Lavender Girl

by Paula Hickford

  ‘Yes it’s great,’ Monica agreed, trying not to sound too interested. ‘What did he look like?’

  ‘He’s tall with dark hair and a great smile. He reminded me of someone, someone from the telly. I can’t think of the name right now but it’ll come to me.’ Monica had to force a smile as she moved away from the desk.

  She was sure that if she’d stood there for much longer she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself asking for his contact details so she could check. Could it be the same man? Thank god Tammy hadn’t met him.

  ‘You haven’t got an aspirin have you?’ asked Nadia, ‘my head is really thumping.’ Monica searched around in her handbag until she found the Paracetamol that she kept for emergencies.

  ‘You’re a lifesaver,’ said Nadia, as she threw two of them in her mouth at the same time and took a swig of water from the bottle on her desk.

  As Monica got out of the lift she thought about what she should do. Nothing yet, just in case, although every instinct told her that this was probably the same Kevin who said he had divorced years ago. She wondered if he was actually divorced at all. Still, it could just be a coincidence. There are loads of men on the telly. It could be someone completely different.

  It was hopeless, another bloody frog.

  In any case it would have to wait until Nadia’s memory came back. Luckily Nadia was keen to talk about the previous night’s triumph and asked Monica if she fancied meeting up for a chat in the canteen at lunchtime. Monica couldn’t refuse.

  However, if it was the same Kevin it threw up an additional dilemma. Should she tell Nadia? She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.

  When she got to her desk and switched on her computer there was an email from Kevin. ‘Morning Gorgeous. Looking forward to Saturday, lots to talk about. What time shall I pick you up?’ Prior to the conversation with Nadia she would have been over the moon. But now there was a spanner in the works and she wasn’t sure what to do. She started to look at Kevin with a much more critical eye. Was he a bit too intense? After all, they’d only had coffee and dinner.

  Unfortunately she was unable to find out if it was her Kevin. Nadia had started to feel unwell around ten o’clock due in most part to the copious amounts of vodka and tonic she had consumed the night before. She was finally sent home at eleven o’clock after being sick in the waste paper bin on reception. There was nothing for it. She had to cancel her date with Kevin.

  She replied to his email. Had she not spoken to Nadia and suspected Kevin of being a liar she might have worried about the wording and been a bit more sensitive. What plausible excuse could she give to make sure she got another date? She had no such scruples now ‘Sorry Kevin, but I’m going to have to cancel dinner on Saturday as something urgent has come up. Monica (no kisses).’ Short and to the point. Now she just had to hope that he was the same guy that invited Nadia to dinner at his flat or she had just blown any chance she had of a potential mate.

  * * *

  Saturday was hot, almost Mediterranean. It was fantastic to wake up to brilliant sunshine. Liz had made an appointment for the hairdressers at eight thirty to get her highlights done and her roots touched up. Tammy had taken over the task of blow drying Liz’s hair, for which Liz now paid her ten pounds per week, money that Tammy was using to make sure every house in the neighbourhood grew Lavender to help bees.

  Liz was up at six thirty and by six forty five she was washed, dressed and sitting on the patio drinking tea, just like old times. ‘Well Jim, what do you think?’ She spoke to the sky. ‘I hope you like it,’ she added sheepishly.

  Tammy was going to Laura’s house for the day so Liz and Monica were able to go shopping on their own. They decided to go to the superstore on the edge of town as it saved all that trudging around from one shop to another and they were almost certain to find what they were looking for. When Monica rang the bell at eleven o’clock Liz had just finishing mopping the floor.

  ‘I’ve cancelled my date for tonight,’ she told Liz as soon as she was in the door.

  ‘Oh, what’s happened? I thought you liked him.’ Monica relayed Nadia’s encounter at the speed dating event.

  ‘It could just be a coincidence,’ said Liz, trying to reassure her.

  ‘I’m not lucky enough for that,’ said Monica. ‘It’s more likely that he’s still married and probably has a couple of kids. I bet it’s not even his flat. It’s amazing how fast you can go off someone.’

  Liz smiled. ‘Come on, let’s get out and have a coffee before we start shopping.’

  As soon as they got to the shopping centre they headed off to the nearest café.

  ‘How are things going with Nick?’

  ‘It’s great,’ said Liz, ‘his friends at the art club are brilliant. I met the artist and model responsible for the nude paintings. You know, the huge canvas I almost bumped into.’

  ‘Oooh, can I meet him too?’ asked Monica teasing.

  ‘His name is Carlo and he is the partner of the artist. They are a really nice couple.’

  ‘Shame,’ said Monica, turning the corners of her mouth down to make a sad face. ‘Let’s get back to Nick,’ said Monica, refusing to be waylaid. ‘Have you had your first kiss?’

  ‘No, we have not,’ said Liz, with mock indignation. She had definitely thought about it. ‘I know young people nowadays don’t wait for anything but I spent nearly forty years with the same man. I am very,’ she hesitated, ‘very out of practice. Apart from the fact that Nick’s last wife was twenty years his junior. I can’t compete. What on earth does he see in me? No. I’m happy just being friends.’

  ‘Liz, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It’s obvious he likes you. If you like him as much as I think he likes you, you should just go for it. I’m not convinced that you two can just be friends. Let’s face it, no one knows how much time they have on this earth. Don’t waste time. You’re good together.’

  ‘We’ll see,’ said Liz, ‘anyway he’ll be here tomorrow when you come for the barbeque so you can observe closely and tell me what you think.’

  ‘Are you still OK to look after Tammy in the summer holidays?’

  ‘I am,’ said Liz. ‘I’m looking forward to seeing more of her, she’s such a lovely girl. I’m going to invite Sasha to stay too. I really miss her but I don’t hold out much hope that Georgina will agree. She’s such a snob, and worse, I can’t even talk to Adam at the moment. We just end up arguing. He’s got a bee in his bonnet about Nick.’

  ‘Do you think they will come to Tammy’s party?’

  ‘I don’t hold out much hope of that either I’m afraid. Sasha told me that Adam has accepted a job in America. He hasn’t even mentioned it to me.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a shame.’

  ‘I must admit that I am really disappointed. I barely see them now, if they move to America I don’t suppose I’ll see them at all. Still, I guess Adam has to make the most of these chances. After all, he has a very important job and a family to provide for.’

  ‘Of course,’ Monica agreed. She didn’t want to upset Liz by saying what she really thought of him.

  They finished their coffee and went off to look for garden furniture and to buy food for the barbeque. Every big store had patio sets for sale so competition was fierce. It wasn’t long before Monica had found a table, six chairs and a parasol at a very reasonable price which she planned to use in her own garden until the party. Liz couldn’t resist a bargain either so ended up with a couple of rattan recliners and a coffee table. She could picture herself sitting on one of them on the veranda of the new summer house with the sound of the fountain in the background and a glass of wine in her hand.

  ‘That makes fourteen chairs,’ said Monica. ‘Will it be enough? I doubt the kids will sit down for long but they will have to sit down to eat.’

  ‘We could put some picnic blankets out with cushions on top,’ suggested Liz, mindful of the fact that without grass the ground was quite hard. ‘I’m sure we could beg or borrow some chairs from som
ewhere,’ Liz assured her, ‘worse way, we’ll ask the adult guests to bring their own.’ Sadly the bargain furniture wasn’t such a bargain when it wouldn’t fit in the car and they had to pay a twenty five pound delivery charge.

  Monica’s mobile pinged on the way home. When she looked it was Kevin. ‘Hope everything is OK, please give me a call if you need me. Kevin xx.’

  ‘Awww, that’s nice,’ said Liz when Monica read it out. ‘Maybe you’re wrong about him. It might not be the same man.’

  ‘I know,’ said Monica confused, ‘but I’d like to wait and see before I commit to any more dates. Besides, it’s difficult with Tammy. We come as a package now. I have to be sure.’

  Chapter 25

  Liz had slept badly and she woke up feeling tired. She had finally got off to sleep around three in the morning. When she thought about it she realised that it was Nick coming to the house that was on her mind. She wasn’t worried about being alone with Nick, she loved his company, but it was Jim’s house. She felt almost as though she was committing adultery, betraying him in some way, which was ridiculous. Nick made her happy and that made her feel guilty, but what for? She had been a good wife.

  She wasn’t sure that Nick coming over was such a good idea. Maybe she should ring him and make an excuse to put him off. It was nearly nine o’clock now and he was due to arrive by eleven. She tried his mobile and when he didn’t answer she resigned herself to the fact that he was coming and she was being silly. She got washed and dressed quickly and carefully applied a little make-up which she now did on a regular basis. She made a cup of tea and went outside to sit in the garden.

  Nick turned up at eleven on the dot and getting no reply after ringing the bell went to the side gate and knocked loudly.

  ‘Coming,’ shouted Liz, who had been busy watering the plants. She spent as much time as she possibly could in the garden now, she couldn’t get enough of it. It would only get better as the plants matured and the paving weathered.

  ‘Hiya,’ said Nick, smiling as he walked down the path behind her. ‘I thought you’d be out here.’

  ‘We don’t get enough summer to waste any being indoors,’ said Liz, leading the way. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  ‘I’d love one.’ He sat down at the table and opened a newspaper he had brought with him. Liz looked out the window while she waited for the kettle to boil. It felt so familiar. Jim would sit and read the papers in the same spot while she made tea and breakfast and watched him from the window. Except that she didn’t look at Nick in the same way.

  ‘Monica and Tammy are coming by later. I thought we could barbeque if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Great,’ said Nick, ‘I’m a dab hand on the barbeque.’

  ‘Well that’s good to know,’ Liz shouted through the window. ‘Monica and I are both useless. I hope you’ve looked after the Lavender. Tammy is bound to ask you how it’s doing.’

  ‘I have,’ said Nick, who surprised himself. ‘It’s positively thriving.’

  ‘Great. Tammy may demand evidence. She is busy supplying the rest of the neighbourhood with plants at the moment.’ She brought out tea and biscuits on a tray.

  ‘Oh, in case I forget,’ Liz ran inside and brought out an invitation to Tammy’s party. ‘She has invited Milly and Bradley too. I hope you can all come? She would be so disappointed if you weren’t here.’

  ‘I’m not sure about Bradley,’ said Nick, ‘you know what teenage boys are like but Milly is much more considerate. I’m sure she’d be happy to come, especially as it doesn’t interfere with her going out later. Bradley on the other hand does his best to stay in bed all day at the weekend. I know he has Heather pulling her hair out. I hope you weren’t too fazed by Marie on Wednesday. She likes to shock.’

  ‘On the contrary, I thought she was trying to make me feel at home. After all she did feed me the line so I didn’t want to disappoint her.’

  Nick laughed. ‘You didn’t. You seem different,’ he said, when he’d stopped laughing.

  ‘I do? How?’

  ‘A little distracted, what’s wrong?

  ‘Oh nothing,’ said Liz, lying through her teeth and feeling a bit unnerved that he was so perceptive. ‘I didn’t sleep very well, that’s all.’

  ‘I hope you weren’t worrying about me coming over.’

  ‘No, I’m pleased you’re here. I’ve been really happy lately and that’s the problem.’

  ‘Being happy is a problem?’ asked Nick confused.

  ‘No, no, I didn’t mean that. I mean that I feel guilty for being happy.’

  ‘I’m sure Jim wouldn’t want you to be miserable.’

  ‘No, I don’t think he would. I’m not so sure about Adam though. I don’t think he likes the idea of me having a male friend.’

  ‘Liz, I’d be happy to be your friend if that is all you want me to be but I hope you have realised by now that I’d like us to be more than friends.’

  Liz smiled as Nick reached over and took her hand. ‘I’d like that too.’ She cupped her hand around his.

  ‘Well, that’s great. Come on let’s get on with kitting out your studio.’ He pulled her out of the chair and they walked up to the summer house hand in hand.

  By the time Tammy and Monica arrived at two o’clock Nick had put up several shelves and moved a lot of the boxes from the garage. Liz decided to leave the tools where they were for now, at least until after the party. While Nick drilled and banged in nails Liz marinated chicken and chopped up salads and vegetables for the barbeque.

  ‘My, you have been busy,’ said Monica when she came in and saw the table already laid. ‘Here,’ she gave Liz a Tupperware container full of fresh fruit salad, ‘and these.’ She handed over a couple of bottles of white wine. ‘They are nice and cold,’ she added. ‘They’ve been in the fridge since last night.’

  ‘It’s so nice of you,’ said Liz, ‘but you shouldn’t have.’

  ‘I helped,’ said Tammy, making sure she got her share of the credit.

  ‘Well it looks fantastic,’ said Liz, and she gave Tammy a big hug.

  ‘Hi Nick,’ shouted Tammy as soon as she saw him coming down the steps. ‘How’s the Lavender?’

  ‘I told you,’ said Liz, as he reached the patio.

  ‘I have had to re-pot it,’ he said proudly. ‘It’s grown a couple of inches. So have you I think. Are you sure you’re only eleven on your next birthday?’ Tammy laughed. ‘Monica you’re looking great.’ He pecked her on the cheek. ‘Well, are you getting hungry? The barbecue’s ready, shall I start cooking?’

  ‘Yes please,’ said Tammy. ‘Would you like to hear about my party?’

  ‘I’d love to,’ said Nick. He was a captive audience after all. Tammy proceeded to tell him who was coming and what they would be doing and the outfit she planned to wear as Nick slapped chicken breasts onto the grill, leaving Monica and Liz to sit at the table with a glass of wine.

  ‘This is a lovely domestic scene,’ said Monica, smiling mischievously as she sipped her wine.

  Liz smiled. ‘The weird thing is it feels perfectly natural and yet every now and then I get this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that makes me feel as if I’m doing something wrong.’

  ‘Like what?’ said Monica.

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I guess I just feel guilty for being alive and happy and probably for having Nick here in this house, Jim’s house.’

  Monica reached over and put her hand on Liz’s. ‘Jim’s been dead for how long? Five years? I think you’ve been miserable long enough.’

  ‘I’m not so sure,’ said Liz. ‘He always joked when he was alive that he’d come back and haunt me when he died. I prayed that he would, I was so desperate to see him.’

  ‘I think this house needs some happy memories,’ said Monica, ‘but if you really feel too guilty to be happy with Nick here perhaps you should think about moving.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t think I could ever do that, could I?’

  ‘Why not? You are a free agent, so t
o speak.’

  Nick came and joined them at the table and Liz poured him a glass of wine.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind but Tammy and I have been discussing her party and I have volunteered to man the barbecue.’

  ‘That was cheeky of you,’ Monica said to Tammy.

  ‘I didn’t ask,’ said Tammy defensively, ‘Nick volunteered.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Nick, ‘it was completely of my own volition.’ He made a big gesture of winking to Tammy. ‘Besides, I hate pizza.’

  ‘Told you,’ said Tammy, ‘people prefer burgers.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ asked Monica.

  ‘Of course,’ said Nick, ‘it will be my pleasure.’

  ‘Well that’s settled then, burgers it is.’

  The afternoon was warm and breezy, just enough to ruffle the edges of the tablecloth every now and then. The sound of the fountain was drowned out by the chatter and frequent bursts of laughter. Tammy’s party was going to be the highlight of the summer. Liz soaked it all up. It was fantastic to be using the garden again.

  ‘How about a holiday, are you going anywhere?’ asked Nick.

  ‘Haven’t thought about it,’ said Liz and Monica together.

  ‘How about you?’

  ‘I have a small house in France that I go to sometimes. It’s been a project for a few years. I still haven’t managed to finish it.’

  ‘How lovely,’ said Monica. ‘Where is it exactly?’

  ‘It’s in a little village outside Toulouse in the south of France, near to the border with Spain.’

  ‘Wouldn’t you like to live there?’ asked Tammy.

  ‘Not on my own,’ said Nick looking at Liz, who blushed.

  ‘Can we see it?’

  ‘Tammy!’ Monica moved her head from side to side to indicate to Tammy that asking was rude.

  ‘I’d love you to see it,’ said Nick. ‘I was thinking of going there later in the year. Perhaps you could come for a holiday?’

  ‘Can we?’ said Tammy, her big brown eyes pleading with Monica to say yes.

  ‘We’ll see.’