The Promise of Summer

by Bella Osborne

  ‘Is this another test?’

  ‘You could say that. I’m guessing it’s been a while since a man brought Dot or Kitty flowers. You’ll make their day.’

  Curtis looked down at the blooms and back at Ruby. ‘Should I buy Cordelia a bouquet?’

  ‘Not yet. You need to be in some sort of relationship first, otherwise it’s a bit creepy.’

  ‘Fully established relationship first. Then flowers?’

  ‘Nooooo,’ said Ruby, with a laugh. ‘Don’t wait that long – she’ll think you’ve cheated on her. Come on,’ she added and she strolled inside, leaving Curtis blinking back his confusion on the threshold.

  ‘Hello, ladies,’ said Ruby, walking into the TV room and placing down her bag of books which was met with interest. ‘And look what else I’ve got for you,’ she said with a wink.

  Curtis cautiously entered the room and Dot, Kitty and a few others all swooned at the sight of him and the large bunches of flowers. Dot clapped her hands together. ‘Are they for me?’

  Curtis’s eyes swivelled around warily. ‘Yes, they are,’ said Curtis, giving them one each. They giggled like schoolgirls as they sniffed the blooms, pointing out all the flowers and colours before swapping to admire the other bunch.

  ‘They’re beautiful. Thank you. What a lovely man you are,’ said Kitty, wiping away a stray tear.

  ‘Come here,’ said Dot, opening her arms for a hug. Curtis stepped back.

  ‘I’ll pop them in some water, while you have a chat to Curtis,’ said Ruby, taking back the bunches.

  Curtis grabbed her arm. ‘Don’t leave me.’ His eyes were wide.

  ‘This is a real test. They are pussy cats compared to Cordelia. Ask them about themselves and then listen and smile,’ she whispered.

  ‘That’s it?’ He gave her a disbelieving look.

  ‘Yep. Beginner level only.’

  He nodded and pulled up a chair. He offered his hand for them to shake. ‘Hello, I’m Curtis,’ he said.

  Ruby watched from the doorway.

  ‘Are you Harry’s boy?’ asked Dot.

  ‘Yes, I am.’

  ‘You look like him,’ said Kitty.

  ‘No, I—’ started Curtis but Ruby coughed and he looked round.

  ‘Listen,’ she mouthed. He nodded and turned back.

  ‘You do look like him,’ said Dot. ‘You’ve got his eyes.’

  ‘And his chin,’ said Kitty. ‘I like a man with a strong jawline. It hints at a strong character. I like a tight little bum too. I mean, who doesn’t?’

  ‘I’d like a man with a strong heart,’ said Dot.

  ‘Do you mean romantically?’ asked Curtis.

  ‘No, just one without heart disease. I’ve buried two husbands because of it.’ And she started to laugh. Curtis gave a chuckle and glanced over his shoulder at Ruby who gave him a thumbs up. She decided he was probably going to be okay for a few minutes, so she left him to it.

  When she came back, with two vases, she was surprised to see that Curtis now had a circle of women around him and most of them were hooting with laughter. Ruby put the flowers down. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked.

  Curtis leaned in. ‘I have no idea.’ But at least he didn’t look alarmed.

  ‘I was telling Curtis about the time I met the lord mayor and my trousers fell down,’ said Dot and everyone laughed.

  ‘I’m afraid I need to go,’ said Curtis. ‘But it’s been lovely.’

  ‘Bye,’ they chorused.

  ‘Well done,’ whispered Ruby at the door.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Curtis. ‘You really know your stuff.’

  Ruby smiled. ‘That’s just the tip of the iceberg.’

  Thankfully, by the time Kim had got him home on Saturday night, Boomer had calmed down a fraction. He’d looked up at her with his big dark eyes and she’d felt the same sensation she’d experienced on the day she’d met him. He’d stolen her heart and this was why she’d persevered. Everyone deserved a second, or in Boomer’s case a fourth, chance. This was a new start for them both. She’d wondered if maybe she’d been too hasty to dismiss Vince.

  Kim had walked Boomer around the house on the lead and he’d jumped on everything and sniffed everywhere. She’d taken him into the garden and praised him when he weed, which he did a lot. After that it was all a blur. A literal blur because as soon as she let him off his lead, he’d spent the rest of the evening racing from room to room and out into the garden and then repeated it, dashing past her in a fuzzy swirl of white and brown.

  She’d tried ignoring him. She’d tried intercepting him. She’d tried distracting him. Nothing had worked. She’d shut him in the kitchen and he scratched at the door and howled until she let him out. She’d eventually gone to bed in the hope he would tire himself out.

  However, she did get a lovely greeting when she came down for breakfast on Sunday morning which was a million times nicer than an empty house. After a few laps of the garden, she managed to put on his harness and take him for a proper walk. More accurately, he dragged her round the park at full speed. She was sure her right arm was getting longer. His saving grace was that he was the friendliest thing. He loved meeting other dogs and she felt bad but she daren’t let him off his lead; given that he didn’t obey any commands, she feared he’d simply run off and never be seen again – apart from possibly on the news.

  Boomer was the perfect distraction needed from the Hayley and Adrian mess. She’d gone over and over the discussion in her mind. All the things she should have said to him instead of trying to get the beads to re-enact what had happened with Hayley. Without her noticing, Adrian had crept in and taken up a vacant spot in her life and she was already missing him. The silly text messages and harmless flirting but most importantly his friendship. She completely understood why he’d taken Hayley’s side. What else was a father going to do? But the thought that she wouldn’t be spending time with him saddened her far more than she had expected.

  She was sitting in the garden watching Boomer destroy his third tennis ball of the day when the doorbell sounded. Boomer pricked up his ears. ‘Stay,’ she told him and she left him in the garden while she went to answer the door.

  She had a smile on her face to greet her visitor until she saw who it was.

  Vince beamed back at her. ‘Hi, Kim, please can I come in?’

  She wanted to tell him where to go. To ask how on earth he had got hold of her home address and what the hell he thought he was doing turning up unannounced like a crazy stalker but she didn’t. Truth be told, it hadn’t been just Boomer who had kept her awake. She’d gone over and over what Vince had said and whatever way she looked at it she felt bad about sending away a dying man and not granting him his last wish to make amends.

  ‘Look, Vince. I’m sorry if I was a bit off yesterday. It was a shock seeing you again.’

  ‘Not as much of a shock as it was for Ruby. She thought I was already dead.’ He tilted his head questioningly.

  ‘Well anyway, I’m sorry, but you can’t come in. I’ve got a dog and I’m not sure how he’ll react.’

  ‘I love dogs.’

  ‘Do you?’ She couldn’t recall him ever being that keen.

  ‘Sure thing. I wish I’d had one but it’s too late now.’ Vince looked at her the same way that Boomer did.

  She felt her resolve eroding. Perhaps if she let Vince talk, they could then both move on. ‘We could take him for a walk and chat, if that’s what you’ve come for.’

  ‘Or Sunday lunch somewhere? For old time’s sake. Split the bill.’

  She’d been hoping he didn’t have that much he wanted to say, not enough to occupy a whole lunch. Surely ‘sorry’ wouldn’t take that long. ‘I’m not sure, what with the dog and everything.’

  ‘The Rising Sun allows dogs.’ He pointed back to the Fulwood Road.

  Kim was running out of excuses. Boomer howled his protest from the garden. ‘Okay. Give me five minutes.’

  Thanks to Boomer they got there in double-quic
k time. The sign said it was dog-friendly, but she wasn’t sure whether it would be Boomer-friendly. On the way she and Vince mainly talked about what had and hadn’t changed in Sheffield over the last seven years. It turned out Vince was staying at a friend’s place for the weekend before going back to Mablethorpe.

  They found a table and Vince got them drinks and menus. Boomer tried to eat the menu but Kim managed to persuade him otherwise. She could see people looking as he wrapped himself and his lead around the table legs. He didn’t like lying by their feet but once he’d jumped up next to Kim he did, at last, settle down.

  They sipped their drinks and Kim felt oddly awkward. In the early days, after Vince had left her, she’d fantasised about him turning up and them talking everything through. After seven years, here they were but everything had changed. She glanced at him; she didn’t want to stare. He looked well. She didn’t want to ask how long he had left but she would have liked to have known. This Vince was a stranger she couldn’t ask personal questions of.

  ‘Has there been anyone since we broke up?’ asked Vince.

  The question caught her unawares. ‘Nowt serious. No acupuncturists if that’s what you’re asking.’

  ‘Touché. Do you remember—’

  ‘Look, Vince,’ she cut in. ‘I’m sure this is a terrible time for you but I don’t want to go down memory lane. What was it you wanted to say?’

  ‘Right. Sorry. I thought it might be nice to catch up.’

  ‘I thought you wanted to put things right between us?’ She was confused.

  ‘I do.’ He nodded and ran his lip through his teeth. ‘I am truly sorry for what happened. I honestly never stopped loving you, Kim. What I did was stupid. I was flattered by the attention of another woman.’ He chuckled. ‘I’m such a cliché. And I know I must have hurt you and I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?’

  It wasn’t easy and she would have loved to have vented all her frustrations and the hurt she’d been holding on to for seven years but this was her moment to be magnanimous. Her opportunity to let go of the past and to do the right thing for a dying man. She took a deep breath. ‘Of course I do, Vince. Consider yourself forgiven.’ His face was the picture of relief and she felt a warm happy glow.

  ‘That’s a weight lifted. Thanks, Kim. You’re a good person. There was one other thing.’ He looked serious. ‘I’ve not got much time left and it makes you question what you want to do with it …’ He held her gaze. ‘I’ve missed you, Kim. And I want to spend what time I have left with you.’

  Kim snorted out a mouthful of cider and Boomer leaped up, knocking the glass out of her hand. As cider seeped through her clothes she stared at Vince. ‘You what?’ She couldn’t have heard him right. Boomer frantically licked up the cider; at least that might make him sleep.

  Vince looked sincere and reached across for Kim’s hand. ‘I want us to give it another go.’

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ruby decided to treat Curtis to one of her mum’s ‘free days out’. They’d driven into the Peak District, parked up and taken a country walk she’d done many times before. Soft undulating hills criss-crossed with ancient drystone walls and a sprinkling of sheep. She loved a picnic and they’d dined on sausage rolls, Pringles and Dairylea triangles with Curly Wurly bars for dessert. They were sitting on her mum’s checked picnic blanket at the top of a hill. Ruby looked out towards Stanage Edge, while Curtis scrolled through a spreadsheet he’d made earlier.

  ‘Question seven,’ he said. ‘At what point would a relationship be confirmed?’ He looked up. ‘Basically, I want to know when I’ve achieved my goal.’

  ‘Interesting. I think an offer of sex from her would be a clear indicator.’

  Curtis speed typed the answer into his spreadsheet. ‘Question eight and the last one for now.’ Ruby openly sighed with relief. ‘An internet search suggested we should have pet names for each other.’ Ruby snorted but Curtis continued. ‘It recommended a shortening of their first name. Do you think I should go with Cord or Delia?’

  ‘Does that make you Curt by name and by nature?’ Ruby grinned but Curtis was serious, so she tried to chase the grin away with a frown. ‘Well, Curt, let’s see … Cord makes me think of old men’s trousers and Delia is a celebrity chef who shouts at football matches.’

  ‘I might have to rethink that one.’ He tapped away on his keyboard.

  ‘I don’t think this is working,’ said Ruby, trying to get a signal by waving her mobile about.

  ‘The spreadsheet or the phone?’

  ‘Both.’

  ‘You won’t get any reception up here,’ said Curtis.

  She put down her phone and sipped her Coke. ‘I was going to check if Lewis had been in touch.’

  Curtis turned his body towards her. ‘Explain.’

  ‘Don’t get your hopes up. I tweeted about Lewis and the engagement ring and asked people to retweet it. I’m hoping we can find him through social media.’ She jiggled her bottom across the rug towards Curtis and showed him her phone screen. ‘If it was working, it would show me how many people have shared the tweet and liked it. That all helps more people to see it.’

  ‘Can you target an area or people by age group?’ he asked.

  ‘No, it’s not that sophisticated. It’s just people who follow me or look up the hashtag.’ Now she thought about it the chances of finding him were pretty slim. ‘I wish I’d taken a photo of Lewis. That would have been easier; I have a much bigger reach on Insta.’ Curtis chuckled. ‘What?’ she asked.

  ‘That wouldn’t have been odd at all. Taking a photograph of a stranger you’d just met on the train.’

  ‘True.’ He had a point.

  ‘I’ve never subscribed to social media. It looks like a thorough waste of time.’

  ‘I thought you were the techy king,’ she said with a smirk.

  ‘Only serious technology.’

  Ruby gave a mock gasp and held her palm to her chest like she’d been shot. ‘I’m wounded. Are you saying selfies and photographs of your dinner aren’t serious?’

  ‘Precisely.’

  ‘Is Cordelia online?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘When we get back to civilisation, I’ll stalk her.’ Curtis looked momentarily anxious. ‘Not in the weird “go through your bins” way. In the “look you up on Facebook”, completely acceptable way.’

  Curtis didn’t appear convinced. ‘Do you think social media is something we could have in common?’

  ‘Not if you’re not genuinely interested in it. When I said you needed more in common I meant you needed to talk to her to find out what those things are, not ask what she likes and then pretend that you like them too.’

  ‘That may prove quite difficult. You see, Ruby, I’m not a very interesting person.’ His eyes seemed sad and she wanted to hug him but she refrained.

  ‘Curtis, you are anything but that. In fact, I will put my neck out here and say you are without doubt the most interesting person I have ever met. With the possible exception of my Great Uncle Norris who was a hoarder. Going up his stairs was like crossing a land mine site. You had to be super careful where you put your feet, or you’d tread on a bag of muesli. I fell once and bags exploded around me like oat confetti. Boosh!’ She acted out the mini explosions and he laughed.

  ‘Thank you … I think. Perhaps I shouldn’t pursue a relationship with Cordelia. Like you say, it’s probably doomed to failure.’

  ‘I never said you and Cordelia are doomed. Me and any male on the planet – yes. But not you two. Don’t give up.’

  ‘Do you get lonely?’ he asked.

  For a moment she was going to laugh it off but this was Curtis and something compelled her to be real with him. ‘Yeah, sometimes I do. I miss my mum. I know that sounds lame at my age, but I do. I miss being able to tell her stuff. I miss her laugh. Grief keeps catching me unawares. I go a few days without crying and I think I’m doing okay then wham.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘It comes out of nowhere like th
at ninja guy from Inspector Clouseau.’

  ‘Cato Fong.’

  ‘That’s him …’ She paused. ‘How do you know his surname? I didn’t even know he had a surname.’

  Curtis shrugged. ‘I remember stuff.’

  ‘I’ve noticed. Do you get lonely?’

  Curtis lay back and stared at the clouds. ‘I’m not sure I do. I fill my time. I suppose that’s all we’re doing here on earth. Filling time however we see best.’

  Ruby sighed and lay back too. ‘Makes life seem a bit pointless really.’

  ‘Ultimately it is.’

  ‘Aren’t you a ray of sunshine?’ She looked across at him and saw him smile.

  ‘Apart from procreation. That makes it worthwhile. Continuing the species,’ he said.

  ‘Is that what’s driving the whole sperm donor endeavour? The need to reproduce?’

  For a moment she wondered if he’d want to continue the species with her but a giant image of Cordelia popped into her head and stopped her. ‘I think it’s a bit deeper than the timer on my ovaries going off.’

  ‘Or maybe it’s the desire to solve your loneliness issue?’

  She thought about what he was suggesting. Both were possibilities. Her head started to fill up with questions. Why was she so focused on having a baby? She sat up quickly. ‘Shit, Curtis! I thought I just wanted to be a mum. Now you’re making me think all sorts of things.’ And some of them she didn’t like the idea of at all.

  Kim wiped the cider off her chin. She wanted to think Vince was joking but she could see from his face that he wasn’t.

  ‘You’re actually serious?’

  ‘Deadly. No pun intended.’ He gave a cheeky grin.

  She laughed even though it wasn’t funny. ‘After what you did?’

  ‘You just forgave me!’ He looked indignant.

  She snatched up some serviettes and started mopping up the spillage. ‘Vince, I know this is a tough time for you and I sympathise, I really do, but you can’t just click your fingers and expect me to forget what happened.’ She’d only forgiven him to be nice and a little because she felt cornered, but she could hardly tell him that. ‘Forgiving is one thing. Forgetting, now that’s a whole other issue.’