How to Save a Life
Page 30
The grand reopening of my barbershop – to be known from now on as Blue Sky Barbers – takes place on a lovely balmy Friday evening at the end of May.
Everything has happened so quickly. It’s amazing what you can get done when you put your mind to it, particularly when you have an amazing motivator and organiser like Rita at your side. She has some great connections when it comes to booking reliable tradespeople and the like. I never could have done it in such a short space of time without her.
We closed for a week to get the place redecorated and smartened up, also adding a refreshed services menu and so on, plus of course the new shopfront sign, which Meg designed for us and looks amazing. It’s a sky-blue background with the words embossed so they look like they’re crafted out of clouds. I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out.
At Rita’s suggestion, we’ve continued the white and blue theme inside too. It’s so bright and airy now, it feels like a whole new place.
Before we closed, I was already back working most afternoons for a couple of hours alongside Rita. And that’s been going really well too. My injuries continue to heal as the doctors hoped. Apart from a bit of stiffness and a few aches and pains here and there, I’m taking it all in my stride.
Plus Rita and I get along brilliantly. We laugh all the time and she’s so vibrant, it makes for such a happy place to be. I hardly ever think about what happened here with Moxie now.
Rita’s good for business too. We’ve already racked up loads more regulars than I ever used to get on my own and, as she predicted, the waxing and threading she’s introduced are proving popular.
We’ve not started offering the free haircuts for the homeless again yet, although I’m warming to the idea. Maybe we’ll reintroduce it once a month or so.
The thing I’m most excited about at the moment is the apprenticeship scheme we’re going to introduce in conjunction with a local college. An old friend of Rita’s teaches hairdressing there. We’ve been in talks with her about collaborating to offer someone – ideally a person in need of a second chance – the opportunity to learn the trade while working alongside the two of us.
We still need to iron out the exact details of how it will all work, but I’m determined to make it happen. The idea emerged after I told Rita about Tommy’s letter and how great it was that he was getting another shot at life. She pointed out the spare third barber chair here and it escalated from there. In theory, we could offer the position to a former homeless person looking for a fresh start, like Tommy, or maybe a school dropout trying to sort themselves out. As long as they’re dependable, hard-working and ready to develop a passion for barbering, I’m up for giving pretty much anyone a go.
Rita and I both arrive early for the reopening do, as agreed, so we can get everything ready before people arrive. The haircutting doesn’t start until tomorrow, when I’ll be doing my first full-time shift since coming back. This evening is all about drinks and nibbles in the revamped barbershop, with family, friends and regulars invited to join us. I’ll have to be careful not to drink too much, or tomorrow will be tough.
‘How are you feeling about tonight?’ Rita, who’s wearing a gorgeous coral dress, asks me.
‘Excited,’ I reply without hesitation.
‘It’s going to be marvellous,’ she adds with the usual twinkle in her eye.
And it is.
So many people turn up, they’re spilling out on to the pavement. There’s Meg, of course, who’s already gleefully reminded me of her early suggestion that Rita and I would make a good team. Plus there are Rita’s two sons, Guy and Russ, and her old colleague Sharon who helped out with the homeless cuts. Iris’s parents, Stan and Claire, both make an appearance, which is wonderful, albeit a bit emotional. Connor pops in, only staying for a quick glass of bubbly but, thankfully, looking much more like his old self. Then there are my neighbours and newfound friends Doreen, Pauline and Sylvia, who drink like fish and get rather merry and loud, much to my amusement.
Thanks to Rita befriending them, several of our business neighbours come along too.
But the biggest surprise for me is when, towards the end of the evening, Nora shows up. She’s in a striking canary-yellow dress that immediately makes me think of Iris.
I sent Nora an invite, of course, but she replied that she didn’t think she’d be able to make it. I first spot her chatting to Rita outside on the pavement, alongside Rudy, her photographer friend. He starts taking some photos to send to the Evening News. Unfortunately, I get caught up in that, bustled around by him and Rita, before I get a chance to catch up with Nora.
I’ve haven’t seen or spoken to her since she got back from her holiday with that old friend of hers, Jeff. I assume any chance of something happening between us now has gone out of the window. Still, I’d like to have a chat with her, to apologise once again for what happened with Helen, if nothing more.
I approach her a little later when the crowd has thinned out and she’s talking in a quiet corner with Meg. ‘Hello stranger,’ I say. ‘I’m so glad you could make it after all. How are you? I love the dress. That colour really suits you.’
She smiles. ‘Thanks. You look well. Great to see you’ve made such a good recovery. The place looks wonderful, by the way, and Meg and I were just agreeing what a fantastic new name it is.’
‘I can’t take credit for that: it was Rita’s idea. But I couldn’t agree more. I’m excited to see what the future holds.’
Meg gives me a discreet wink before making an excuse to disappear and leaving the two of us alone.
‘So how was the, um, holiday?’ I ask.
‘Well, the weather was kind, but Jeff was miserable. I spent most of the time passing him tissues and listening to him lament the death of his marriage.’
‘So you two were at school together?’
‘That’s right.’ She giggles. ‘We actually went out with each other for a while.’
Brilliant. This gets better and better. How long until this Jeff idiot falls into her arms? If he hasn’t already, which he probably has, let’s be honest. That’s what happens on holidays. Especially after a breakup.
‘It’s a shame the way we left things,’ I add, although I’m not sure there’s any point now. Not with jammy Jeff on the scene. ‘I was keen to make it up to you. I’ve already told you how bad I feel about the whole thing. But I got the impression you’d had enough.’
‘Is that why you stopped calling?’ she asks, circling the top of her glass with her finger.
‘Well, you were on holiday and then …’
‘Then what?’
‘I assumed maybe you and Jeff … You know.’
She bursts out laughing. ‘Me and Jeff? Seriously?’
‘Yeah, why not? He’s your ex and his marriage has ended. I thought sun, sand—’
‘Jeff’s gay. His marriage failed because his husband, Alvin, cheated on him with their piano tuner. He’s devastated. Getting together with anyone else, least of all a woman, was the last thing on his mind.’
‘But you said he was your boyfriend at school.’
‘Lots of gay guys go out with girls before they come out, you know.’
I hold my palms over my reddening face for a moment. ‘Well, don’t I feel like an idiot. Although in my defence, you weren’t exactly receptive to my advances after the Helen incident. You were always busy.’
She shrugs. ‘Fair enough. I was pretty busy, but I may have exaggerated my diary engagements a little. I was pissed off with you. I know your ex was only around until the morning, but we had plans. I felt like you shouldn’t have let me leave. That disappointed me. It also made me wonder if there was still something between the two of you.’
‘Really?’ I say. ‘No way. There’s absolutely, categorically no chance of us ever rekindling what we once had. Not after how she left me. Our marriage is ancient history. We needed to talk things out, that’s all.’
Nora bites her bottom lip as she looks me square in the eye. ‘I spo
ke to Jeff about you while we were away, when I could get a word in edgeways. He said he liked the sound of you. That I ought to give you another chance. But then you didn’t call. Your invite to this was the only time I heard from you.’
‘You said you probably couldn’t come.’
‘I had a work thing, but I managed to wriggle out of it.’
‘I’m glad you did.’ I place my hand on the top of her arm, which feels cool to the touch. ‘Are you cold? The temperature has dropped away a little. Would you like me to get my jacket? It’s hanging up over—’
Before I can finish, her warm, soft mouth is pressed up against mine, her body close and her arms wrapped around my waist. It’s as wonderful as it is unexpected.
I lose myself in a long moment of pure passion, adrenaline and euphoria.
And it feels fantastic. Like the last piece of the puzzle has slotted into place and I’m staring at the big picture – finally revealed to me in all its glory.
I can’t stop smiling.
Everything is going to be okay.
I know this for sure now. At long last.
How?
Because I’m Mr Blue Sky.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
So this is how it feels to release a fifth novel. I’d love to be able to hop back in time and boost the spirits of my unpublished younger self by telling all.
I believed in what I was doing when I started out on my writing journey, of course. I’d never have sent my work out to anyone otherwise. But the inevitable early rejections gnawed away at my confidence and it wasn’t always easy to be optimistic. Without the unwavering support of my close family and friends – particularly Claudia and Kirsten, Mum, Dad, and Lindsay – I’m not sure I’d have been able to keep dusting myself off and persevering, undeterred.
Thank goodness I did. First I found my amazing literary agent, Pat Lomax, who’s been at my side every step of the way since, offering sage advice and positivity, ably backed up by the BLM team. Then I found my publisher, Avon, where I’ve always been made to feel very welcome. I’ve been lucky enough to have Molly Walker-Sharp as my editor this time, who’s been an absolute pleasure to work with and brilliant throughout.
Huge thanks to all of the above, plus everyone else who’s supported me in creating this and my four previous books.
Finally, I must thank my readers for buying, borrowing, and, most of all, reading my stories. Without you, I wouldn’t be able to keep doing this dream job of mine. Helping to spread the word by telling others about my novels and leaving positive online reviews is so incredibly helpful too. It’s all very much appreciated.
KEEP READING …
How do you leave the person you love the most?
UK readers, click here to find out more.
US readers, click here to find out more.
Is holding on harder than letting go?
UK readers, click here to find out more.
US readers, click here to find out more.
Best friends since the day they met …
UK readers, click here to find out more.
US readers, click here to find out more.
Hannah’s life is pretty close to perfect. But someone close to her is hiding a secret that will turn everything upside down.
UK readers, click here to find out more.
US readers, click here to find out more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Former journalist S.D. Robertson quit his role as a local newspaper editor to pursue a lifelong ambition of becoming a novelist. How to Save a Life is his fifth novel, and he is a USA Today and Kindle Top 20 bestseller.
Stuart is a reluctant DIYer and unofficial tech support provider for his family. He lives in a village near Manchester with his wife and daughter. There’s also his cat, Bernard, who likes to distract him from writing – usually by breaking things.
Also by S.D. Robertson
Time to Say Goodbye
If Ever I Fall
Stand By Me
My Sister’s Lies
About the Publisher
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