‘Well, what?’
‘Miserable? Lonely? Umm, I don’t know. You just don’t seem your usual bubbly self.’
‘I’m fine. I keep myself busy. In fact, it’s super busy with my needle felting at the moment. I’m making fifty miniature labradoodles for a group on Facebook. They’ve already paid and everything. I’ve a load of new customers and I’m always getting new enquiries.’
‘That’s great. Although maybe you need to get out a bit more. Felting isn’t going to introduce you to new people. It doesn’t get you out there.’
‘I don’t need to meet anyone. Like I said, I’m very happy with my own company. I’ve got you, and I can always pick up the phone to friends.’
‘Yup, I know. It’s not always the same over the phone though, is it? You should go out and meet people. Maybe even start dating.’
‘Absolutely no way. Nothing would be worse than going out on a date with someone I don’t know. I’d much rather stick to my felting and early nights, thank you.’
‘I understand. It’s just that I heard Rachel, who works with Nigel, is dating again after Tom’s death and it got me thinking.’
‘I remember when Nigel said about that. It was quite a while ago now that Tom died.’
‘I suppose. Anyway, talking of Nigel, he’s being a right pain.’
‘Oh, what’s he up to now?’
‘He’s saying he doesn’t want my mother over for Christmas this year.’
‘But she comes every year.’
‘I know. He’s getting more cantankerous as the years go by. Bloody men. Imagine telling an eighty-year-old that she can’t come this year.’
‘No, that wouldn’t be nice. I hope you manage to persuade him.’
‘Yeah, I will. He can give me the silent treatment for all I care. He always does when something doesn’t suit him. I’ll have peace and quiet then. He does my head in, but I suppose at least he isn’t as bad as Adrian. Did you hear what happened?’ asks Debbie.
You can always guarantee she has the latest gossip on every one of our neighbours.
‘No – unless Janice from the shop knows the gossip, I wouldn’t hear anything.’
‘You wouldn’t believe it. He’s only gone and stolen money from the cricket club. Adrian’s been helping himself to the petty cash. No wonder he’s got a new car on the drive.’
‘Goodness, that must have been a lot of petty cash. I noticed he’s also got one of those robot lawnmowers out the front.’
‘Well, they’re not cheap. See, rumour has it that he’s been dipping his hand into the church roof collection too.’
‘That’s terrible. It’s not surprising he’s always first to volunteer for everything then.’
‘Well, I’m not saying it out loud, but you’ve basically said what everyone’s thinking.’
Debbie sits back with her tea; the silence and our imaginations are more powerful than any gossip about Adrian. This is mostly as deep as conversation goes on our street. We must all know everyone’s business, but, on a positive note, if things go wrong, we are also there for each other. Nobody would ever get away with breaking into someone’s house because a busybody would soon spot them through their window. Although I don’t think Adrian will be getting much support from anyone after stealing from the local community.
‘Oh, well, I hope Leanne will be okay. I bet she’s embarrassed to show her face.’
I do feel sorry for Adrian’s wife, even though she sometimes boasts about her new quartz-topped kitchen. I bet she’s also got matching copper pans and a decanter.
‘Yeah, well, we can’t control what our partners do. She may have enjoyed the trappings of the money, but I don’t believe she had a clue. She had to go straight down the doctor’s for medication the moment she found out. Well, that’s what one of the receptionists in the clinic told me.’
‘Are the receptionists allowed to go round saying stuff like that? Isn’t that confidential?’
‘Yeah, of course it is, but you know how it is round here.’
I roll my eyes.
