‘You know, I’d love to be able to make cocktails. I imagine inviting people around for supper and coming up with these amazing creations. I could create a new one, a Sandra Special.’
‘You could add that to your list,’ Patti suggested. ‘I’ll be your cocktail taster.’
‘You’re on!’
‘I fancy trying different foods, something exotic like octopus,’ Patti said.
‘Yuk!’ Sandra pulled a face. She tapped her mouth with her pen. ‘I’d like to get my ears pierced. I’ve always wanted to wear a pair of long, dangly earring. I’ve got some clip-on ones but they pinch my ears,’ she said. ‘And I rather fancy wearing a hat. A beret maybe? I’m not sure it would suit me though.’
‘Rubbish, you’d look fabulous in one! I’d love to stop biting my nails. They’re such a mess.’ Patti held out her hands, revealing short, chipped nails. ‘I’d love to grow them and decorate them with those pretty nail gems.’
They both chuckled, downing more wine as they added the things to their list.
‘I’ve always wanted to go to London and see a musical on stage,’ Sandra announced.
‘I wouldn’t mind doing that. Maybe we can go together!’ Patti said.
They both added ‘Going to a musical in London’ to their lists. Then they compared lists.
‘That’s seven each and two joint ones, that’s enough to start us off,’ Patti said. ‘We might be a pair of Old Gals but there’s life in us yet!’ She raised her glass. ‘To the Old Gals’ Bucket Lists!’
Sandra smiled and clinked her glass. ‘The Old Gals’ Bucket Lists,’ she echoed.
7
SANDRA
Don phoned again the next morning to see if Sandra had thought any more about moving to Cambridge with them.
‘I can’t make up my mind that quickly, Don. I’m not rushing into this.’ She put the phone on loudspeaker, propped it up against the bread bin then took a carton of orange juice out of the fridge and poured some into a glass, taking a sip.
‘At least let the estate agent value your house, then you’ll know what price you could expect. They could take photos so that when you’re ready to sell, they can go ahead immediately.’
The thought of someone walking around her house, valuing it, made her shudder. She wasn’t ready for that yet. Nor was she ready for the big tidy up operation it would entail. She wanted things to remain exactly how they were, Brian’s coat hanging up in the hall, his shoes on the rack, his clothes in the wardrobe. A wave of grief flooded through her. She couldn’t do this, not yet. She took a moment to compose herself then replied, her voice a little shaky even to her ears. ‘There’s no rush, dear. I know you have to leave next month, but Laila and the children will still behere for a while. I can put my house on the market when yours is sold. It will give me more time to sort things out.’
‘Mum, our house might sell quickly, which means you could be there on your own for months. We’ll be miles away. It will take me a couple of hours to reach you. It’s not even as if you have close friends to turn to.’ She could hear the exasperation in his voice.
‘Actually, I do have a friend,’ she said, irritated by his attitude. ‘On Saturday, I bumped into someone I used to work with at the supermarket back when you were a teenager – Patti, you might remember her, she was a cashier. Though she moved away years ago. Anyway, she’s moved back now and she’s on her own too.’
‘So, on the basis of meeting this one person you used to know decades ago again, you’ve decided not to move?’
‘I never did decide to move. It was your idea,’ Sandra replied calmly. ‘I know you mean well, love, and I’m very grateful to you for looking out for me but I really think that it’s best if I stay here until I decide what’s right for me to do.’ This house has been my home for years and is where all my memories are, she wanted to add, but she knew that Don would only tell her she had to let go of the past. ‘Anyway, I must go now, Don, I’m in the middle of breakfast. I’ll speak to you later.’ She quickly ended the call before Don could say anything else, put the phone on the table, poured some muesli into a dish, added yogurt and sat down at the kitchen table to eat it.
To be honest she was dreading Don, Laila and the girls moving away, she would miss them terribly, but she had to get used to it. It was time she stood on her own two feet. What was that tattoo Patti had on her arm. ‘Grab life by the horns.’ That’s what she had to do too. It’s what Brian would want her to do. She loved him but he was gone, and she still had a life to live. It was a life without Brian, but she had to make the most of it.
Maybe she should have a tattoo done too, reminding her to live her life! Idly, she scrolled inspirational tattoos. She was amazed at the selection. One in particular caught her eye. It was a sideview of a small butterfly with half-open wings, written in a circle around it were the words ‘Embrace change, love life.’
She studied it for a moment, something about it was calling to her. She imagined it just above her right wrist, reminding her to live her life. She clicked on the photo and saved it to her gallery then, on impulse, sent it to Patti with the message.
Sandra
Just saw this. Tempted.
A reply shot back.
Patti
Go for it, gal!
