‘It goes with everything,’ said Midge, thinking Rona would be the kind of person to appreciate the wisdom of this.
‘Does it, though?’ asked Rona, her head to one side. ‘No. You’re right, wear it. But please don’t tell me these are the only shoes that you have?’ She pointed down at Midge’s boots.
Midge obliged and kept her mouth shut.
Rona closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and announcing dramatically, ‘You can borrow a pair of mine, if you want. I’m guessing you’re a size five? I’ve got a bit of an eye for this sort of thing.’
‘Five and a half,’ said Midge. ‘And no, thank you,’ she added, firmly. ‘My shoes are specially made. Extra wide.’ She didn’t tell her that the last time she had accidentally borrowed Bridie’s shoes in a hurry, she had apparently stretched the toes so much that Bridie insisted on throwing them away. Which had seemed an unnecessary waste to Midge, considering they already fitted her, but Bridie had been quite irate.
‘Oh.’ Rona clicked her fingers together suddenly. ‘I know... I’ve got a lipstick that would look amazing with your dress.’
It had never occurred to Midge to coordinate her make-up with her clothes. ‘Thank you,’ she replied, ready to decline the offer when something stopped her. ‘Actually, that would be acceptable. Perhaps something subtle... oh my goodness...’
A garish orange lipstick was produced and pushed against her lips. ‘Do you believe in all this?’ Rona moved closer until her face was all that Midge could see and as she began to apply the lipstick, replying became impossible. Her skin was flawless, and Midge decided that Rona had to be a person familiar with peptoaminoacids.
‘The paranormal, I mean,’ said Rona, before continuing, ‘I do. There’s got to be some deeper meaning, hasn’t there? Some karma at least?’
Midge shrugged. It was the best she could do, under the circumstances, while she tried to remember if she had brushed her teeth that morning. It occurred to Midge that other than Bridie, this was the closest she had ever been to another human’s mouth in fifty-five years.
Rona pouted her lips at Midge before dabbing on some more colour. ‘I think you’re a woman who has seen the world and lived a thousand lives, like me.’
Midge wondered if Rona was referring to her crow’s feet, which had not disappeared despite Bridie’s wonder mask.
‘Now, Midge, tell me, what do you think of the others?’
Midge lifted a helpless hand in a gesture that could have meant anything.
‘I’m going to just add a little definition to your eyebrows.’ Rona leaned in again and to Midge’s alarm started to stroke her brows with a small comb. Midge was aware of the generational craze for thick eyebrows, having confronted several alarming ones across supermarket checkouts in recent years.
‘Well, obviously, we know there’s a problem between Rendell and Noah already,’ murmured Rona, squinting as she worked. ‘And, let’s be honest, that doctor and his wife are totally uptight.’
Midge grunted, which Rona took as an affirmation. ‘I know, right? And if there’s one thing I love, it’s exploring relationships. Let’s make it our business to get to the bottom of the beef between Rendell and Noah.’
Rona suddenly tilted her head to one side and leaned back, taking her hand away from Midge and freeing her to talk finally. ‘Is something wrong?’ Midge asked.
‘Purple... I’m getting a purple aura from you,’ murmured Rona, squinting again. ‘I’ve always been susceptible to colours.’Midge hoped she wouldn’t need to change lipsticks now. ‘I can see them for everyone. Dr Mortimer, he’s a green, and Gloria, well, it’s hard to see her colour from behind his but I’m getting yellow vibes... Noah is a definite red... and Harold, I suppose he’s harmless enough so all I see is a golden glow around him.’
‘And Rendell?’ The words were out before Midge could stop them.
A frown crossed Rona’s face, just for a second. ‘Hmmm... he’s a tough one.’ She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. ‘His keeps changing.’
Despite herself, Midge asked, ‘Is that normal?’
Rona shook her head, frowning. ‘Not really, no. It’s freaking me out, to be honest.’
She dabbed at Midge’s lips with a tissue.
‘Why?’ murmured Midge.
‘Because when I really look at Rendell... shall I let you in to a secret?’ Rona leaned even closer, her breath tickling Midge’s face. She stopped dabbing for a moment and locked eyes with her. ‘I get a really, really bad feeling about this weekend.’
Chapter7
Extract fromThey Do It With Stringspodcast
‘The Tin House’: Episode One
[Intro music fades in, blending into a haunting melody]
