‘I’m just a bit nervous about tonight,’ he said. ‘Meeting Missy for the first time andallthat.’
‘Why don’t I believe you?’ askedhismum.
As she searched his face for the truth, Dan suddenly felt self-conscious. The truth was the last thing his mother needed to know and he quickly handed her the album ready to leave the room. ‘I suppose I should go get a move on,’ he said. ‘Time to getready.’
His mother suddenly appeared concerned and, gently placing a hand on his leg, she prevented him from going anywhere. ‘I’ve been very silly, haven’t I?’ sheasked.
‘What are you talking about?’ replied Dan. ‘Sillyaboutwhat?’
‘About the whole caboodle, for thinking I know what’s best. You don’t really want a future with Maeve, do you? And I think we bothknowwhy.’
Sitting there, all pretence seemed to suddenly desert him. Dan felt as sick of lying to himself, as much as he did lying to his mother. But he still couldn’t bring himself to answer the question. His mum was dying and the last thing he wanted was to add toherpain.
He stared at the floor and tears sprung in his eyes as he wished that everything could bedifferent.
‘I only wanted what I thought was best for you,’ saidhismum.
‘I know,’ hereplied.
‘I’msorry,Dan.’
After wiping his eyes, he finally returned his mother’s gaze. ‘Me too,’ he said. ‘Ididtry.’
His mum smiled. She held her arms out for a hug, Dan could see she needed it as much ashedid.
‘That’s settled then,’ she said, eventually pulling away. ‘We’ll have no moreofit.’
‘But… ‘
‘No buts. You’re the person I care about here, no one else. Besides, if Missy is half the friend I think she is, she’ll more than understand. And so willMaeve.’
The relief Dan felt was enormous. At last, he could breathe a bit easieragain.
‘Fancy looking at some more photos?’ asked his mum. ‘Beforesupper.’
Dan nodded as she re-opened the album and, proving herself true to her word, it seemed that was the end of thematter.
‘Now this one,’ said his mum ‘is of me and your father on our weddinganniversary.’
Dan stared at the image; his mum and dad were raising a glass of bubbly for the camera. It was a cute picture. His mother, with her head thrown back, was laughing as his father whispered something in her ear. Dan sighed. Looking at how happy the two of them were, he couldn’t help but think ofAnnabel.
22
With only half an hour beforeclosing time, Annabel pawed through the TV guide she’d picked up at lunch. There was nothing like a good crime drama to make her forget her own problems and, with a couple of new shows starting this week, she wanted to know if they were worth tuning in for. The synopsis made the first one sound quite good.At last, she thought.Something to look forward to. Just as she was about to read the second synopsis, the shop doorbell sounded and Annabel looked up. She automatically put the magazine to one side and smiled at the young chap who, after a quick look around, seemed relieved to spot the bucket of redroses.
‘Can I take a dozen of these, please,’ heasked.
‘Of course you can, sir,’ Annabelreplied.
As he handed her the container, she couldn’t help but notice the man’s nerves. The poor chap seemed so worked up that the whole thing shook in his hands. In Annabel’s floristry experience, this could only mean one of two things. Either he’d been a very bad boy and was about to make a heartfelt apology, or he was being a good boy and about to do somethingromantic.
She hoped it was the latter and carefully selected twelve of the best blooms before laying them onto sheets of decorated paper. Annabel then began expertly wrapping them into a bouquet. She could see him anxiously fidgeting out of the corner of her eye and decided to let her curiosity get the better of her. ‘Special occasion?’ sheasked.
‘They’re for my girlfriend,’ the chap replied. ‘I’m going topropose.’
Annabel felt glad to hear it. She much preferred to think of her flowers displayed in a vase somewhere, rather than simply dumped in the bin. Plus, the poor man appeared to need a good woman behind him, if only to show him how to use an iron. ‘How exciting,’shesaid.
The doorbell sounded once more, signaling yet another customer and, after glancing over, Annabel gave a friendly nod to the older lady now making her wayinside.
