I gazed at Hayley proudly. She had come a long way since her first day at Ivy Lane. She had finished her community service now and I had to admit, I was going to miss her. ‘You, young lady, are a woman of many talents.’
She rubbed her neck and stared at the floor. ‘Cheers. It’s something to put on my CV, which let’s be honest isn’t very impressive at the moment.’
‘I’ve got a stall at a farmers’ market in a few weeks,’ said Helen, tucking her hair behind her ears. She pointed at the leaflet in my hand. ‘The address is on here. It was Gemma’s idea. I can’t believe it, my own business – it’s a dream come true!’
‘I’ll come and support you.’ I swallowed. That could be my first outing in my new car. Yikes.
Helen smiled shyly. ‘Thank you, Tilly I’d like that. Graham will be there too, but he’ll mostly be looking after Honey and it will be lovely to see you.’
I turned back to Hayley. ‘So, what about you? What’s your dream?’
‘I quite fancy being a chef.’ She shrugged. ‘Any job in food would do. I like helping Helen, but she can’t afford staff at the moment.’
A ghost with Brenda’s unmistakable red lipstick poking through a hole in its white shroud wafted over. ‘Hiya, I’ll have banana and strawberry please.’ She handed over some money and Helen leapt into action with the blender.
‘I might be able to help you out there, Hayley,’ said Brenda, adjusting her sheet to get a better look at her. ‘Fancy a few hours at the potato oven? Full training provided. Month’s trial and then see how we go.’
Hayley and I exchanged looks. That was unexpected.
Brenda cleared her throat. ‘You youngsters need a bit of a leg-up to get your careers started,’ she said, paraphrasing Alf all those weeks ago, ‘and I’ve noticed you’re a hard worker. What do you say?’
I gave Hayley a hug and left her and Brenda to sort out the details. Hayley would flourish under Brenda’s tutelage, I was sure of it. I sighed with satisfaction at another job ticked off my list and checked round the room for Aidan again. Now if I could just manage to sort out my own life, everything would be fine and dandy . . .
And then I spotted him: a tall figure dressed as the grim reaper, edging his way towards me through the crowd, trying not to take anyone’s eye out with his scythe. It had to be Aidan. My breath caught in my throat and it was all I could do not to throw my arms around his hooded neck.
No more misunderstandings, Tilly. Be absolutely clear how you feel.
‘You made it,’ I beamed, ‘I’ve been so looking forward to seeing you.’
He stopped in front of me and extended a long bony finger. ‘I’ve come for you,’ he said in a menacing husky voice.
I shivered. ‘All right, you can stop now,’ I laughed shakily, ‘you’re scaring me.’
He hooked his scythe playfully round my neck and brought my face to his. He had really gone to town with his outfit, even his eyes had devilish red and black coloured lenses in them.
‘You must have been quite a sight, stuck in traffic, dressed like that. I’m surprised you didn’t cause any accidents!’
‘My shift didn’t finish until seven.’ He dropped his hood back. It was Charlie. My disappointment was almost crippling. It was obvious, now I looked more closely; he was tall like Aidan but broader. My eyes had simply seen what they’d wanted to see. And what was worse, instead of repeating the ‘just friends’ conversation, I’d just given Charlie a very warm welcome indeed. So far my plan was going abysmally wrong.
‘Who said I was stuck in traffic?’ He frowned.
‘Er. . . gosh, I. . .’ I was saved further embarrassment, momentarily at least, by a tap on the arm. Aidan had materialized by my side.
‘Wow! Tilly, you’re the most beautiful witch I’ve ever seen.’ He was dressed as a wizard, a very friendly wizard, with snowy-white beard, long purple robe and silver slippers with turned-up toes. ‘Sorry I’m late.’ He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.
A kiss. On my cheek. As brazen as you like. What if I’d turned my face to him at that precise moment and it had landed on my lips? What if I’d actually had a bona fide, public kiss right then? God, I wish I had.
‘I’ve been stuck in terrible traffic,’ he was saying.
My cheek burned where his lips brushed against my skin. In fact, my whole face was burning. It was so good to see him. His eyes were warm like molten chocolate and in spite of the fact that the beard hid most of his face, I think he was pleased to see me. I gave him a breathy smile and turned back to Charlie.
My smile faltered. His jaw was set firm and his eyes unblinking. He looked from me to Aidan and pulled his hood back up. ‘I’m off to do some reaping.’ And he stalked off.
Aidan pulled a face. ‘A bit sinister, that outfit.’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Frankenstein advancing towards us. I would lose Aidan to his official duties at any moment. It was already eight o’clock and time was slipping away. The note that I’d written to put on Aidan’s car was burning a hole in my bodice and I’d still not had a chance to have a word with Charlie. Although judging by the look on his face as he’d swept away, I might not need to say anything. Still, best to be on the safe side, I couldn’t allow for even the slightest margin of error if this crazy plan was to have a chance at working.
‘I bought a new car today,’ I said, keeping one eye on Nigel.
‘Oh. . . good,’ replied Aidan, looking surprised by the change of topic. ‘What sort is it?’
‘A little yellow one.’
‘Right.’ He grinned. ‘I know the sort.’
‘What’s yours?’ I garbled. Nigel already had a hand raised in greeting.
Aidan chuckled softly. ‘A medium-sized, silver one.’
‘Aidan!’ Frankenstein pumped the wizard’s hand enthusiastically. ‘You made it.’
‘Type?’ I tugged on his purple robe.
Aidan grinned. ‘What’s this, Top Gear? An Alfa Romeo.’
‘Sorry to drag you away,’ said Nigel, ‘but some of the pumpkins’ candles are already starting to flicker. So if you could judge those first while I get you a drink and then you can have a wander round to judge the best fancy dress.’
‘No problem,’ said Aidan affably. ‘Catch you later?’
My heart swelled at the prospect and I nodded. ‘Oh!’ I grabbed his hand as he moved away. ‘One more thing.’
‘Engine size?’ His lips twitched.
‘Take special notice of the large pumpkin with the Moroccan lantern design,’ I whispered. That one was Hayley’s. I would so love her to win; it would be the icing on the cake for her tonight.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Tut tut, Tilly Parker!’
He bent his head down to mine and I felt his warm breath on my mouth. My body lifted towards his on auto-pilot and for one knee-trembling moment I thought he was going to kiss me again. ‘Shame on you for trying to influence the judge’s decision,’ he murmured against my lips before disappearing after Nigel towards the pumpkins.
I stumbled back, lightheaded after such a sensuous exchange and bumped into Gemma.
‘Blimey, look at you with your glittering eyes!’ she exclaimed.
I grabbed her hands and squeezed. ‘I know!’ I said, my voice barely more than a squeak. ‘I’m so excited I think I’m going to burst.’
Gemma chuckled. ‘Unlike Mia. Apparently we’re all half-dead and she’s even bored with Hayley now she’s gone – and I quote – all Dragons’ Den with Helen.’
‘Where is she now?’
‘She had a text off a friend to go trick or treating, so she left. Anyway. Back to you. How is Operation Aidan going?’
‘So-so,’ I said, drawing her close to me. ‘I know what sort of car he’s got now. But I’ve discovered a fatal flaw in the plan. How do I get him to go out to it? I could be sitting out in a candlelit shed for hours on my own. What if he doesn’t go back out to his car until it’s time to leave?’
‘Mmm.’ Gemma chewed on he
r lip thoughtfully. Her blonde curls had escaped from her green bobble hat and curled round her face, she looked like a little cherub in an Anne Geddes photograph. ‘I know, you give me the nod when the note is in place and I’ll ask him for a business card. He won’t have one under his wizard’s dress and he’ll have to go back to the car. Simple.’
I um’d and ah’d a bit but in the absence of a better idea, I had to agree.
She elbowed me and winked suggestively. ‘Hey, I wonder what he’s got on under there. You will tell me, won’t you? I’ll see you later.’
The thought was rather distracting, so much so that I forgot to ask her what reason she could possibly give for wanting Aidan’s card. I watched her walk over to the buffet table and made my way to the door.
My witch costume, though indisputably cute, was sadly lacking in pockets and I’d had to tuck the note between the ribbons of my purple bodice. I fished it out as elegantly as I could and gripped it with both hands.
Charlie was propping up the doorway, biting into a sausage roll, looking strangely at ease in his harbinger of doom outfit. I faltered at first, but then pressed on until I was right under his nose, shoving the note hastily back into its hiding place. My news might have been unpleasant to deliver, but deliver it I must.
Staring into the red eyes of the devil did not help matters one bit.
‘Charlie?’ I thought I’d better check, just to be on the safe side.
‘Hi.’ That was a mumble. I couldn’t be sure if it was a mouthful mumble or a bad mood mumble, but it was at least definitely Charlie.
‘Charlie, please can we be completely honest with each other?’
He bowed his head and nodded.
‘I really like you,’ I began carefully, offering him a smile.
‘I really like you, too.’ He reached for my hand.
I couldn’t help it; I glanced over my shoulder to check whether we were being watched. Aidan was bent over the pumpkins narrowly avoiding setting fire to his beard. I let out a tiny breath of relief and turned my attention back to Charlie.
‘I might be barking up the wrong tree here . . .’ I hesitated and gazed up at him. He had such lovely expressive eyes normally, all sparkly and blue. I’d never appreciated how important eyes are to a conversation before now. They say so much without saying a word, a window to the heart. What was going on in his head now?
‘But I think I may like you differently to the way you like me.’ I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and waited.
To my utter relief, Charlie’s face broke into a smile and he lifted one shoulder casually. ‘You just want to be friends at the moment, right?’
‘Yes,’ I almost gasped in relief. ‘Just friends.’
‘Listen,’ he said, leaning down towards me and linking my fingers through his. ‘What you’ve been through – losing your other half – takes a lot of getting over. It stands to reason you aren’t ready for another relationship. But I want you to know,’ he paused and squeezed my fingers tightly, ‘I’m here for you. And I’ll wait.’
I gulped and nodded and to my eternal shame, I didn’t drive the point home further. I excused myself on the pretext of needing the loo and fled from the pavilion.
Chapter 11
The car park was full but luckily there was only one Alfa Romeo, a sporty looking thing with shiny wheels and brown leather seats. It was a world away from my new yellow baby. I admired the car for a moment, popped the note under the windscreen wiper and nipped off to the loo.
I locked myself in the cubicle and tried to be as quick as I could. The outdoor loos were very handy in summer, but a bit cold for skimpily dressed witches at Hallowe’en.
So. The note was in place.
Meet me in the shed, plot 16B x
Now that I’d deposited the note, I began to worry that I hadn’t written the right thing. Was it too forceful? I’d kept it fairly nondescript in case it fell into the wrong hands but maybe I should have written something more seductive, more romantic perhaps? Plus I’d sort of assumed that he’d remember that that was my plot. Which in the cold light of day, or evening, was perhaps a bit presumptuous.
Oh well, too late now. I washed and dried my hands and darted back across the car park, shivering in the chilly night air towards the pavilion. I flicked my eyes quickly towards Aidan’s car to reassure myself that it was on the right car. Which was ridiculous, of course it was. . .
I gasped. The note had gone! Aidan must have gone back to his car for something. Now he was possibly there at my shed before me! This was all going wrong!
Hell’s bells, I was not cut out for romantic liaisons, I thought as I pegged it up the road towards my plot, hanging on to my witch’s hat for dear life. I arrived at the shed, puffed out and sniffing from the cold. There was nobody there. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Either way I was freezing.
I unlocked the shed with a key on a string round my neck and escaped out of the cold for a moment while I collected my thoughts.
OK. Deep breaths and panic not. Concentrate on the facts.
Fact One: Aidan has the note. Hurrah! I gave myself a mental round of applause for at least getting something right.
Fact Two: he is not here yet. Yet being the operative word. He was probably still busy. In all likelihood, he had just popped to his car for something, a pen maybe, seen my note and had to return to the pavilion to . . . I don’t know. . . finish judging the fancy dress or something. But he would come, I was sure of it.
Fact three: no way was I sitting here in the shed, in the dark, for much longer. It was damp, musty, smelled of fertilizer and I was probably surrounded at this very moment by three thousand pairs of spiders’ eyes.
I glanced out of the shed window furtively. Nothing. No one. And especially not a tall purple wizard. I locked the shed, scampered back towards the pavilion and re-joined the party, hopefully unobserved.
The stiff point of a purple wizard’s hat led me to my quarry. Aidan was circulating with a clipboard and a pen, jotting notes as he walked. Ha. Just as I thought, still busy with the judging. Nothing to be concerned about at all. And now he was in possession of the note it was simply a matter of time.
I tapped his arm and smiled at him coquettishly when he turned to me.
‘Have you nearly finished?’ I said, batting my eyelashes. My first flirtatious manoeuvre in a very long time. I hoped it passed muster.
‘Almost,’ he said with a wink. ‘No peeking at the judge’s notes please.’
‘OK,’ I giggled. ‘How long will you be, five minutes, ten?’
‘You’re very giddy tonight,’ he laughed.
‘Well,’ I said, fiddling with my ribbons, ‘I’m looking forward to later.’ I quirked an eyebrow at him.
‘I won’t be long, just judging the costumes now,’ he said, nudging his wizard hat up out of his eyes. ‘Then shall I grab us some drinks?’
I nodded happily and let him carry on with his task. Bless him, he was taking his judging role very seriously. Now that Mia had gone, Charlie was the obvious winner as far as I was concerned. Those coloured lenses were the scariest thing I’d ever seen. In fact, I’d be lucky not to have nightmares tonight. Unless of course Aidan gave me something sweet to dream about. . .
I was jolted from my reverie by Christine, who thrust another glass of punch in my hand. Her bat mask was now firmly in place, presumably while the judging took place.
‘I love seeing the place packed like this,’ she said, clinking her glass against mine. We both took a sip. I gasped and choked.
‘Me too,’ I wheezed. ‘Goodness, I think this stuff has got stronger!’ I’d broken my alcohol abstinence recently and had discovered chocolate-flavoured Baileys. I blamed Hayley, she had brought a bottle round. But so far I had only had the odd tipple. This stuff tasted lethal.
Christine tutted. ‘That bloomin’ husband of mine,’ she chuntered. ‘Two minutes I left him in charge of the punchbowl. Take it steady, love, he’ll have poured a bottl
e of Hennessy into it, so he will. Anyway, as I was saying. More events, more chances to get the community together, that’s what we need.’ She eyed me sideways over the rim of her glass.
‘Well,’ I said, choosing my words very carefully. I’d fallen foul of her cunning ways before by saying the wrong thing. I was determined not to get talked into anything. ‘Put on more events.’ Note, I did not say We could. It was an instruction, not an offer of help.
It seemed to have worked.
‘Go on,’ she nodded, her bat mask quivering with enthusiasm.
‘Er,’ I racked my brains. I knew what worked in schools but this was a much older age group. ‘A bonfire party, too late for this year, of course, but you could have a Guy Fawkes competition. Or what about summer garden party? And a Christmas Fayre is a must, I’d say.’
‘And you’d like those things, would you?’ She was still nodding.
‘Oh yes, absolutely!’ I confirmed, risking a second sip of the punch.
‘Grand!’ She threw an arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. ‘We were looking for a bit of help on the committee. Someone younger. That’s grand!’
My shoulders sagged. She’d done it again. Christine bustled off, presumably to give the good news to Peter. Gemma took her place at my side.
‘Did you see what just happened?’ I looked at her gloomily.
‘Yes, but never mind that, have you planted the note?’ she hissed.
‘Yes and he’s picked it up!’ I hissed back.
‘Has he?’ She frowned and then her face cleared and she shrugged. ‘Must have been when I was in the kitchen. Well, go on then.’ She jerked her head at the door. ‘Go and drape yourself over the chaise longue, he can’t be much longer.’
‘OK.’ I knocked back the last of the punch. ‘Wish me luck.’
‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ she whispered.
We both looked at her tummy and then back at each other and laughed.
Suddenly the sight of her bump tugged sharply at my heart strings and my eyes pricked with tears. I felt a vision from my past beginning to form and I threw my arms round Gemma and shut my eyes tight to blink it away.
Ivy Lane: Autumn: Part 3 Page 8
