But, right now, Matty’s mind was adding two and two and getting an answer that equalled happy families. ‘Don’t tell me you two are getting back together, because that’ll put me in therapy. You’re the most unsuited couple ever.’
On any other day, Dario would have objected to that statement, despite the truth of it, but today he let it go with, ‘Nope, it’s not what it looks like.’
Matty laughed. ‘Said every couple in every movie when they get caught up to no good. Okay, lovebirds, well, that’s me in and I’m just going to go get started in the kitchen.’
‘Actually, son, can you sit down for a minute? There’s something we need to tell you.’ He ignored Nicky’s stare of death.
Matty glanced from Dario to Nicky and then back again. ‘Shit, you are getting back together.’
‘Nope, ’fraid not, son. It’s something much worse than that.’
8
MINNIE
Minnie said hello to everyone she passed on the way to the shops at Clarkston Toll, just a fifteen-minute walk away. She’d lived in the same house on the South Side of the city for nearly fifty years, so she knew a lot of her neighbours, but she greeted everyone whether she recognised them or not. Some responded in kind, some didn’t, but Minnie didn’t mind either way.
It was cold out and she’d thought about staying home today, but she worried that giving up her daily walk would be the start of a downward spiral that would end with her joints seizing up, so she made a point of getting exercise while she was still fit. Henry no longer joined her, but that was no reason not to go. After all, hadn’t she been one of those women marching for women’s liberation back in the sixties? Yes, she damn well had, and if they were still marching these days, she’d be right at the front.
Anyway, the walk was essential today because she had a gift to pick up from the jewellers, and she wanted to get a packet of shortbread and a small bottle of whisky for any New Year’s Day visitors, so she’d wrapped up in her favourite red cloche hat andmatching scarf, and the new coat that Ailish had bought her for Christmas and set off.
Bless that woman. Minnie couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law. After everything Eric had put her through, Ailish still popped in to see her at least once during the week, and also took her to Asda every Saturday morning, stopping at the garden centre for tea and a scone on the way back. Which was more than that new one Eric was seeing now had done. What was her name? Minnie couldn’t quite get it to the front of her mind, but then, that wasn’t really a surprise. Eric popped in to visit once or twice a week, but almost always alone, so Minnie had only met her three or four times. Even when she did, the woman had barely given Minnie a second glance in her own house. On Christmas Day, when Emmy had brought over that lovely dinner, Eric had washed up afterwards, but the girlfriend had barely said two words, just sat on her phone and ignored them.
Thinking about that now, even though she’d left Henry behind at home, she still heard his voice in her head. ‘Best stay out of it, love. They’ve all got to make their own decisions, whether we agree with them or not.’
He was right, of course, but that didn’t make it any easier to button her lip, especially when she was so disappointed with Eric. ‘Was it my fault?’ she’d asked Henry when the affair first came to light two years ago.
He’d looked at her quizzically, his brow knitting on that face of his that was no less handsome, even in their seventies. That day, he’d just come in from having a pint at his golf club, and she was fairly sure that the lady captain there had designs on him. Probably others too. Minnie joined him for lunch at the clubhouse every couple of weeks just to let them all know she was still alive and kicking and they could all keep their illicit intentions to themselves, thank you very much.
‘Why would you think that, love?’ he’d asked.
Minnie had shrugged. ‘Och, you know how it was when he was a youngster. He was my baby and maybe I spoiled him a bit more than the others. Indulged him. The way you’re treated in childhood can shape your whole personality, you know. I saw a programme about that on Channel 4 while you were watching the football last week.’
Henry’s expression had changed from confusion to a wide grin. ‘So, hang on. The lad is fifty-odd years old now and you think that he got up to no good in his marriage because you gave him too many sweets as a kid?’
When he put it like that…
But still, it made her heart sore that he’d hurt the lovely Ailish and that poor Emmy had been caught in the crossfire. Minnie had tried to talk to him about it when it had all happened, but Eric could be stubborn about discussing emotional things like that. It gave her a little hope that she could see he wasn’t proud of his actions though. ‘Mum, I’m sorry, but…’ He’d paused, struggling for words. ‘The thing is, I just fell in love with Donna. And I know I haven’t gone about it the right way, but I had to choose her in the end because I need to do what’s right for me.’
That one had self-indulgence written all over it. Definitely too many sweets as a boy, no matter what Henry said. They hadn’t discussed it after that because Henry had seen how much the conflict of loving their son, but not liking his actions, was taking a toll on her. Instead, they’d made the best of it, welcomed Eric when he stopped by, and Minnie continued to spend time with Ailish and Emmy whenever she could.
A droplet of water fell on Minnie’s nose, and she looked upwards, fearing rain, but it must just have been a drip of melted ice from the tree branches above. Now that the droplet had snapped her out of her thoughts, she realised that she was at herfirst destination and stopped in front of the bright red post box on the edge of the pavement. From the jute bag she was carrying, she pulled out a woolly mass and shook it out to reshape it back into a circle. Putting it in its place required a teeter on her tiptoes, but after a few stretches (of both her legs and the elastic that she’d threaded around the wool), she managed to position it over the top of the post box.
She stood back to survey her work – the post box now had a hat of its very own, a bright orange knitted topper that said ‘Happy New Year’ along the front, next to lots of little dancing bears that she’d knitted separately then stitched on. Satisfied, she had a wee glow when she thought of how it might make the little ones that came by here smile, then carried on along the street.
The convenience store was the next stop, and in there she happily took a basket and wandered up and down every aisle, even though she only needed two things and she knew exactly where they were. It added a few more steps to her daily tally and it was nice and warm in here. There were a couple of friendly faces too, and when she reached the checkout line, she stopped to have a quick chat to one of the ladies who went to the same line dancing class on a Tuesday afternoon.
Gladys wasn’t a close friend, a bit too pessimistic and concerned with her ailments for Minnie’s liking, but they’d known each other for years and always passed the time of day when they bumped into each other at the dancing or the shops. As the cashier ran Gladys’s shopping through the till and packed it for her, she carried on chatting to Minnie. Och, the weather was getting right into Gladys’s bones and hadn’t the television been rubbish over Christmas? Then over to Minnie for some joy. Yes, she’d had a lovely Christmas. And yes, she was all ready for the bells tonight. Or at least she would be by the time she finished shopping today.
‘Well, Happy New Year when it comes,’ Gladys said, as she paid for her shopping, then bid her goodbye. ‘Let’s hope we’re spared for another year, although at our age, you never know the minute.’ With that cheery thought, off she went, bustling out of the shop.
Whisky and shortbread purchased, Minnie made her way to the jewellery shop a few doors down the street. As soon as she got inside and the heat allowed her to remove her gloves, she pulled a ticket out of her purse and handed it over to the young man behind the counter. Actually, he was probably in his thirties, but everyone under forty counted as a youngster to her.
‘I’d like to collect this please,’ she said.
He rummaged under the counter for so long that she was beginning to panic that it wasn’t ready, but just when she felt her body temperature begin to rise uncomfortably due to the worry of it, he stood back up and produced a square package about the size of a biscuit tin.
Relief made Minnie lightheaded for a few seconds.
