‘It wasn’t a date. He helped me with the doors and then we just walked to the pub. I was in paint-stained dungarees, a stripy T-shirt, and gardening boots. I looked like I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards.’
‘And he still asked you for a drink? The man is clearly interested.’
‘Don’t get carried away, Pen. It was just a drink.’
‘It’s a step in the right direction.’
‘It’s been a rather eventful time, to be honest. What with the channel and now this. I may need a lie down.’
Penny’s face disappeared from view for a moment as she rummaged around for something. ‘Has he been in touch?’
Darby glanced at her phone. ‘He sent a message this morning saying he enjoyed the drink.’
‘And?’
‘And I haven’t replied yet. I’m not sure what to say.’
‘You say that you did, too, you absolute muppet! Darbs, this is exactly what you need. It’s been long enough.’
‘It’s all a bit sudden, though. How come suddenly there’s this perfectly nice man appearing in my life just when I least expect it?’ Darby shook her head. ‘It’s too good to be true.’
‘The best ones always come out of nowhere when you’re not trying. You must text back something positive.’
‘I’ll think about it. I don’t know. I’ve completely forgotten how to do this. It’s been years since I went out with anyone. Look at my track record. It does not bode well. Some of me can’t be bothered.’
‘Don’t even go there. Sometimes the universe sends you exactly what you need exactly when you’re ready for it. Don’t overthink this.’ The video call crackled again, and Penny’s face froze mid-smile. This signal is awful. I’m so happy for you, I could cry. Text that man back and send me updates. I want to know everything about how this develops.’
‘Will do. You go back to your disgustingly perfect poolside paradise.’
‘Love you, Darbs. Oh, and well done on the cupboards and the man. It’s about blooming time.’
After saying goodbye, Darby stared at her reflection in the phone screen and wondered. Surrounded by the evidence of the day before, she shook her head. Strangely, she felt a bubble of hope. Had good luck come her way? Did, as Penny had said, the universe send you things when you were ready for them? Had forcing herself to take control and get a grip on her situation actually worked? It seemed as if the answer to that was in the affirmative. Somehow, it felt very much like things, her life, her existence, were beginning to take shape. Who would have thought?
20
Afew days had gone by. Darby had indeed replied to the text to say she had enjoyed the evening too. That was where the text conversation had stayed and ended. Archie had given the thumbs up to the text and nothing else. Cheek of the man. Well used to the trials and tribulations of relationship letdown, Darby had buried it. To be quite frank, she’d been busy at work, she’d edited another video for her channel and Lola had had her annual vet check-up. So, all in all, she hadn’t had a vast amount of time to worry about Archie and his texts or lack thereof. Or she’d totally analysed it to death and wanted to kill him.
Hurrying along the laneway in Pretty Beach, she was not late but close to it. There was one thing she knew without a doubt; it was freezing. Unusually cold for the time of year, she was bundled up in her huge black full-length coat with fur trim on the arms and its matching hat on her head. Taking in the bunting in the laneway strung from one shop to another and looking in the bakery window as she passed, she smiled at the bookshop in the distance. Every little thing about the shop was right up her alley and she’d loved it from the very first day it had opened its doors.
The bookshop did not fail to please anyone’s eyes, whatever time of day they decided to walk past and on the freezing evening, as Darby approached it was no different. Lovely soft golden light dropped from the bookshop's front windows onto the cobbled pavement and everything seemed to twinkle. Darby was on her way to the local author’s event that had been mentioned in the hospice shop. She’d been invited by Daisy and had bought a ticket in a show of support. Despite knowing that Archie had said he would be there, she’d been in two minds whether to go. He’d not taken the messages any further and she’d decided the drink had been what she’d thought and to keep her sweet. However, she’d forced herself to put something nice on, she’d done her hair and makeup and made herself walk out the front door.
Stopping just down from the shop’s window, she peered in and smiled. Everything looked so gorgeous, she was pleased she’d made the effort to attend. In the window, stacks of novels were arranged at different heights, a hand-lettered sign in loopy handwriting announced 'New Arrivals' and tiny fairy lights had been woven around just about everything. Talk about magical. The place oozed magic bookshop vibes from its every pore. In one corner adjacent to the window, a couple of wingback chairs with a tartan throw draped casually over one arm sat next to a side table with a small stack of books and a little grouping of lanterns. Window boxes filled with greenery flanked the entrance and tiny white lights twinkled. Inside, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and rolling library ladders made Darby shake her head in happiness. She'd always had a bit of a bookshelf ladder fetish, now, although not her own, she could fantasise about it to her heart’s content.
Feeling a tad on the nervous side about attending the event, yet again on her own, Darby told herself that she would probably have an enjoyable evening. She didn’t mind going to thingsalone, and for sure she’d had to jolly well suck it up and get on with it. However, often when push came to shove, she’d rather just stay on the safety of her very own sofa and watch other people living their lives. Nonetheless, she’d told herself that if she didn't go, she wouldn’t be invited again. It hadn’t taken her too long to work out that if Pretty Beach and its locals decided to take you under their wing, you reciprocated.
Sometimes, though, the thought of making small talk and having to go over her same old boring story for the millionth time made her lose the will to live. The same old exclamations when she told new people her story. Yawn, she had her children when she was how old? She looked way too young to have three grown-up children. She’d heard it so many times before. It regularly arrived with a sort of pitying look. She would often see it go across people’s faces that perhaps she was somehow rough or stupid or both. The truth was that back when she’d had her first, she’d loved it. So much so that in about as many years, she’d done it twice more just to make sure. With as many men. She didn’t tell anyone that bit, though. Best not to scare people away.
Pushing open the door, a little bell jingled overhead and right by the doorway, Daisy’s partner, Miles, whom she’d met a few times in the pub, beamed. ‘Hello. How are you?’
‘Hi. Good, thanks.’ Darby gestured around the busy shop. ‘How’s it all going?’
‘Yes, very good. Okay, what can I get for you? Mulled wine might go down well. What with the weather.’ Miles pointed out the window. ‘How cold is it? I can get you tea or coffee. We have some of Lottie’s shortbread on the go, too. What do you fancy?’
Darby thought about the fact that, firstly, she was cold and, secondly, that she had left her car at home. She wasn’t quite looking forward to walking up the hill on the way back, but she’d checked the bus times and had that as a backup if her legs werenot feeling up to it. The mulled wine sounded perfect for the cosiness of the evening. ‘You know what? I’ll have mulled wine if that’s okay.’
‘Of course.’ Miles turned to the shop’s old-fashioned counter, where on the far end it was doubling up as a dumb waiter. He spooned mulled wine into a glass and handed it over.
Darby inhaled cinnamon, star anise and all sorts. She closed her eyes for a second and then sipped. ‘Ooh, lovely.’
