‘You’re welcome, lovie. Fancy a glass of wine?’
‘Mmm. Sounds lovely, thanks.’
Aidey got up from his seat and went to fetch her a glass, filling it with Pinot Grigio and handing it to her. ‘You’ve got more colour in your cheeks now, I’m pleased to say; you were practically blue when I first found you.’
Mim giggled. ‘I was pretty cold at the time.’
‘Come and park yourself down here.’ He pulled out the chair next to him at the table.
‘So, we’ve been discussing quite a few things while you were in the bath, Mimbo,’ said Anna-Lisa.
‘Oh? What kind of things?’ Mim took a sip of her wine, its cold blast a welcome change to the warmth of the bathroom.
‘Well, first off – if it’s okay with you – I’m going to ring Stefan the hairdresser in the morning, and get you an appointment with him. Aidey told me what had happened with the chewing-gum and I have to say, nail scissors aren’t the best things for cutting hair. I can understand why you’d want the revolting stuff gone, though. And you’ve been saying you fancied getting it cut for ages, so now’s your chance. And you’ll be in good hands with Stefan, he’s awesome.’
Mim smiled, she loved Anna’s friendly bossiness. This was a worry taken out of her hands, and she was grateful for it. ‘Thanks, Anna.’
‘And I don’t suppose you’ve given work any further thought since our chat in the car?’ asked Aidey.
‘Only that I’m never setting foot in that place again. I like Clarissa, and I’ll miss her, but I never want to see anyone else from there as long as I live. Catherine accused me of being a thief before even listening to a word I had to say; she’s a horrible bully. And I’m not working my notice; the Pallister-Biggs can get lost.’
‘I don’t blame you. I’m going to pop in tomorrow so I can gather up all our stuff, tell them that I’ll work my notice but take what holiday’s left to me, which by my reckoning is nine or ten days.’
Mim looked at her friend in disbelief. ‘But what will you do for a job?’
‘Over to you, Aidey.’
‘Well, you know Mish has got that spare office space he’s wanting to rent out?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ve asked him if he’d be interested in renting it to us.’
‘Us?’
He smiled. ‘I’m not going back to Yorkshire Portions, they can bugger off. The way they’ve treated you is the final straw and has given me the push I needed. I’ve been toying with the idea of setting up on my own and, funnily enough, so has Anna, and after what you said in the car about your freelance work, well, it got me thinking … why don’t we set up a digital marketing firm together?’ His eyes were shining, Mim could see how keen he was on this idea. ‘There’s plenty of work kicking about.’
‘And we’ve all been doing increasing amounts of freelance stuff, so we’ve been steadily building up our individual reputations.’ Anna-Lisa’s eyes were sparkling.
‘And we’ve already got our first customer; Mish wants a rebrand for his company followed by a new advertising campaign.’
‘Ooh, this is all very exciting,’ said Shona. She set a large, delicious smelling casserole dish in the middle of the table, then went to get three plates.
Mim felt a smile tug at her mouth; though she still felt punch-drunk after the events of the day, it was good to feel enthusiasm bloom for this new proposal. The day that had started so badly had now become one filled with promise, and it was all down to her amazing friends. ‘It is, and I love the idea of us working together. I’m definitely up for it.’ Her stomach rumbled at the mouth-watering aroma from the food; she hadn’t realised she was hungry until now.
‘Great!’ Aidey’s beaming smile matched hers.
‘Yay!’ Anna-Lisa held up her glass. ‘Cheers to that. We just need to think of a name now.’
‘Since Yorvik’s the original Viking name for York, how about Yorvik Digital?’ asked Aidey.
‘Perfect,’ said Anna.
‘I love it! Cheers to Yorvik Digital.’ Mim held her glass up.
‘Cheers,’ they chorused.
‘Thanks, Shona, that was absolutely delicious.’ Mim had devoured every morsel of chicken casserole from her plate.
‘Mmm, it was so good, thank you,’ said Anna.
‘You’re very welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it.’
Yep, I definitely miss your fabulous cooking, Mum.’
Shona walked by and squeezed his shoulder, smiling. ‘Glad you liked it, son.’
Anna-Lisa stayed for a little while longer before declaring it was time she headed off. ‘I’ll text you tomorrow with an appointment time for your hair.’ She rubbed Mim’s arm. ‘Try to get a good night’s sleep if you can. You’ve got no more worries to keep you awake now.’
‘True.’ Mim’s body hadn’t caught up with that memo, it still retained some indefinable tension that had been there as far back as she could remember, reluctant to let go, just in case…
‘See you, Anna, thanks for coming over,’ said Aidey. ‘Speak tomorrow, and good luck at Yorkshire Portions. Shout up if you need a hand.’
Mim and Aidey had remained in the kitchen, sipping wine with Shona after Anna-Lisa had left. The soothing bath followed by the delicious meal had made Mim feel sleepy, but she didn’t want to seem rude by saying she wanted to go to bed; Shona was so lovely, and the last thing she wanted was to offend her.
‘So, you remember Aidey from school do you, Mim?’
‘Yes, he was in Josie’s year, in her circle of friends at secondary school.’ Mim giggled, the wine making her feel bold. ‘I actually had a bit of a crush on him.’
‘You did?’ Aidey looked shocked.
Mim nodded, feeling herself blush.
‘Ah, he’s always been a good-looking boy.’ Shona smiled fondly.
‘Takes after his handsome devil of a dad.’ Aidey’s dad Col walked by, ruffling his son’s hair.
Aidey rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
Before long Shona laid a photo album out on the table. ‘And that was taken on the day Aidey wet his pants in the school dinner queue. Apparently he didn’t want to lose his place in case there was no dinner left, so he hung on until it was too late. I had to go up with fresh underpants and trousers for him. Socks, too, he’d saturated those. And it took ages for his little shoes to dry out, didn’t it, Col?’
‘Aye, it did.’
Aidey clapped his hand to his brow. ‘Please stop now, Mum. Mortified here!’
Mim fought hard to stop her giggles. ‘Well, if it’s any consolation, Aidey, you’d never tell all that had happened from the photo.’
‘Yep, that really helps.’
35
Mim slept soundly, only waking when Shona brought a cup of tea to the bedroom. ‘Morning, lovie, did you sleep well?’
‘Like a log, thanks, Shona. This bed is so comfy.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. Enjoy your tea and just get up when you’re ready. Aidey says to tell you Anna-Lisa’s been in touch saying she’s got you a hair appointment for two-thirty this afternoon.’
‘Oh, okay.’
Once Shona had left the room, Mim lay, staring up at the ceiling, catching up with the thoughts that had started trickling into her mind. The events of yesterday seemed weeks ago, and almost as if none of it had happened to her. Yet so much had happened, and she didn’t know what to think about first. From the sound of the birdsong in the garden, it had stopped raining but she could hear the wind still rocking the trees, though it seemed to have lost some of its power from the night before. She lay there until the urge to see Aidey pushed her out of bed.
She found him in the kitchen, sitting at the table working on his laptop, still in his pyjamas, his dark blond hair sticking up at the front making him look sexily dishevelled. ‘Morning.’ He beamed when he saw her. ‘Coffee?’
‘Mmm, please.’ She pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, the urge to feel his arms around her taking her by surpris
e. ‘You look busy.’
‘Ah, yep, just working out a few things, logistics, for our new venture.’
‘Oh, yes, how exciting.’ Mim’s heart leapt with happiness.
‘We can talk some more when Anna gets here, but first I’ve got a suggestion for you.’
‘Oh?’
‘I wondered if you fancied a break before we got stuck into work straightaway? After all you’ve been through, I thought you might be feeling a little punch-drunk with everything, and might need time to recharge your batteries.’
Mim thought for a moment, absorbing his words. ‘A break does sound good, but I’ve got Herbert to think about.’
‘Herbs wouldn’t be a problem, he can come, too.’ He handed her a steaming mug of coffee.
‘So what kind of break do you mean?’
‘My parents have a holiday house at a place called Skappanish on the Isle of Connask just off the west coast of Scotland, they had it built earlier in the year. It’s in a stunning spot, looking out to sea. It’s free for the next week or so, and I wondered if you fancied spending some time up there, getting away from it all?’
‘Just you, me and Herbs?’
‘If you’re okay with that. I promise I’m not going to turn into a raging axe-murderer once we’re up there.’
Mim giggled. She couldn’t imagine Aidey being anything other than the gentle soul he was. ‘It sounds blissful. When can we go?’
‘Is tomorrow too soon?’
‘Tomorrow’s perfect. I’ll pack after I get back from the hairdressers this afternoon.’
‘Great!’ Aidey flashed her a huge smile.
‘Right, we’re a bit early, so why don’t we pop into that teashop over there and have a cup of tea and a sticky cake?’ Anna-Lisa had just finished manoeuvring her little car into a tight parking place in the market square at Middleton-le-Moors.
‘You know me, I’m never one to turn down the opportunity for some cake,’ said Mim. ‘And your parking’s amazing by the way.’
‘Thanks, I love this little car, you can turn it on a sixpence.’
Mim pushed the door of the teashop open, setting the brass bell jangling. She scanned the room to see just a couple of tables free, though the one by the window had a reserved sign on it.
The two friends were perusing the menu when the bell rang noisily again. Mim looked up to see three women walking in, one with a headful of glossy, purple waves. ‘Oh, look at that woman’s hair, it’s amazing.’
Anna-Lisa followed her gaze. ‘I’ve seen her in Stefan’s before, she’s a regular; in fact, I’ve seen all three of them before.’ She smiled as the women walked by, the one with a dark pixie crop smiled back, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
Mim watched them sit down. ‘Fancying a change of colour are you?’ asked Anna-Lisa.
‘I’d love to, but I don’t think I’m that brave.’
Mim couldn’t believe her eyes when she walked into The Salon. The playlist was thudding away in the background, while stylists were busy performing magic at their stations. She would never have guessed that such a funky, contemporary place like this existed in somewhere as “well-to-do” and with an older population like Middleton-le-Moors.
Before she knew it, she was gowned up and sitting in front of a mirror. In this light, her hair looked brassy and as dry as straw, emphasising where she’d hacked at it the night before. She was dreading Stefan’s verdict.
‘Right, doll. What’s been happening here, then?’ Stefan rocked up behind her, sporting a friendly smile and a haircut straight from the set of Peaky Blinders.
‘Well, I’m not sure where to start, but it’s probably best to say that I got some chewing-gum stuck in my hair last night and ended up cutting it out with nail scissors.’ She giggled at Stefan’s expression of disbelief.
‘Okay.’ He picked up a few strands gingerly, inspecting them more closely. ‘And the colour, are we liking that?’
‘Well, I don’t mind being blonde, but maybe not as brassy as it is now.’
‘Well, I’m glad you said that, babes. But what I will say, is that it’s pretty dry and could do with a good five or six further inches off to take it up to just below your jaw line. If I give it a really good conditioning treatment, add a base colour then weave a mix of warm highlights through it, that should look amazing. What do you think?’
‘Sounds great.’
‘Fab. I’ll get Amber to take you over to the sinks to give your mane a good wash, then we’ll get to work.’ Stefan looked excited at the prospect.
So are you pleased with it?’ asked Anna-Lisa as they were hurrying over to her car before the rain started.
‘I love it, it doesn’t feel like my hair, it’s so soft.’
‘It looks gorgeous, those warm highlights really suit you.’
‘Thanks, Anna, and thanks for booking it for me, I know Stefan squeezed me in as a favour to you.’
‘No worries, chick. Right, now off to Skeltwick to see that gorgeous boy Herbert.’
‘Ooh, I can’t wait! Carly says he’s been a really good boy again. Wait till he finds out he’s going on holiday and he’ll have to pack his Frisbee.’
36
Dusk was approaching as Mim and Aidey reached the holiday house. They’d had a steady drive up, breaking the journey halfway and enjoying a picnic on the banks of a loch. The crossing on the ferry had been surprisingly smooth, the wind having thankfully died down. The pair had stood on the deck with Herbert, watching seals bob in and out of the water as seabirds cried overhead, the tang of salty water in the air. Once they’d reached the Isle of Connask, it had been a thirty minute drive to Skappanish. Mim sat back, gazing out of the window at the quaint white crofts that dotted the lush landscape.
The house was a contemporary build, oak-clad with a corrugated iron roof and huge windows facing out to sea. It almost appeared to huddle into the undulations of the land at the rear, while the views to the front were broad and uninterrupted.
‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Mim stepped inside, taking in the clean lines of the interior. Herbert shot in, keen to start exploring, his tail wagging, his nose to the floor. If it wasn’t for Shona’s soft purple and green tartan furnishings, the space could have been almost clinical, but instead there was a tasteful homeliness to it. The walls were adorned with black and white photographs of local scenery and paintings by local artists. In the living room was a huge window framing the view of the beach and the sea beyond, while a sleek, black wood-burner sat at an adjacent wall. The large, squishy seating was turned to face the stunning view.
‘It’s been Mum and Dad’s dream to have their own home here. I think they quite like the idea of retiring up here actually.’
‘I can totally get that.’ Mim watched a couple of sea otters scrambling over the rocks on the beach. She couldn’t wait to get out and explore.
‘It’s a bit late to go for a walk now, it’ll be dark soon, so I don’t know what you fancy doing? We can pop out to the pub for a bite to eat, or I can rustle up something here and we can do the pub tomorrow. It’s up to you, I’ve brought plenty of supplies.’
Aidey was right, it would be getting dark soon. ‘Why don’t we save the pub for tomorrow and just get settled in here tonight? I can help out in the kitchen, but you know how limited my culinary skills are, so I can’t guarantee I’ll be much use.’
Aidey chuckled. ‘That’s fine, I enjoy cooking, I find it therapeutic. You can be in charge of wine pouring, how does that sound?’
‘Perfect. I’m very good at that.’
They spent the evening laughing and chatting, while Herbert lay stretched out on the oak floorboards, embracing the underfloor heating, snoring softly. Aidey had dimmed the lights so they could enjoy the last of the view, the golden glow of the sunset glittering over the ripples of the sea that was slowly inching closer. Soon, the light had faded and all they could see were tiny dots of light from houses on the other side of the water on the mainland, and the crofts that peppered the
arc of the natural harbour that swept around the bay. Mim sighed and walked over to the window, peering out into the inky darkness, feeling utterly relaxed. ‘This is a wonderful place,’ she said. ‘So tranquil.’
Aidey smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. ‘It is.’
She made her way back over to the sofa and flopped down beside him, curling her feet underneath her. It didn’t cross her mind that some people would find it odd that she was here with Aidey and they weren’t an item. He was one of her best friends, and she felt as comfortable with him as she did with Anna-Lisa. ‘Thanks for bringing me here.’
‘Hey, you’re welcome. I think the break will do us both good.’
‘Yeah, it feels good to get a bit of distance from what’s been happening.’
‘And you look so much better already, your eyes have lost that exhausted look, and it goes without saying your hair looks great like that.’
‘Thanks, Aidey, I wish I’d had it done like this years ago.’ She beamed at him.
The pair passed a companionable evening, watching mindless television and sipping wine until Mim started to doze over. She followed Aidey’s advice and headed up to bed where she slept right through until she was woken by the screeching call of a seabird the following morning.
Mim headed downstairs to find Aidey sipping coffee on the decking, looking out to sea, Herbert sitting beside him. ‘Morning.’ She joined them outside, the air cool on her skin.
‘Morning. Sleep well?’ He turned to her and smiled.
‘Right through. I was only woken by those birds over there with the red beaks who are making all the noise– what kind are they?’
‘They’re oystercatchers.’
‘Well, they make one hell of a flippin’ racket.’
After breakfast the pair went for a walk along the beach which they had to themselves. Herbert raced down to the sea that had retreated since yesterday evening. He charged through the foam and lunged at the waves, his delight making Mim and Aidey laugh. Aidey threw stones that skimmed across the water and Herbert charged after them. The air was deliciously crisp and fresh, the sky overhead a vivid blue with fluffy white clouds scudding by on the light breeze. Mim took a lungful of sea air; it felt invigorating, a balm for the soul. Her eyes found their way to Aidey, who was smiling as he watched Herbert tear about the beach. She felt something stir inside, a feeling of warmth, of deep affection. Aidey felt good to be around, as though being together like this was meant to be. He caught her watching him, his smile widening. She felt colour rise in her cheeks and smiled back.
Tell That to My Heart Page 28