‘That’s actually really sweet. Do they know how freezing cold it is up there at night?’
He touched the side of her arm. Was that just friendly? Was she being friend-zoned?
‘Anyway, I just think what you’re doing up there is amazing.’ God, she sounded so formal.
‘Yep, I’m finding myself amazed a lot of the time .?.?.’ He looked around ruefully. ‘Especially with Christmas coming up.’
‘I know. It’s shit, I get it. At least my fish don’t know it’s Christmas. My flat is a maternity ward at the moment .?.?. Sally’s had 200 babies, which means that, according to Rosemarie, I’m their nana. I just hope they don’t all want gift tokens.’
‘Maybe I could dress up as Santa for them?’
‘And they could sit on your knee? Pete, this is a ridiculous conversation .?.?.’
‘You started it.’ He grinned.
They talked about Fergus’s ankle, which thankfully only needed a boot, so he could still drive to work in his automatic car, and that meant that at least there wasn’t going to be a big insurance claim. Pete looked visibly relieved, and in spite of her new detachment, Ally had to actively stop herself from reaching out and stroking his face.
‘Maybe that’s a good omen,’ he said. ‘Maybe our luck’s changing .?.?.’
‘D’you think so?’
‘Not really.’ That answer was kind of rubbish, because he’d proved to be super-resilient, she thought – how could he have achieved everything he’d done without ironclad self-belief? Surely if he could survive the past few months, he could survive pretty much anything.
‘You do know Rosemarie and Fergus are now having a passionate affair, and it’s all because of the piano.’
‘You just never know, do you?’
‘Well, I’d better go .?.?. I’ve to catch the wool shop,’ she said, gathering up her things.
‘Ally .?.?. erm .?.?. what’re you doing this Wednesday?’
‘It’s my day off, so .?.?.’
‘I know. I was just wondering .?.?.’
He hesitated.
‘I’ve to go up to Monaghan, to my mother – she needs a few jobs done before Christmas – so I said I’d— so .?.?. anyway .?.?. would you like to come?’
What? God. She had not seen that coming round the corner.
‘Erm .?.?. sure.’
Feck the Christmas shopping.
‘So, does that mean I’m builder’s mate for the day?’ Slow down, Ally, she kicked herself. But he chuckled. He was pleased, there was no disguising it.
‘I could definitely do with one of those.’
‘Will I bring my playlist for the car?’ She was trying hard not to accidentally smile too much.
‘Yeah, do that, we can sing along .?.?. all the way .?.?. or you could sing and I’ll—’
‘Tap in time on the steering wheel?’
‘Yep, that’d definitely be my instrument of choice.’
‘Great, let’s do it.’ She smiled, waving as she backed out the door.
