‘It’s very cool,’ said Steph. ‘It’s the first time I’ve manager to buy a good pint of beer in a cinema.’
‘Well, enjoy yourselves.’
They sat on stools at a tall bistro table and carried on the conversation where they’d left off.
‘Being in Croftwood has been amazing,’ said Lois. ‘It’s the first time I’ve worked in a place where I can make decisions that really make a difference. Seeing the book club and the new things we’ve done in the library take off, it’s made me think that I need to sprinkle a bit of that Lois into the rest of my life.’
‘Christ. That’s deep but I think you’re onto something. Cheers.’
They clinked glasses.
‘Cheers. I think Alex leaving at almost the same time as the Croftwood job came up was fate or something. If he’d still been here, he’d have talked me out of it for sure and not having anyone to justify myself to makes it quite a liberating experience.’
‘So maybe meeting Oliver is fate then,’ said Steph matter-of-factly.
‘Shhh,’ said Lois, glancing at Patsy who was leaning over the bar talking to a blonde-haired guy who was nursing a pint. ‘I’d like to think if it was fate it’d be a lot more straightforward than it seems at the moment. Fate would be making Oliver sort himself out so he tells that Amy to get lost and then sweeps me off my feet.’ She sighed. ‘It seems unlikely at the moment.’
‘Well, maybe these things take time. There’s some wise saying about that which I can’t remember but good things come to those who wait. That’ll do.’
Lois hoped Steph was right although she felt like she’d been waiting for years, albeit unknowingly, for the right man. If she knew she’d have Oliver in the end by waiting, then that would be okay but waiting without any certainty was pointless. She felt that she’d been as honest with Oliver as she could be about how she felt after the disastrous episode in Worcester. The ball was definitely in his court.
‘Anyway, my turn,’ she said, wanting something to talk about something that would take her mind of Oliver. ‘So Max, what makes him a catch?’
‘He matched his profile picture for a start. You can’t underestimate the advantage that gives him.’
‘But he’s a nice person too?’ Lois worried that Steph was fixating on the qualities that she thought made him her ideal man because the qualities he actually ought to have would make Steph label him boring.
‘He has a motorbike and leathers which is pretty sexy and he’s quite rugged and, I don’t know, he’s my type.’
‘Right.’ It was just as she feared but she had told Steph so many times before and her advice was never received with the spirit it was intended.
‘Honestly, Lo, I think you’ll like him.’
‘I’m really glad you’ve found someone, Steph. Just, while we’re dishing out advice, don’t fall too hard until you know for sure.’
‘You could do with remembering that too,’ said Steph with a pointed look.
It was true. She had feelings for Oliver which she ought to try and curb until she knew what his feelings were. The last thing she needed after managing to pick herself up after Alex had left was to launch into something too fast without being sure her heart was going to be safe.
16
The next day Lois left home early. She had decided to call into the coffee house on her way to work. She propped her bike up against the window frame, took her helmet off and went inside. It was quite busy, lots of people were having breakfast. Oliver wasn’t behind the counter though, it was his colleague, Patsy.
‘Hi, is Oliver around?’
‘He hasn’t surfaced yet. He usually has a lie-in on his day off. Shall I say you came in?’
‘Yes, please. It’s Lois.’
Patsy smiled knowingly. ‘I’ll tell him. Do you want a coffee for the road?’
‘Thanks, but I’m on my bike. It’d literally end up on the road, but thanks anyway.’
‘No problem, see you again.’
Lois arrived at the library first and opened up. It was Linda’s day off, but Rosemary was due in to do some admin on the book club.
By the time Lois had done her usual morning chores, it was eleven o’clock and she was craving the coffee that she’d turned down earlier. Rosemary hadn’t arrived though so she had to settle for a cup of tea that she could nip into the office to make.
