‘Yes. That is a question.’
‘Rosemarie, what’s going on? What are you thinking?’
‘Nothing at all .?.?.’ she replied blithely.
‘Feck, I’ve got to go, there’s a queue. Don’t do anything. I’ll talk to you later.’
* * *
Lunchtime rolled by and soon it was time for Evelyn’s break at the little table by the wall, where Ally dropped her down a mug of tea and a toasted cheese sandwich. Most of the customers had cleared off early – busy with Christmas shopping or whatever – so Ally sat down opposite her. By this stage Evelyn had almost finished her cardigan front.
She glanced up at Ally while she counted her stitches but then paused before starting another line.
‘I don’t know what to do, Evelyn. He’s so hot and cold. Sometimes I feel so close to him and then .?.?. it’s like he’s gone. Should I just forget about him?’
Evelyn thought for a moment. ‘With some people, I’d say, yes.’
‘I’m not trying to be rude or anything, but your knitting-up-wishes thing .?.?. well, it hasn’t really worked.’
‘How do you know?’ she said. ‘If a man won’t leave a family high and dry, that’s not necessarily the worst sign.’
‘For them maybe, not for me.’ Ally was aware of feeling slightly resentful towards the older woman, which sherecognised was ridiculous – it wasn’t Evelyn’s responsibility to make her life work exactly the way she wanted.
‘You can never fathom all the moving parts.’ Evelyn sighed. ‘My advice is to go and start up your own knitting.’
‘Like what?’ Stupid question.
‘Choose your wool, choose your pattern .?.?. and get started.’
‘You know what? I will.’ It was odd, but even saying that made her feel better.
* * *
There was no sign of Pete all day; however, after Evelyn had gone and Dave had cashed up and left, she heard the familiar voice behind her.
‘All right?’
‘Oh hi. Fine, yeah.’
He needn’t think she was going to fawn all over him. What was the point in her heart pounding and desperately longing for the heat of intimacy? It was only going to cool down again. In short, she was exhausted – if there was any trying to be done, let him do it. Pete seemed to be searching his mind.
‘How was yesterday?’ he said at last.
‘Fine, what about you?’
He laughed awkwardly. ‘Actually, I went to a camping shop to get my tent.’ He hesitated a moment. ‘And brought the two boys.’
OK, so that’s where he was: family day out. Well, it’s better to know these things, she decided bravely.
‘So, what did Tanya make of it?’
‘Oh God, no .?.?. Tanya in a camping shop? Hell would freeze over.’
What was going on? Pete was hard to read, as usual, but his tone hadn’t felt nostalgic, which cheered her up.
‘And did the lads enjoy it?’
‘Loved it. They can’t wait to come and stay a night with me and Patsy.’
