‘Yes,’ said Dani, resisting the urge to say something about that taste not extending to his future wife.
Jane handed it back to Dani. ‘Do you want to try it?’
‘No,’ Dani said. ‘That’s a bit weird, isn’t it?’
‘It’s supposed to be lucky, trying on another woman’s engagement ring. You have to twist it three times.’
‘I think I’d need to twist it three hundred times,’ Dani sighed.
Flossie and Jed returned now that the coast was clear of dog mess.
Unlike her mother, Flossie wasn’t squeamish about trying the ring on. But Dani was disturbed to see that Jed wasn’t squeamish about Flossie trying the ring on either. Despite it being the ultimate symbol of capitalism, surely?
‘What do you think, bae?’ Flossie asked him.
‘You know what I think about blood diamonds,’ he said. ‘But it does look good on you.’
‘Put a ring on it …’ Flossie did her best Beyoncé impression, waggling her fingers in Jed’s direction. Dani sincerely hoped he wasn’t planning to. Of course he wasn’t. He’d only just finished his A-levels. But …
‘Right,’ she said. ‘That’s enough of that.’ She asked Flossie to give her the ring back. ‘I’m going to put that ring somewhere safe until I see Nat at boot camp. Somewhere out of Jezza’s reach. I’m not going through that again.’
Jed slid the ring off Flossie’s finger while making goo-goo eyes at her.
Dani felt a little unwell at the sight.
Jed seemed reluctant to leave that night. He was still there at almost ten o’clock and Flossie had one more exam to sit.
‘Time for this one to be in bed,’ Dani said.
‘Mum,’ Flossie complained. ‘I do know. I’m not a child.’
Flossie walked Jed to the door and watched him lovingly as he laced up the filthy old combat boots that made Dani’s heart sink whenever she saw them in her hallway. Then she and Jed engaged in their usual ten-minute goodnight ritual.
‘I’m shutting the door,’ said Flossie. ‘You’ve got to go. No way! I can’t shut the door until you’re halfway up the path. Jed! Please! You be the one to say goodbye.’
‘No you,’ said Jed.
‘No, it’s your turn.’
‘It’s yours.’
And on and on.
And on and on until Dani poked her head into the hall and said, ‘Jed. It’s twenty past ten. Please sling it.’
‘Mum,’ Flossie complained, when Jed was finally gone. ‘I don’t know why you have to be so rude to him.’
‘You were letting all the heat out.’
‘It’s June, Mum. It’s the middle of summer. Talking of which, it’s the solstice in a fortnight and me and Jed …’
‘No.’
‘You didn’t even let me finish. That’s so not polite.’
Neither was spraying the seat where Jed had been sitting with Febreze, which was what Dani did next.
‘Mum!’ Flossie was outraged. ‘Jed does not smell.’
‘Love is nose-blind,’ Dani referenced a freshener ad.
‘Anyway, we’ve worked out how we’re going to pay to go to a festival. We’re going to make organic cupcakes and sell them at the beach.’
‘No, you’re not,’ said Dani.
‘Yes, we are. Mum, you said I should think about earning some money this summer and now me and Jed have come up with a plan, you’re just pooh-poohing it.’
‘Because unless it’s some charity bake sale, you can’t just make cakes and sell them at the beach like that. They’ve got to be made in a proper commercial kitchen. There’s health and safety to think of. And then you’ll need a trading licence.’
‘You’re just trying to stop me and Jed from raising the money to go away.’
‘Well,’ said Dani. ‘I did tell you that I’d make my mind up after you got your exam results. And I never said you could go anywhere with Jed on your own.’
‘I told Jed that you would help us,’ said Flossie. ‘I might have known I was wrong. Honestly, Mum, why can’t you just be happy that Jed’s being entrepreneurial?’
‘Flossie,’ Dani tried. ‘I’m just telling you how it is.’
Flossie was already on her way to bed.
Up in her bedroom at last, Dani could take a closer look at the ring without interruption. Away from the eyes of anyone who might have taken the gesture the wrong way, she slipped it onto her ring finger and was surprised to discover that it was exactly her size. Not only was the band right for the width of her finger, the stone was perfect too. Not too small but not too big. Classy. Elegant. It was the sort of ring that whispered rather than shouted.
Dani sat at her dressing table and imagined for a moment that the ring was hers. She imagined herself sitting across the table from her fiancé. She leaned her cheek in her left hand. The diamond caught the light and sent little shards of flattering, glittering rainbow colour across Dani’s face. It was beautiful and it made her feel somehow more beautiful too. She’d never really ‘got’ why so many women she knew went gaga for jewellery. But with this ring, she thought finally she understood. How could anyone not want to own something so exquisite?
She held her left hand out in front of her and admired the diamond’s brilliance as she moved her fingers.
But she was not Cinderella and this was not her shoe, or her ring. No point getting attached.
Dani picked up her phone and texted Nat.
‘Ring found at last.’
‘You are a star!’ he texted back. ‘Can I pick it up tomorrow?’
‘Catch me on my break at The Majestic?’ Dani suggested. ‘Three o’clock?’
Nat agreed.
Reluctantly, Dani took the ring off.
Chapter Twenty-Four
At three the next day, Dani met Nat in The Majestic’s car park. She saw him before he saw her. As she watched him walk across the tarmac with his familiar loping stride, he could have been a teenager again.
‘Hello.’ He kissed her on both cheeks.
‘Continental,’ Dani commented.
‘You taste of sugar,’ he said.
‘Oh. I was just dusting something with icing sugar,’ Dani explained. ‘It gets everywhere.’ Which was the truth. All the same, she blushed.
‘So …’ Nat bounced on the balls of his feet, expectantly.
‘Of course. The ring.’
Dani retrieved it from her pocket. She’d wrapped it in a tissue, which she now unfolded. She placed the ring in the palm of Nat’s hand. His long fingers closed around it. He had beautiful hands.
‘Thanks for this,’ he said, shaking the ring in his fist.
‘I’m sorry it took so long.’
‘It must have felt longer for you,’ Nat said.
‘At least now I have in-depth knowledge of my puppy’s digestive system.’
‘Which is always useful,’ Nat agreed.
‘How is Princess?’ Dani grasped for small talk.
‘She chewed one of Lola’s Manolos,’ Nat admitted. ‘Lola was not happy.’
‘You mean a Manolo Blahnik shoe?’ Dani said. ‘Not much danger of that happening in my house, at least.’
‘Lola was always complaining that those particular shoes hurt anyway. Too pointed …’
Meanwhile, Nat was putting the glittering ring back into its dark blue velvet box. It was like a reverse proposal, Dani suddenly thought, as he tucked the box into his breast pocket.
‘I should go back in,’ she said. ‘See you at boot camp?’
‘Actually,’ said Nat. ‘You won’t. Not this week anyway.’
‘Oh?’
‘Mini-break,’ Nat said.
‘That’s nice. You found somewhere dog-friendly?’
‘Er no. Princess is actually still going to be at the training session. With one of Lola’s friends.’
‘I’ll be sure to look out for her.’
‘Him,’ Nat corrected.
‘Great. I’m sorry about the ring,’ she said again
.
‘All’s well that ends well,’ said Nat. He kissed her cheek again.
‘Better than a doughnut,’ he said.
Back in the kitchen, everyone had heard about the ring and knew that Nat had come to collect it. Dave and Joe paused in what they were doing as Dani came in and watched her face for some sort of sign. Joe knew all about Dani’s past connection with Nat now.
‘Never mind, Dani. It’ll be your turn one day,’ said Dave.
‘Eff off, Dave,’ said Dani.
Chapter Twenty-Five
On Friday, Jane noticed that they were running low on kibble for Jezza’s meals. She decided she would sort the situation out before it slipped her mind. She shrugged on her new beige trench coat and accessorised with the pretty scarf Dani had bought her for her last birthday. As an afterthought, she slicked on some of the lipstick she hardly ever wore. Then wiped most of it off again. It was still way too bright.
‘You’re only going to the pet shop,’ she reminded her reflection.
The Newbay pet shop was busy that morning. There were three dogs tied to the special rings outside, regarding each other warily as they waited for their owners to come out with treats. Or flea spray.
Jane looked up at the shop’s façade before she walked in. She’d never really noticed it before but now it struck her as silly that she had been coming to this shop on and off for the best part of three decades without knowing the name of the proprietor. It was there, in small lettering, underneath the name: ‘Newbay Pets. W. T. Hunter and son.’
‘Good morning, Mr Hunter,’ said Jane, when the other customers had gone and she had his full attention at last.
‘Mrs Parker,’ he nodded in response. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting. What happened with the diamond?’
‘Safely recovered and possibly even more sparkly than when it went in.’
‘Wonderful. And no ill effects for your puppy, I hope.’
‘I don’t think so. He seems just as lively as ever. He’s back to eating shoes. But I’ve come to get him something more suitable.’
‘Is he on a dry diet?’ Mr Hunter asked.
Jane handed Mr Hunter the shopping list Dani had given her.
‘You’re in luck. We just got some more of that in.’
Mr Hunter disappeared into the back of the shop. While he was gone, Jane busied herself looking at the flyers and postcards that were tacked to the shop’s noticeboard. Puppies, kittens and guinea pigs were all seeking homes. There were flyers for training classes, dog-walkers, dog-sitters, and dog yoga.
‘Dog yoga!’ Jane exclaimed.
‘I hear it’s rather good,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘Not that you would catch Sapphire on a yoga mat. Unless she was allowed to sleep on it.’
‘I think Jezza could use a bit of Zen,’ said Jane.
‘How are you getting used to having a dog around?’
‘Well, when he’s not eating expensive jewellery … I rather like it. He’s always so happy and it’s nice to know that someone will be there when I get in.’
‘That’s how I feel,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘You should always come home to someone who’s pleased to see you.’
‘Even if it’s only cupboard love,’ said Jane.
Mr Hunter rang up the price of the kibble. ‘With your members’ club discount, of course. And an extra ten per cent for being … erm, our … tenth customer today.’
‘Why, thank you. That’s very kind.’
‘My pleasure. Now, this is a heavy bag,’ said Mr Hunter. ‘How are you going to get it home? Where’s your car? I’ll carry it out to your boot for you.’
‘Don’t have a car. I came on the bus.’
‘You can’t carry this on the bus.’
‘Of course I can. The stop is right outside our house.’
‘But the stop where you get on is quite a walk away, isn’t it? Let me deliver it for you later.’
‘No. I couldn’t possibly let you do that.’
‘Then at least let me walk you to the bus stop.’
‘But the shop?’
‘Is closing for lunch,’ said Mr Hunter as he put a cover over the cash register.
‘I can’t ask you to …’
‘But I can insist. Come on.’
Mr Hunter turned the notice on the door of the shop to ‘closed’ and locked it shut. Jane continued to protest that it really was a favour too far but Mr Hunter wouldn’t hear of it.
‘This is the difference between buying your kibble at the supermarket and buying from us,’ he said.
‘Waitrose need to watch out,’ said Jane.
And when she saw Mr Hunter hoist the bag onto his shoulder as though it were a little bag of sugar, Jane admitted, at least to herself, that she was glad he’d offered to help her. She was wearing the wrong coat and the wrong shoes for that kind of heavy labour. She was already worrying about how she’d cope at the other end. Flossie – who was at home on study leave – would have to come out to meet her.
Jane and Mr Hunter walked towards the train station. Jane’s bus stop was just opposite.
‘Isn’t it a beautiful day,’ said Mr Hunter as they crossed the road. ‘I think we’re going to have a proper summer this year.’
‘About time,’ said Jane.
‘Good for all those events in the park. Remember how they got completely rained off a couple of years ago. The one year I managed to get my act together early enough to get tickets for the outdoor opera and it was washed out. Every show cancelled. Have you ever been? I hear they put on a very good show.’
‘I haven’t,’ said Jane.
‘It’s Così Fan Tutte this year.’
‘Oh. I don’t know that one very well.’
‘You should see it. I saw it years ago on holiday in Italy. I was with my son and his wife. She got tickets to see the opera in an old amphitheatre. It was magical, I tell you. I fell in love with the music at once. As a matter of fact, I’ve got tickets for the Newbay performance. Obviously, it won’t be the same as watching an open-air performance in the Italian sun but … I wonder …’
Jane felt a weird prickling sensation under her arms as though she was suddenly nervous.
Mr Hunter cleared his throat then began again, ‘They’re pretty good seats …’
A bus pulled in to the stop.
‘Oh that’s mine,’ said Jane, wrestling the bag of kibble from Mr Hunter’s arms. ‘Thank you so much. I’ll see you again soon.’
She climbed onto the bus. Almost falling straight off again in her haste to get on board. The driver nodded her through when it became obvious that she was going to have a job hanging on to the kibble and fishing out her senior citizen’s bus pass.
Mr Hunter still had his arms out, as though holding the dog food, when Jane got to her seat and waved goodbye.
That was a close shave, Jane said to herself. Was he going to ask her out? When he started to talk about the opera? It sounded as though that was his plan. And in order to head off the potential awkwardness, Jane had jumped onto a bus. A bus that she now realised was not going her way. Rather, it was going in the very opposite direction to the one she wanted.
‘Bugger.’
She got off at the first stop – struggling with the ridiculous bag of dog food – and crossed the road to catch a bus going in the right direction. As she waited, Jane saw Mr Hunter walking back to his shop on the other side of the street. She pressed herself up against the bus shelter and closed her eyes as though not being able to see him meant he wouldn’t be able to see her. Jane was still blushing by the time she got home.
Chapter Twenty-Six
For Dani, the rest of the week had passed quickly. The season was in full flow and the restaurant at The Majestic was packed every lunchtime, afternoon and evening. She and Joe were at their very busiest, piping out meringues and éclairs as though they were machines. Newbay’s visitors had an insatiable need for cake.
Busy was good, thought Dani. Busy didn’t give her time to think about what was missing from her l
ife. The incident with Lola’s engagement ring had left her feeling oddly reflective. She found herself ambushed by memories of that moment in the car park, when she’d handed the ring back to Nat, far more often than she liked. That moment and another moment from more than two decades before.
But then it was Saturday morning. Time for Best Behaviour Boot Camp again.
Of course, Dani recognised Princess at once. But Lola’s friend …
Woah.
Dani gawped. She suddenly wished she’d made a tiny bit more effort with that morning’s dog-walking outfit. She was still wearing the T-shirt she’d worn for the entire previous day and overnight (she always felt chilly in bed even in the summer). Lola’s friend was incredibly good looking. He was not unlike Aidan Turner around the face, Dani thought, with possibly an even better body.
‘Hi,’ Dani said as he stepped into the space beside her. This far into the course, everyone had their place and they stuck to it. ‘You must be Lola’s pal.’
‘You know Lola?’
His eyes lit up at the mention of her name.
‘We’ve met a couple of times. I know her boyfriend better. Nat. We were … well, I suppose you could say we were childhood friends. This is Jezza and I’m Dani Parker.’ She held out her hand.
‘Will,’ said Lola’s friend. ‘Will Hamilton. I’m actually Lola’s ex.’
‘Oh.’
‘But that was ages ago. We’re just really good mates now. Nat sprung this mini-break on her but Lola didn’t want Princess to miss out on her training so she called on me. I suppose you could say I’m Princess’s godfather of sorts.’
‘Or dogfather,’ Dani joked.
‘Ha! That’s a good one,’ said Will. He laughed to show his perfect teeth. They were beautiful. Like a toothpaste ad. ‘Now, tell me. What do we do here?’
‘We do whatever we’re told,’ said Dani.
Nurse Van Niekerk was striding across the field to join them.
‘Puppies, ready! Owners, ready! Your full attention, please!’
‘She’s fierce,’ said Will. ‘But I kind of like her.’
‘Mr Princess,’ Nurse Van Niekerk turned both barrels in Will’s direction. ‘I appreciate that you are new to Best Behaviour Boot Camp, but I would hope that you have already observed that Best Behaviour applies not only to the puppies on this field today. We lead by example, Mr Princess. How can Princess look up to you if she can’t respect you? If she sees you giggling away like you’re a twelve-year-old schoolboy, she is getting the wrong message. No talking unless I have told you that you must talk directly to your dog. You are not here to waste your time, your dog’s time or my time.’
Once in a Lifetime Page 12