CHAPTER 10

 

As Allie drove into her carport, she noticed Meg about to enter her front door. Giving a quick toot of her horn, she waved. After gathering her things and locking the car, she waited as Meg hurried over to join her.

“Hey there.” Allie smiled at Meg’s windswept appearance. “How was the beach?”

“Terrific!” Meg replied. “I probably got too much sun, and I’ve got sand in places I don’t even want to think about, but it was just what I needed to blow the cobwebs away.”

Delighted by Meg’s ebullient mood, Allie grinned. “A glass of wine to celebrate then?”

“You read my mind.”

In the cottage, both women dropped their bags on the hall table and walked through into the kitchen.

“So, how was your day with Bella?” Meg asked.

“Interesting,” Allie replied, nodding thoughtfully.

Opening the fridge, she took out a bottle of wine and homemade cheese sticks. Meg collected two glasses from the shelf, followed her into the living room and dropped with a heartfelt sigh onto the sofa.

They toasted each other, and Meg savoured the wine. “Oh, that’s heavenly.” Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Allie. “So, tell me what’s happening with Bella.”

Allie gently twirled the stem of her wine glass. “They’ve got bigger problems than just Bella’s illness right now. You were right, you know; she is feeling totally smothered by Pat and it’s causing some serious issues for them. We talked about it for over an hour; she’s almost at her wits’ end.”

Meg sighed, bringing the bowl of cheese sticks between them on the sofa and picking one up. “Well, I’m not surprised,” she said, taking a bite. “You and I both know that Pat’s become almost obsessive with Bella since she got this second diagnosis. So, did you come up with a solution?”

“Well, once she let it all out, we decided that she needed professional help. She knows she has to be honest with Pat, but is worried that she’ll be incredibly hurt and the whole situation will just end up being worse than it already is. She needs professional advice on how to avoid that.” Allie placed her hand on Meg’s arm. “Oh, I nearly forgot. I’ve also promised to organise a roster of visitors for her, so she feels less isolated from what’s happening around her. I know she’s not well, but I think she would genuinely enjoy a small group of us visiting her at home in her off-chemo weeks. If nothing else, it’ll help lift her spirits. The other thing we need to do is organise for Pat to talk to someone as well, because this has to be causing huge emotional problems for her.”

Meg nodded, licking the crumbs from her fingers. “I think all those are great ideas. Interestingly, Pat and Daphne went off for a walk this afternoon and were gone quite a long time. When they got back, I’m sure Pat had been crying, so maybe that process has already begun.”

“Well, I thought I might have a chat with Daphne tomorrow and just give her a head’s up, see if she can help.”

The two sat companionably drinking their wine, and Meg soon had Allie laughing as she related titbits from the day’s outing.

“So, is there any further progress on the Daphne-Sparrow romance?” Allie asked, topping up their glasses.

“There is definitely something brewing there, but I get the impression they are trying to keep it under the radar. Not that I blame them; they would be totally in the spotlight. There are some women here that feed off that sort of gossip…” Meg said with a shudder, taking another cheese stick.

“Well, I for one hope they sort it out,” Allie said. “They are two lovely women and although I don’t know Sparrow that well, I can say for sure that it would be nice to see Daphne find someone.”

“But don’t you think they are…” Meg trailed off, waving her cheese stick in Allie’s direction.

“What?” Allie asked, puzzled.

“Oh, I don’t know. Total opposites, I guess. I mean, look at them. Daphne has to be close to six foot and Sparrow’s lucky if she’s five. I hate to be stating the obvious here, but could you find two women more physically different?”

“What, just because of their height?”

“Not just that. Daphne likes cars and beer and football and Sparrow… Well, Sparrow does embroidery, for Chrissake. I mean…come on.” Meg laughed. “It’s like the whole butch-femme stereotype playing out before our very eyes.”

Allie laughed too. “I agree, but look at you and me.”

Meg turned slowly to look at her. “What do you mean?” she asked uncertainly.

“Well, you couldn’t find two more different people than the two of us, but look how close we are. Sometimes, I swear you know what I’m thinking before I do.” Allie shrugged. “Anyway, I just think it’s great that, at their age, they’re brave enough to take a chance, and I hope they find the happiness they deserve.”

Meg leant into Allie and put her head on her friend’s shoulder. “You’re a good woman, Allie Richards,” she said softly.

Allie smiled as she leant her head against Meg’s. “What makes you say that?”

Meg sat up and faced her. Reaching her hand over, she gently took a lock of Allie’s hair and ran it through her fingers.

“Because you’re kind and always want the best for everyone. You are a natural carer in a way I could never be.” Cupping Allie’s face in her hand, she leant in and placed a kiss on her cheek. “There’s so much to love about you, and I’m so lucky to have had you in my life for so many years.”

Allie took Meg’s hand, unable to break eye contact. Meg was so close, she could feel her breath and it felt like the most natural thing in the world to lean in…

At the sound of Meg’s ringtone from the hallway, they abruptly pulled apart.

Shocked, Allie picked up her wine glass and took a large swallow. She wasn’t quite sure what the hell had just happened. She’d nearly kissed her best friend; more importantly, she’d wanted to kiss her best friend. Mortified and unable to look at Meg, Allie let out a breath as the phone finally went to message bank.

As they sat, the silence growing more awkward by the moment, so many thoughts went through Allie’s mind, but she found herself unable to voice any of them. Meg just kept staring into her now empty wine glass.

“Well,” said Meg finally, carefully placing her glass on the table and standing. “I suppose I should really get home. It’s been a long day.”

Allie rose as Meg walked to the hallway to collect her things. “It’s only just six p.m. Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I can whip us up a steak and salad,” she offered hesitantly.

Meg gave a brief smile. “No, I’m for a shower and my bed. Thanks for the wine and…talk.”

Allie followed Meg to the front door. Opening it, Meg turned to her.

“Sleep well, darling,” she said lightly, cupping Allie’s cheek in her hand. “We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

Allie watched until Meg entered her own cottage, then closed her front door, slowly returned to the living room and picked up the two wine glasses. In the kitchen, she emptied the contents of her glass into the sink before putting them both in the dishwasher. Emotions were bouncing inside her like a ping pong ball, and Allie felt completely incapable of dealing with any of it. Maybe she should just follow Meg’s lead and sleep. With luck, tomorrow the two of them could just laugh it off and pretend nothing had ever happened.