‘Fabulous idea. And my treat this time.’ Sandra hooked her arm in Patti’s and they made their way to the bar.
‘What are we like! It seems quite decadent to be drinking cocktails in the afternoon,’ Sandra said as they sat down at an empty table.
‘It’s called living our life.’ Patti picked up the drinks menu from the table. ‘Why don’t we go for something really wild?’ Her eyes scanned the list then a smile formed on her face. ‘How about a Porn Star Martini?’
Sandra hesitated for a second then nodded. ‘Sounds good!’
Patti ordered the cocktails. ‘I’ve been thinking, do you fancy taking up dancing? It would be fun to learn a new dance, and the exercise is good for us.’
‘I’d love to do ballroom dancing, the dresses are gorgeous. I did mention it to Brian but he didn’t fancy the idea.’
‘I’ve always fancied a bit of jazz myself,’ Patti replied. ‘I’d love to keep it a secret from the family then at the next do take to the dance floor and surprise them. They’re used to me having two left feet and jigging along completely out of step.’
Sandra tittered. ‘I could just imagine Don’s face if I started doing jazz! Why don’t we see if there’re any dance classes locally.’ She paused as her phone rang and glanced at the screen. ‘Sorry, it’s Don. I’d better take it.’
‘Go ahead.’
‘Where are you, Mum? I called in to see you but you’re not here.’
Drat. He always dropped in from work before going home and she’d forgotten the time.
‘I’m in town having er… coffee with Patti,’ she said, deciding it was best not to mention the tattoo yet. ‘I’m fine, love. You carry on home, and I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Here you are ladies, two Porn Star Martinis,’ the waitress said, bringing their drinks over.
‘Mum!’ Don practically screeched. Sandra held the phone a little way from her ear. ‘Are you in abar?’
Sandra was about to deny it but stopped herself. She was an adult. She could go for a cocktail if she wanted to. ‘We’ve just stopped for a quick drink.’
‘Marilyn phoned me about that apartment, Mum. Someone else is interested in it. If you don’t put a deposit on it soon it will be gone and another one might not come available for ages. Please think about it. I really believe it would be ideal for you.’
Sandra was suddenly filled with resolve. ‘I’m not going to move to that apartment, Don. I’ve told you, I want to wait and see how I feel when you’ve all moved before I uproot myself.’
‘Mum, you’re being ridiculous. I can’t possibly move to Cambridge and leave you here alone.’
She bristled. Ridiculous for wanting to stay in her own home? ‘That’s your choice. Staying put is mine,’ she said firmly. ‘Now I must go, dear, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Well done,’ Patti told her when she ended the call.
Well done indeed, Sandra thought. The old Sandra was coming back. Brian’s sudden death had shocked her, knocked her off kilter, now she was righting herself again.
And it was all thanks to Patti. She couldn’t believe that her friend had moved nearby at the very time Don was trying to persuade her to sell up and move hundreds of miles away. It seemed like fate.
8
The persistent ringing of her phone jolted Sandra out of a deep sleep the next morning, the best she’d slept for a long while. For a few seconds she was startled, wondering why someone was phoning her in the middle of the night. Then she opened her eyes and was surprised to see that the bedroom was flooded with sunlight. Goodness, what time was it! She glanced at the clock. Nine fifteen! Every day since Brian had died, she’d tossed and turned half the night and finally got up at seven, knowing she wouldn’t sleep any longer. Mind, the two cocktails they’d had yesterday probably helped. She and Patti had giggled in the back of the taxi all the way home.
The ringing continued. She groaned, she bet it was Don, he always checked in on her first thing. He’ll be thinking she’d tripped over something and was lying injured on the floor. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and reached for the phone, her heart lifting when she saw that the incoming call was a WhatsApp video call from Becky. She did a quick calculation, it must be about eight thirty in the evening in Australia. Funny to think thatin another few hours it would be Wednesday for Becky, a completely different day.
‘Hello. You caught me having a lie-in,’ she said as Becky’s cheery face appeared on the phone.
‘Good for you, Mum. Sorry I disturbed your sleep. I thought you’d be up.’ Becky had been living in Australia so long her voice now had a distinctive Aussie twang to it.
‘Normally I am, and please don’t apologise. I’m always pleased to hear from you.’
‘How are you doing? Don tells me you’re all moving to Cambridge.’
Sandra brushed away the flash of irritation at Don’s presumption that she would fall in line with his wishes, reminding herself that he was just trying to look out for her and that he and Laila had been there for her whilst she’d coped with the trauma of Brian’s death. ‘I haven’t decided what I’m doing yet. Don, Laila and the children are definitely going but I might not be. I’m happy living here.’
