‘Sure as I can be. I definitely heard about this being an alternative treatment somewhere. It might have been on morning television when I was at Mary’s having breakfast. Of course, I could also have dreamt it, but it’s worth a shot.’
‘So you’re not really sure at all. Great. And it just seems so … yucky!’
‘Well seeing as how the chemist is closed, it’s this or just sit there scratching.’
‘Okay then, go for it. But I’m doing you next.’
‘Do you really think I need it? Chances of me catching them are pretty slim, although,’ he scratched his head vigorously, ‘my head does feel really itchy all of a sudden. It could be psychosomatic?’ Jack raised his eyebrows as he looked at Eve, but she shook her head.
‘Both of us or none at all. No point treating just me if you’re already infested.’
‘But what day did the girl hug you? They can’t breed that quickly, surely?’
‘I have no idea about their breeding habits, but the way they spread through schools and nurseries, I’m guessing they’re prolific. Besides, even if they haven’t had sex, laid eggs or done whatever it is they do, it’s likely that more than one of them crawled from her head to mine and the same could have happened with you. Come on, Jack, man up and let’s get on with it.’
‘Yes, ma’am!’ He saluted her. ‘You’re forceful when you want to be.’
Eve shook her head then shivered as he stuck a spoon into the large jar of mayonnaise on the kitchen table. As he pulled the spoon out, it squelched. Eve cowered as he spooned the creamy substance onto his hand then approached her.
‘Here goes!’
As the cold mayonnaise met her scalp, Eve squealed.
‘It feels horrible.’
‘Cold?’
‘Yes, freezing!’
‘Just think about how it’s suffocating those bugs.’
‘And it smells!’
‘It’s nice! Creamy, sweet and … ooohhhh!’ He rubbed the mayonnaise all over her head and started to massage her scalp. ‘There you are, Mr and Mrs Nit. How’s that for your sexy party?’
‘What?’ Eve screeched. ‘Don’t encourage them! They’re meant to be deterred by this, not enjoying it.’
Jack laughed and Eve peered at him from under his hands. ‘I don’t even know how head lice breed, Eve. They’re not likely to be in there rolling around and discussing the benefits of increased lubrication, now are they?’
‘Too much! Stop it!’
Jack stopped massaging.
‘Not stop that; I meant stop telling me nit horror stories.’
‘Ha ha! Okay.’
He continued slathering the mayonnaise over her head until Eve’s entire scalp was cold and wet, then he stood back. ‘Looks pretty cool, though.’
‘I bet it doesn’t.’
‘Kind of like one of those bald caps.’
‘That is not the look I was hoping for.’
‘Now for the best bit.’
He went to the sink and swilled his hands, then pulled a length of cling film off the roll and wrapped it around Eve’s head. ‘Ta da!’
‘Thank you. How long does it need to stay on for?’
‘As long as it takes for them to run out of oxygen, I assume.’
‘And how long’s that?’
Jack shrugged. ‘I’d leave it on overnight just to be sure.’
‘They can hold their breath for eight hours?’
‘Doubt it, but don’t take any chances by washing it off too soon.’
‘All right.’ Eve sighed. ‘Your turn.’
She stood up and Jack sat on the chair, then she spooned mayonnaise onto her hand and smeared it over his head.
‘You’re right, that is cold.’
‘I know.’
‘Feels kind of nice in a weird way.’
She covered Jack’s hair, running a finger all the way around his hairline to create a barrier to prevent any lice escaping. ‘Now for the wrap.’ She washed her hands, then pulled off a length of cling film and bound it round his head. ‘And you’ve got a baldy too.’
‘Thanks. So we’re like twins?’
‘I guess so.’
‘What now?’
‘I think we should stay indoors. I don’t think going out in public is a good idea.’
‘Me neither.’
‘Game of cards?’
‘Sure, why not!’
* * *
It was four hours later when Jack finally admitted defeat. Eve had won more games than she could count and they were both yawning through the final game. She was so comfortable on Jack’s sofa and knew that if she stayed much longer she’d be tempted to lie down and go to sleep. The duck-down cushions were full and soft and the fluffy throw hanging over the arm was calling to her.
‘I should get going,’ she said reluctantly. ‘Check on the lovebirds and have a shower.’
‘No cheating, mind!’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t wash it off until the morning.’
‘Promise?’
‘Cross my heart.’ They stood up and walked to the front door. ‘What will you do now?’ Eve asked.
‘Well I don’t really want to get too warm, so gardening’s out of the question. I’ve a book I’d like to finish and I might head out to the shed for a bit later too.’
‘You read?’
‘Of course! I love reading. Thrillers are my favourite but I also enjoy biographies.’ His cheeks coloured. ‘And not ones about sports stars either.’
‘I didn’t assume that. What ones have you read?’
‘Recently I read one about an RAF pilot from the Second World War, but I’ve read all sorts, from books about captains in the Italian mafia to those about artists from all over the world and throughout history. To be honest, if I enter a bookshop, I’m done for!’
‘I need to take you back to school with me when I go. You can come and give the boys a talk about the joy of reading. It can be so difficult sometimes to encourage them to read, and when they don’t, literacy suffers.’
‘I could do that.’
‘Really?’
‘If you think it would help.’
‘Jack, you’re an ex-marine who loves reading. You’d be their role model.’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t know about that. But I’d be happy to help if I could.’
Eve took a slow breath. Thinking about returning to Bristol hurt, but imagining Jack there too made it seem better. ‘Do you think you would like to visit Bristol?’
He stared down at his feet and Eve watched him carefully. ‘I’d consider coming. But not for long, because I just can’t bear the thought of leaving the sea. City life isn’t for me.’
He met her eyes and she saw his pain.
‘I understand.’
‘Look at us baldies having a serious conversation!’ He grinned.
‘See you tomorrow then.’ Eve took her cue to leave before their mutual sadness permeated the evening air like a brewing storm.
‘I’ll be gone early … my shift at the sanctuary, but I’ll see you later. Just mind you keep that mayo on your head.’
‘I swear it’s sweating already. I’m going to stink by morning.’
‘Eggs and vinegar.’
‘Yum!’ Eve tapped her cling-film-covered scalp, then left Jack’s cottage and walked around to Aunt Mary’s back door.
She made herself a cup of tea and took it up to her room. The house was calm and quiet and she assumed that Mary and Edward must have gone for an early night. After such an eventful afternoon, coupled with a strange if relaxing head massage, Eve thought that seemed like a good idea.
* * *
The next morning, Eve walked into the kitchen to find Mary and Edward at the kitchen table, their faces glowing with happiness, their hands clasped on the tabletop.
‘Well good morning, both!’ She sat down opposite them and glanced discreetly at Edward’s black eyes. The swelling on his nose had gone down a bit.
‘Good morning to you
too!’ Mary replied, then started to giggle.
Eve frowned at her, then at Edward, who had also started laughing.
‘What?’ Heat flooded her cheeks. Were they sharing some secret joke?
‘Eve, dear, whatever happened to your hair?’
Eve felt her head and groaned. She hadn’t even bothered to glance in the mirror before heading downstairs, but now she remembered the mayonnaise. ‘Long story.’
‘We have time.’ Edward grinned as he poured her a mug of tea then gestured at the plate of fresh pancakes on the table.
‘Well … you know my head has been itchy? Turns out I must have picked up head lice when we went to Conwenna Kidz.’
Her aunt frowned and scratched her own head.
‘And yesterday was Sunday, so there weren’t any shops open for me to buy a treatment. Jack suggested using mayonnaise to suffocate the bugs and he said leave it on overnight, so, well, that’s what I did.’
‘Wrapped in cling film?’ Mary asked.
‘I know, it looks like a bald cap, doesn’t it?’
Mary nodded.
‘I just hope it worked. I’m not keen on using a chemical treatment anyway.’
‘I think I have an old nit comb here somewhere that you can use. Wash all that out when you shower, then condition it, and while the conditioner’s still on, drag the comb through. Should do the job.’
‘Thanks, Aunt Mary.’
They sat in silence for a while as they drank tea and ate pancakes doused in maple syrup.
‘Eve, how do you fancy a bit of a shopping trip?’ Edward asked.
‘Shopping?’
‘Edward wants me to go and look at cakes and dresses. He’s afraid I’ll change my mind.’
‘That’s not going to happen.’ Eve smiled at them both and nodded at their hands, still clasped tightly together.
‘Of course not.’ Mary kissed Edward’s cheek. ‘But I think I’d like a few hours browsing around the shops with my favourite niece.’
‘Where did you want to go?’
‘How about we take a drive and see where we end up?’ Mary asked.
‘Okay, lovely. I need to ring my GP first, but I’m happy to come with you for some retail therapy.’
After breakfast, Eve went and made the necessary telephone call. Her stomach churned as she rang the familiar number, but when the receptionist put her through, the GP’s soothing, professional tone put her at ease. Eve explained that she felt she wanted to go back to her job but that she wasn’t quite ready, and the doctor was understanding, telling her to ensure that she was fully recovered before heading back to Bristol. She gave Eve a note for another two weeks then told her to make an appointment to see her before returning to work.
When she ended the call, Eve stretched out on the bed and waited for her heart rate to slow. Stress was a horrid feeling; it flooded her with fight-or-flight symptoms and she didn’t know whether she wanted to throw up, burst into tears or run to the toilet. It was so important that she got stronger before going back to work, but she couldn’t go on like this indefinitely. She’d set herself a goal now – to return after half-term – and stick to it.
But now she needed to wash off the rather smelly and congealed mayonnaise and give her hair a thorough combing as Aunt Mary had suggested. Then she would feel ready to help her aunt look for a suitably beautiful wedding dress.
* * *
As they strolled arm-in-arm around the pretty streets of Truro, Eve felt her heart lift again. Time out of her usual existence was certainly a tonic. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d just walked around a town and browsed in the shops. Whenever she did shop for clothes, it was a hurried affair, often after work before heading home for a microwave meal and a sleepless night. But this … it was so different. Here she was, with a woman she adored, just savouring the day. Enjoying the moment. And it was wonderful.
‘Shall we look in there, Eve?’ Mary pointed at a surf shop.
‘They won’t have wedding dresses in there!’
‘Who cares? I’m enjoying myself.’ Mary pulled Eve towards the shop and into its air-conditioned interior.
They walked around the clothing and Mary kept pointing out things that she thought would look good on Eve. ‘What about this?’ She held up a lavender shift dress with tiny white flowers embroidered over the bust and around the knee-length hem. ‘This would look beautiful on you, Eve.’
‘It is pretty.’ Eve fingered the cool cotton of the dress.
‘Then you must get it.’
‘Okay then.’
‘And what about this?’
She smiled as Mary handed her various garments to try on. It was lovely to have another woman’s company and she could hardly believe that Aunt Mary was over sixty. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious and Eve loved how her aunt made her feel that anything was possible.
‘Oooh! Look, Eve!’ Mary dragged her to the men’s clothing. ‘What do you think about this?’ She took a green shirt down from the rail and held it out. It was plain, yet a beautiful colour; it reminded Eve of a mix between freshly cut grass and mint leaves.
‘Are you getting it for Edward?’
Mary frowned at her. ‘Of course not! I was thinking that it would suit Jack. Why don’t you get it for him?’
‘Buy him a gift?’
‘Why not?’
‘Well isn’t that a bit—’
Mary placed a cool hand on Eve’s arm. ‘Are you friends?’
‘Of course.’
‘And there’s nothing wrong with buying a gift for a friend. Especially when he helped you to treat your … little problem.’ She leaned in to whisper the final two words as if it were part of some great conspiracy.
‘You’re right. I’ll get it for him. But I don’t know what size he is.’
Mary grinned. ‘Big and broad.’ Then she winked.
Eve felt heat rise up her neck. ‘That’s not very specific, is it?’
Mary looked through the shirts on the rail then pulled one out. ‘Here you are. I know his size because I pinch his ironing some days to thank him for all he does for me. I just wondered if you knew.’
‘Aunt Mary!’
Mary shrugged. ‘Well, you can’t blame your aunt for wanting to see you happy.’
Eve paid for her garments then they headed back into the sunshine.
‘Time for a coffee and a bite to eat?’ Mary asked.
‘Great idea.’
They found a cafe with its own walled garden and sat at a small corner table outside so they could enjoy the fine weather. When they were settled, a waitress took their order.
‘This place has great reviews.’ Mary looked around at the pretty garden with its array of colourful flowers in pots and hanging baskets and its eclectic range of tables and chairs.
‘The food I’ve seen people ordering so far looks amazing. Did you see the size of the portions?’ Eve asked, her mouth watering.
‘I couldn’t resist the cherry pie. It’s a summery delight,’ Mary said, licking her lips.
Their coffee and food arrived quickly. Eve enjoyed every light, flaky, buttery mouthful of her cheese and onion quiche. The accompanying salad was drizzled in a creamy dressing and it made the spinach, peashoots and round red baby tomatoes even more delicious.
When they’d cleared their plates, she sat back and crossed her ankles. ‘Aunt Mary …’
‘Yes, dear.’
‘I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my life and what I’ve done … what I’ve missed out on.’
Mary nodded.
‘I have some regrets but I also have some things that give me hope. I mean … look at you. You didn’t have children or marry, but now you’ve found love.’
‘Edward and I have been friends for a few years. The falling-in-love bit developed slowly with us. He’d been through some tough times and in some ways so had I. But we are lucky to have found happiness together at our time of life.’
‘Yes, but you have years ahead to enjoy
being together.’ Eve smiled.
‘I hope so, Eve. Life passes so quickly. You must grab it with both hands and enjoy it while you can. It seems just yesterday that I was your age and just the day before that I was eighteen, a young woman with a lifetime full of possibilities ahead of me.’ She sipped her coffee then wiped the rim with her napkin to remove her lipstick smudge.
‘I can’t believe I’m thirty-four. But I also feel like I’m still twenty-two. The years I’ve been in teaching have disappeared like smoke on the breeze. I plough through the terms then hit the holidays – most of which I spend working – then I start the next term. My life is an annual cycle and I try to cram as much as possible into it.’
‘But are you cramming the right stuff in?’
Eve took a deep breath. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m not saying that you’re not. I’m just asking you to consider it carefully. If you can look back at your life when you get to my age and happily say that you did all the things you wanted to do, then wonderful! No one can tell you what you want and need. Only you know that … deep down in your heart. However,’ she held up a finger, ‘if you look back in years to come and have regrets, then that would be so very sad.’
‘You mean that I should decide what it is that really makes me happy?’
‘Of course.’
‘More coffee?’ It was the pretty young waitress.
‘Please,’ Eve replied and Mary nodded. The waitress removed their plates and cutlery.
‘If it’s work that makes you fulfilled, then there is nothing wrong with that.’
Eve chewed her bottom lip. ‘If you’d asked me two years ago what made me happy, my automatic reply would have been my job.’
‘But things change. People change, dear.’
‘And now, after my episode in the governors’ meeting … I’m not so sure that it is work any more. Oh Aunt Mary … I lost everything.’
Mary reached out and took her hand. She squeezed Eve’s fingers tightly. ‘You did lose such a lot, darling girl, but there’s still so much you can have if you want it … if you’re prepared to do what it takes to get it.’
Eve bit the inside of her cheek hard and waited for the emotion to subside.
Summer at Conwenna Cove Page 19