Monica couldn’t wait to tell Liz all about her encounter with Kevin. Luckily Tammy was busy on the computer emailing Sasha when Monica arrived so she was able to sit in the kitchen and talk to Liz without interruption.
‘He was late,’ said Monica quietly, not wanting Tammy to hear. ‘I thought he was going to stand me up. I felt really self-conscious in the coffee shop, cupping my latte and pretending to read my non-existent messages. Just as I was going to give up and leave he was there, standing in front of me apologising.’
‘Is he single?’ said Liz, cutting to the chase.
‘He is,’ said Monica, hardly able to contain herself. ‘He split up with his girlfriend ages ago and he wants to take me out to dinner.’
‘Wow,’ said Liz. ‘This is progress. And are you going to go?’
‘Yes,’ said Monica. ‘I am going to seize the day. It’s not often you get a second chance.’
‘That’s my girl,’ said Liz, really happy for her. ‘You don’t need to worry about Tammy. She can always stay with me.’
‘Oh, Tammy,’ Monica’s face changed. The beaming smile disappeared. ‘What about Tammy? Do I tell her? Do I wait?’
‘I don’t think you need to worry about Tammy,’ said Liz, as she relayed the chat at the cemetery. ‘She is keen for you to find someone to love. She doesn’t want you to be lonely.’
‘That settles it,’ said Monica. ‘I will meet up with Kevin for dinner and see how it goes. Anyway, back to you. Have you decided to go on Thursday or are you still dithering?’
‘I am going,’ said Liz, ‘although I would feel better if you were going too. I get on well with Nick but I haven’t been out with anyone other than Jim. Besides, I am sure I’m too old for him. I think his last wife was several years his junior and I must seem positively ancient, although I really don’t feel old.’
‘You don’t look old,’ added Monica.
‘Thanks. You will be pleased to know that I have promised myself to make an effort and get out and about more. I might even go back to the gym.’
‘What will you do at the gym?’ said Monica, assuming yoga or Pilates.
‘Fight gravity,’ said Liz.
‘Great idea,’ Monica agreed. ‘I might come with you.’
Meanwhile Tammy had told Sasha that Nick had asked Liz to go to the art exhibition. Sasha was really excited. She liked the prospect of Liz being with Nick. She hardly knew Grandpa Jim anyway so she didn’t really miss him.
‘Grandma smiles more when Nick’s around. Have you noticed?’ Tammy didn’t miss much and had observed Nick paying close attention to Liz whenever she spoke. He also laughed a lot when they were together which is why she thought that they would be perfect together.
* * *
Saturday morning was bright and sunny but with a slight nip in the air. Monica and Tammy were up and out early as Tammy wanted to buy a present for Molly and Monica promised Tammy a new outfit to wear for bowling.
Liz was also thinking about shopping for clothes. She hadn’t actually bought anything new since before Jim had died. This would not have been so bad were it not for the fact that she had lost over a stone in the first few weeks after his death which she had never managed to regain. She couldn’t have cared less and was happy to disappear inside dark coloured clothes that hung loosely on her small frame. But now there was nothing for it, she had to go shopping.
She had always hated shopping for clothes and had avoided it unless absolutely necessary. On the rare occasions that she had to buy an outfit it usually took several attempts, with the first forays resulting in shoes or a handbag, sometimes both. She decided to take the tube up to the West End and look in the big department stores.
It had been ages since she’d been on a train, not since working at the school. She was grateful for the fact that she could get a seat. There were only three other people in the carriage at the start of the journey. By the time she arrived at Oxford Circus it was ten o’clock and the train was bulging fit to burst, she was worried that she would be stuck in her seat and forced to go on to the next stop. Luckily loads of people were getting off and forged ahead towards the exit, blazing a trail so Liz was forced out with the throng.
She had forgotten how much she hated shopping uptown. It was crowded and dirty and she worried about her handbag. She wished that she had brought one with a longer strap so that she could wear it like a sash across her shoulder rather than tucked up under her arm as she had it. She pushed her way along the pavement to the first big store she came across and walked in. This was an oasis of calm compared to the melee outside; although still fairly busy considering that it was still only ten fifteen.
She must have looked a bit bewildered when she walked into the ladies wear department as she was immediately approached by a smartly dressed shop assistant. The navy blue suit reminded Liz of an air hostess. ‘Can I help you, madam?’ she said with a smile.
‘I don’t know,’ said Liz, feeling completely out of her depth. ‘I’m not really sure where to start.’ Liz explained her dilemma to the shop assistant whose name was Kirsty according to the badge on her lapel.
‘I have the perfect solution,’ she said to Liz reassuringly as she went off to enlist the help of a colleague. Five minutes later Kirsty was back with Ali, whose name was underlined with the words Personal Shopper. Ali was tall and slim and incredibly glamorous with a perfectly made up face and, although wearing the same blue uniform as Kirsty, the jewellery and scarf strategically placed made Ali’s uniform smarter still. She looked stunning. Liz was about to protest but decided against it. This might just be the answer.
Ali was indeed a very personal shopper. She asked Liz about the occasion, the colours she liked and disliked and her budget. Liz hadn’t thought about budget. She had no intention of buying anything from the more expensive designer brands in the shop but what the hell. She hadn’t bought anything at all for the last four years, bar underwear. She was owed a bit of a spree.
Ali walked around the store with Liz, picking out things that Liz would never have considered in a million years and all the time talking about lines and this season’s colours and statement jewellery. Liz settled on half a dozen items and headed for the changing room, convinced that none of it was suitable, while Ali paced up and down outside the changing room like an expectant father.
Liz tried on the first dress. It was sleeveless with slightly cut away shoulders. She would never have considered a dress without sleeves but Ali was convinced that this dress would accentuate her long neck. Liz had never thought much about her neck before but she had to agree when she looked in the mirror. The fitted dress was really flattering and the cut away shoulders did indeed make her arms and her neck look longer. Teamed with the matching bolero cardigan she looked okay. Actually she looked better than okay
The second outfit of navy fitted trousers and patterned silk shirt looked fantastic with the olive green coat that Ali popped around the changing room door. Liz looked at herself in the mirror. ‘Not bad at all,’ she thought, as she surveyed this new version of herself. Ali continued to fawn a bit and Liz wondered if the personal shoppers worked on commission. Not that it mattered. Ali was very good at her job and without exception Liz really liked the outfits she came up with.
Two hours and seven hundred and forty pounds later Liz left the shop with four large shopping bags. Luckily she didn’t need shoes or handbags as she still had loads of those at home. Although she hadn’t worn anything higher than a two inch heel since her teaching days she still had a cupboard full of shoes just waiting to be pressed into service.
* * *
Monica also had a very successful morning. Tammy had bought Molly some nail varnish and a One Direction CD, plus a birthday card and wrapping paper. ‘Are you sure Molly wears nail varnish?’ said Monica. Tammy’s look said it all. She didn’t need to speak. It was one of those ‘Have you been on another planet’ looks. Obviously Monica didn’t understand eleven year olds. ‘You’re all in too much of a hurry to grow up,’ she said to Tammy, thinking to herself that she sounded just like her mum.
Tammy tried on skinny jeans, denim shorts and cute tops with sparkly bits, the bright colours looking fantastic against her cappuccino coloured skin. Monica felt a flush of pride as she watched her posing in front of the mirror. They picked out a couple of outfits before moving on to the underwear department.
Tammy couldn’t wait to wear a bra although she really didn’t need one. Apparently all the girls in her class were wearing them. Monica resisted the balconettes and padded bras that Tammy insisted on picking up and instead chose a couple of very sedate starter bra and brief sets in pastel colours.
‘You’re almost eleven, not sixteen,’ she pointed out, as Tammy pouted her disapproval of Monica’s choice.
Finally they bought some picture frames and headed home. Monica was surprised at how good she felt even after three or four hours shopping, which was just as well with bowling scheduled for the afternoon.
* * *
Liz had taken a taxi home. She was feeling extravagant but, more so, she couldn’t face walking up the hill from the station with her bags in tow. She had forgotten how much hard work shopping for clothes could be.
Monica and Tammy were in a rush but popped in briefly so Liz could see Tammy all dressed up for the party.
‘Wow, you look so grown up.’
Tammy did a twirl and looked very pleased with herself.
‘Wait, I have to take a picture.’ Liz ran into the kitchen and snatched up the camera. Tammy stood still and smiled as Liz clicked. ‘Now both of you,’ said Liz as Monica and Tammy arranged themselves in the doorway, Tammy almost as tall as Monica and jostling for position as Liz snapped.
Once Monica and Tammy were on their way Liz put the kettle on and thought about contacting her friends. It was three years or more since she had cut herself off completely. They had tried to stay in touch but she didn’t bother taking calls or replying to emails, she just wanted to cocoon herself in her memories and not let the outside world in. They gradually stopped trying. Liz was nervous. She wasn’t sure if she would be welcome and she had some apologising to do. She poured the tea and sat down at the computer.
* * *
Tammy had a wonderful time bowling. Monica marvelled at how grown up her classmates were with some of the girls looking like teenagers already. She thought about Tammy’s impending birthday party and how she was going to keep the whole class entertained and briefly considering employing their class teacher who had complete control of them.
The background music at the bowling alley decided her. She would hire a disco. She talked about the idea of a disco to Tammy who was really keen and straight on the phone to Sasha, followed by Molly and Lauren. No decision could be finalised without first conferring with the other inbetweenies. Monica made a note to talk to Liz about it in the week.
* * *
Sunday dragged lazily. Liz considered working in the garden but there really was no point as Finn and Devlin would be starting work on Monday. She needed to talk to them before planting anything.
Instead she got the easel out of its box and searched out the watercolour paper and paints before setting the easel up in the garden.
She walked around the garden, settling on a spot to sketch before attempting to paint. Looking up for a second from her pad she briefly had a flashback of Jim in the garden but he wasn’t clutching his chest as she usually pictured him. Instead he was leaning on his shovel surveying the lawn. She didn’t look away. She just smiled to herself and looked beyond the image in her mind’s eye to the Lavender where bees were busying themselves on and off the flowers. She started to draw.