I was grateful for that. I had enough on my plate at the moment without having to worry about whether his friendship group was as harmless as he made out.
‘So,’ I asked, as I turfed my brother out of my seat and he and Joe made themselves comfy on the grass. ‘What did Luke want? Is everything all right in the garden?’
‘Graham was there too,’ he said and grinned, ‘they had a favour to ask and yes, everything is absolutely fine in the garden.’
‘The place looks amazing,’ joined in Joe. ‘There’s no way you won’t win the competition.’
I was liking this lad more and more.
‘I hope you’re right, Joe,’ I told him. ‘We’re all working really hard to make sure it’s as perfect as possible in time for the judging.’
‘When exactly is the judging?’ asked Colin.
‘No one knows for sure,’ I explained, ‘that’s why we’re keeping on top of everything now. It will definitely be done before the end of the month though. We’re supposed to get a bit of warning so it’ll be all hands on deck then, but keeping everything in order now will mean there’s less to do when the time comes.’
‘It doesn’t look as if there’s a leaf out of place to me,’ said Joe. ‘My grandad has an allotment south of the city but it’s nothing like your place.’
‘Well,’ I said, feeling proud, ‘I daresay there are more of us to keep it ticking over.’
‘Hey, Jacob,’ said Lou, ‘everything all right?’
‘Yep,’ he said, sliding into the seat next to mine. ‘Fine.’
He didn’t look fine. Lou had commented on his pallor when he went to answer his phone but now he looked positively ashen, and he’d been gone a while. I hoped it wasn’t bad news.
‘So,’ I said, trying to divert everyone’s attention, ‘what was the favour Luke and Graham wanted, Ryan?’
‘Yes,’ said Lou, ‘don’t keep us in suspenders.’
Both Ryan and Joe went bright red, but Colin seemed not to have heard and Jacob looked to be away with the fairies.
‘Well,’ said Ryan, kneeling up, ‘I think I have Jacob to thank really—’
‘Not at all,’ he cut in, looking up at the mention of his name. ‘This is down to you, Ryan.’
So he was listening then, and he knew why Ryan had been asked to go over to Prosperous Place.
‘Go on,’ I encouraged my brother.
‘Graham and Carole are going away for a few days,’ he said, ‘so he’s asked if I would be happy to look after the hens while he’s gone. Just me,’ he said proudly, ‘no one else is going to be on the rota.’
‘That’s wonderful!’ I exclaimed, resisting the urge to give him a hug.
Not only had my brother stopped smoking and learned that alcohol didn’t agree with him, he’d also rediscovered his passion for birds and animals. I was delighted that Graham, having no doubt seen how well he was looking after Gus, considered him responsible enough to look after the Grow-Well girls too.
‘And that’s not all,’ Ryan went on.
‘Go on,’ I said again.
‘Luke and Kate are taking a trip to Wynbridge before the summer holidays and Luke has asked if I would be happy to look after the cats while they’re away. He says he’ll give me a set of keys to Prosperous Place so I can let myself in and out.’
‘Wow, Ryan.’ I swallowed, a lump forming in my throat. ‘That’s amazing. That house means the world to Luke. He wouldn’t trust just anyone to come and go, you know.’
‘That’s what I said,’ agreed Joe, slapping Ryan on the back. ‘That guy must really think a lot of you, mate.’
Ryan looked fit to burst. I knew that to most people this wouldn’t mean all that much but to my brother, who had been made to feel more or less worthless for as long as he could remember, it was the ultimate accolade. Knowing that my friends and neighbours trusted him without question would hopefully prove to him that he wasn’t a nuisance, as our mother’s many fellas had suggested, or a noose, as Mum herself had told him on more than one occasion.
‘Didn’t you know?’ Ryan asked me. ‘Hadn’t they mentioned it to you first?’
‘No,’ I said, ‘I had no idea.’
‘And I only know because Graham told me about the hens,’ Jacob added. ‘He didn’t ask me if I thought you’d be interested or if I thought it was a good idea, he just said that was what he was going to do.’
Ryan nodded and ducked his head.
‘And acting as keyholder for Prosperous Place is news to me,’ Jacob went on. ‘I hadn’t heard anything about that at all.’
‘And don’t forget you’re covering some hours with Andrew for me in the shop next weekend,’ put in Colin.
‘You really are Mr Indispensable,’ praised Lou, making Ryan’s colour flare again. ‘I don’t know what we’d all do without you.’
I had to agree with her there. We had all grown to love having Ryan around and I tried not to think of how quickly the time was ticking by and how soon it would be that he had to decide what he was going to do next. I knew that our mother’s lack of interest in having him home meant he was hardly likely to go back to Wynmouth, but given the life he was carving out for himself in Nightingale Square, even though he wouldn’t want to stay living with me for ever, I also knew that it wasn’t going to be easy for him to leave there either.
Chapter 23
Ryan and Joe didn’t hang around for long after Ryan had made his exciting announcement. They were heading back to the youth centre, where Joe was hoping to give Ryan a run for his money at the pool table. I hadn’t been aware of it but apparently my brother, as well as being the most responsible teenager within a two-mile radius, was also a wizard with a cue.
‘Can you believe it?’ I said once the boys had gone, beaming.
‘I know,’ said Lou, pulling her phone back out of her bag again. ‘
I didn’t think people played pool these days, especially teenagers.’
Colin looked at me and rolled his eyes.
‘I didn’t mean that,’ I scolded.
‘I know you didn’t.’ She laughed. ‘But yes, I can believe it. I’m not at all surprised that Graham and Luke have put their trust in him. Don’t forget I worked with him on Colin’s shop makeover. He’s a hard worker, Poppy, with some amazing skills for a sixteen-year-old.’
I knew they were the result of the time he’d spent working with his dad.
‘If he had been poised to tip off the rails when you invited him to stay,’ Lou continued, ‘I think it’s safe to say he’s firmly back on track now.’
‘I have Jacob to thank for that, really,’ I reminded her. ‘You’re the one who has really helped him, aren’t you?’ I added, giving him a nudge.
‘Sorry,’ he said, ‘what?’
He looked dog-tired and although he had been pleased with Ryan’s news, he hadn’t jumped up and down nearly half as much as I would have expected.
‘What’s up with you tonight?’ asked Lou. ‘You’ve not been right since you took that call. I thought the original Mr Grizzle had been packed in your attic since Poppy signed you up at the Grow-Well. Did you have some bad news? Is that what’s turned you back into Mr Grumpy?’
‘Lou,’ Colin tutted.
‘Colin,’ she shot back, mimicking his tone.
‘You two,’ I tried to interject.
‘I’m only trying to make light of the situation,’ she snapped at Colin, standing up. ‘At least I’ve bothered to ask.’
‘But it’s how you ask,’ said Colin.
‘Well, excuse me for coming straight to the point,’ she said bitterly, ‘I daresay precious Nurse Natalie has all manner of speaking and listening skills at her disposal, doesn’t she?’
‘What are you talking about now?’ Colin frowned while Jacob and I tried to pretend we were invisible.
‘I bet,’ Lou raged on, her voice catching in her throat, ‘I bet if she was here tonight asking Jacob who took the jam out of his bloody doughnut she’d be making a far better job of it than me, wouldn’t she? Of course, she would,’ she rushed on, ‘because she’s so sodding perfect!’
