‘Ah, I am pleased you think it. So, you will come with us?’ Leo took another swig of his beer.
Keith looked taken aback. ‘Me? Join your friends? But I don’t know them…’
‘Oh, but you do. It is all of you.’ Leo held out his arms to encompass the group. ‘You are the friends I’m taking.’
Keith looked stunned. Mary reached over and squeezed his hand. ‘We planned it for you as a surprise. You’ve always wanted to go in one. Will you come?’
‘You bet I will!’ Keith exclaimed, his eyes dancing.
‘That’s great. And we’re all dressing up forties style,’ Patti told him.
‘Brilliant! I’ve got a fedora and a trench coat. I’ll go and get them.’
Mary looked amused as he hurried out of the room. ‘I’ve spent the last few months trying to coax Keith to go out and all it’s taken is the promise of a ride in a classic car. Leo, you’re a genius!’
40
MARY
Mary was so pleased to see that Keith had a spring in his step the next morning as they all got ready for the trip to Marbella for the ride in the vintage Cadillac. It had been awful to see him so down, not wanting to go out or do anything but now she felt like she was getting her husband back.
He put on his fedora and beige trench coat. ‘How do I look?’
‘Perfect, Humphrey!’ She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a hug. ‘I think you might be hot though.’
‘Yeah, me too.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘It’s going to be a scorcher today. But it will be cooler this morning, and Leo said it will only be a short ride. Can’t blame his friend for that, if I had a Caddy, I wouldn’t want to lend it out to anyone. He must think a lot of Leo.’
‘He’s a good chap, Leo. Salt of the earth. Have you noticed how friendly he and Patti are getting?’ Mary asked, stepping out of the hug to grab her red lipstick off her dressing table. ‘It’s a shame she isn’t stopping longer. I think they’d be good together.’
‘Yes, me too. It’s a bit weird though, my sister and my mate fancying each other – just like when we were teenagers.’
‘Do you think they’ll keep in touch? It would be so nice for Patti to find love again. She’s been on her own for so long.’
‘I don’t think she’s that interested in a relationship. She’s very independent.’
‘You can still be independent and have a relationship. Leo has been on his own for a long time too and he’s very independent. I think they’d be a perfect match.’ Mary applied the lipstick and blotted her lips with a tissue. ‘Now I just need my sunglasses and scarf.’
‘Very sexy!’ Keith said in approval as she tied the silk scarf Audrey Hepburn style over her head and knotted it loosely under her chin then slipped on her sunglasses. He pulled her into another hug. ‘Thanks for arranging this, love.’
‘You’ve very welcome, but it was Leo’s idea.’ And what a brilliant idea it was, Keith looked more cheerful than she’d seen him for a long time. And they hadn’t even had a ride in the Cadillac yet.
Leo arrived a little later and they all got into his large estate car and set off for Marbella.
Rupert lived in a luxurious large villa on the outskirts of Marbella.
‘Wow, this must be worth over a million,’ Mary said as the electric gates opened and Leo drove inside.
Rupert came out to greet them, and was amused to see them all dressed up as forties’ film stars. ‘That’s brilliant! I must take a photo of you all.’
‘Talking of photos, would you mind if we posted one of us all in your car on our Instagram account later?’ Patti asked.
‘Oh yes! You can say it’s one of the things on Keith’s bucket list,’ Mary suggested.
‘What bucket list?’ Keith asked, in surprise.
‘The one you’ve just started!’ Mary grinned.
‘Of course. Leo told me about your bucket list, and I checked out your account. You’re certainly living your life. Good for you!’
