In the living room, she picked up the box that she’d collected from the jeweller’s shop that morning, a gift for their oldest friend and for the man that her husband loved like a brother.
The front door creaked as it opened and closed, and then Minnie walked slowly, carefully down the path, Henry right beside her. The taxi driver spotted her, and jumped out of the car with an apologetic shrug. ‘Sorry about beeping the horn there like that – it’s double time tonight and I’m just trying to get as many fares in as possible so I can get home for the bells.’
‘No apologies needed, son. I’d be doing exactly the same thing if I were you and so would my husband. Nothing would ever make him miss midnight with his family.’
The driver opened the door and offered an arm for her to hold on to while she climbed in, happy to have redeemed himself for his impatience.
She gave him the address for Gino’s and they pulled off.
‘I take music requests if you have one, missus. This app on my phone has got just about every song you could think of.’
As always, Henry had quietened down, happy for her to chatter away, but she didn’t have to ask what he’d want to hear.
There was only one song on her mind too.
‘Can you play “Moon River”? It’s an oldie, a bit like myself.’
She got the fright of her life, when he suddenly shouted, ‘Siri, play “Moon River”’ in an American accent.
He caught her eye in the rear-view mirror.
‘It disnae do great with the Scottish accent. Best shout at it as if I’m born and bred in America. Works a treat.’
And it did. The opening bars of ‘Moon River’ began to play and Minnie and Henry smiled all the way out of the street.
From the South Side to the city centre, every time a song finished, Minnie told the driver the name of another old favourite and the next thing it was playing for them. Magical things, those Siri machines. She decided she was going to get Emmy to set one up for her in the house.
By the time she saw the twinkling lights outside Gino’s restaurant, she already had her money out and an extra tip for adding a delightful trip to their night.
For the second time, the driver jumped out and held the door open, and Minnie took her time, stepping out carefully to ensure she didn’t have a repeat of the gymnastics from this morning. ‘Hold on to me, Henry,’ she said, quietly. ‘I can’t be getting this far and then not make it.’
The taxi drove off, the driver grateful for his tip, and Minnie paused on the pavement for a moment to glance up at the third floor of the building next door – her and Henry’s first ever flat.The place where she’d given birth to all her boys, and where she’d loved the man who’d made her happy her whole life.
‘There it is, Henry,’ she told him. ‘It’ll always be ours.’
The spell was broken by the opening of Gino’s front door, as two giggling ladies, maybe in their thirties, came out, as friendly and carefree as could be.
‘Are you waiting to go in?’ one asked her cheerily, holding the door open.
‘I am indeed, dear,’ she replied, stepping forward, and even before she crossed the threshold, Minnie could smell the familiar, delectable aromas of the food inside. This was the best tonic she could have for her throbbing bones, and the excitement of it washed all her aches away.
‘Thank you so much,’ Minnie said as she passed them. ‘And Happy New Year to you when it comes.’
‘You too! Have a lovely night.’
‘Oh, I’m sure we will,’ Minnie told her with a grateful smile.
Inside, at the greeting stand, a young woman she didn’t recognise, met her with a beaming smile. ‘Good evening, and welcome to Gino’s. My name is Katie. Can I just check if you have a reservation?’
‘I do, dear. Minnie Ryan is my name.’
On the clipboard in front of her, the girl made a tick with her pen.
‘I have you right here, Mrs Ryan. Table for two.’
Minnie took a breath, her smile tainted with every sadness that had come her way since she had last stepped into this restaurant a year ago.
In her mind, she saw Henry take a step back, and then blow her a kiss goodbye.
