Rick laughed. ‘The grubbier ones don’t seem worth as much somehow,’ he said, helping his friend with the job. ‘There you go, are we ready for off? Cut for dealer.’
The serious business of the evening began, as all around similar groups were setting out their stalls too. Beryl had fetched the box containing Cluedo before anyone else could snaffle it, and a group over at the far side of the room were already in their first argument as they played Monopoly. A game of Uno was absorbing a younger crowd who had separated into two tables and were making more noise than the rest of Ned’s customers put together. Rick caught the landlord’s eye as he pulled more pints for a group of newcomers. They gave each other a thumbs-up sign. Rick had been instrumental in publicising the games night, and both were delighted with its success.
‘That was a daft mistake, partner,’ said Sid, after he’d dealt again, and they’d started a second round. ‘You must know I had no hearts left. It’s not like you to mess up. What’s the problem?’
‘Everybody drops a clanger sometimes,’ said Maurice. ‘You need to wind your neck in.’
This was so unlike Maurice’s usual genial approach to playing cards that Rick and Sam both stared. ‘Are you okay, Maurice?’ asked Sam, concern all over his face. ‘Have you had a bad day, or something?’
‘No, I haven’t,’ snapped Maurice. ‘I’m just a bit preoccupied… I… oh, I might as well tell you what’s on my mind.’ He lowered his voice, and the others leaned in to catch his next words. ‘I’ve decided to ask Anthea to marry me. I’ve got a ring in my pocket.’ He patted the side of his coat as his three companions’ mouths dropped open in unison.
‘Whaaat?’ Rick couldn’t hold the exclamation in, and several people turned to see what the fuss was about, including Beryl’s team.
‘Ssshh. Keep your voice down. I’m waiting for the right moment. I’m going to propose as soon as I get my courage up. And don’t all look so horrified. She’s a wonderful woman. Any man would be lucky to have her hand in marriage.’
There was a moment or two of silence, and then Sam said, ‘But I think that’s the whole point. Quite a few men already have. Had her hand in marriage, I mean.’
‘Yes, he’s right. You’d be… let’s see…’ Rick counted on his fingers. ‘One, two, three, four… you’d be number five on her list of husbands, Maurice. Doesn’t that bother you?’
Maurice thought about this briefly. Then he smiled. ‘I think she’s just never found the right person so far,’ he said. ‘Let me ask you something. What would you all be looking for in your ideal woman? Or man,’ he added hastily when he saw Sam open his mouth to protest.
Sid smiled. ‘That’s easy. A companion for life. A happy smile and a hug to greet you when you come home. Someone who laughs at the same things. If they were a cracking cook too, that would be the icing on the cake. Literally. I could go on.’
‘And you’ve had that already,’ said Maurice. ‘You’re lucky. Would you do it again though?’
‘I might. I just might. I miss it all, you know.’
Rick noticed that Sid’s eyes automatically strayed to the table where Beryl and co were having a very loud discussion on one of the finer points of their game of Cluedo. Interesting. Was Sid about to make a play for Anthea too? Surely he wouldn’t step on Maurice’s toes. Or was he planning to home in on one of the other two ladies? Beryl was pink-cheeked, giggling at something that Frank had said, and then there was Winnie, magnificently arrayed in a brightly patterned red and blue gown with a matching head wrap. She was a glorious sight, and she was laughing too, her whole body shaking. He heard his own name and was jolted out of his musings.
‘What about you, Rick? What’s your ideal woman like?’ Maurice said. ‘And Sam? Or have you already found your perfect person?’
Sam shrugged. ‘I thought I had, but Luka, gorgeous though he is, seems to be having a bit too much fun at uni. I’m trying to give him some space, but it’s not easy. Rick? What do you have to say about this?’
Rick wasn’t sure where to go with his answer. When his marriage had imploded, he’d been devastated, especially when his boys were taken away from him. He’d fought hard for access and won, to some extent, but visiting them and having them to stay was complicated. What if he had someone to share his life with? Would the partings each time be less painful? But you couldn’t start a relationship just to use it like a sticking plaster on old wounds.
‘Okay, I can see you’re struggling. Forget the past for a moment. Imagine your dream partner,’ Sam said, putting his cards face down on the table and leaning back in his chair.
This was even trickier. With the best will in the world, these words only conjured up a vision of one woman. Venetia Prescott. Close proximity to Vee over the last couple of days had definitely stirred up something deep in Rick, an undercurrent of heat that his almost-relationship with Rev Bev had never touched. But that scenario didn’t involve forgetting the past. If ever there was to be anything between Rick and Vee, the past would be an all-too-vital part of it.
In the time it took Rick to think of a reply, Maurice had been getting more and more agitated. Finally, tired of waiting, he got to his feet and drank the remaining wine in his glass in one gulp.
‘It’s no good shilly-shallying. I’m going to ask her and I’m going to do it right now,’ he declared, squaring his shoulders and turning to march across the short distance that separated their tables.
‘Should we grab him?’ murmured Sam. ‘Or I could rugby tackle him to stop this happening?’
‘No, you might break him,’ said Sid. ‘Hold your peace, lad. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, as they say in all the best films. We’ll just need to be on hand to pick up the pieces if it all goes badly wrong. I’m not convinced he’s doing the right thing, I’ll tell you that for nothing.’
12
Beryl had been wondering when it would be best to share the details of her plan for a new kind of adventure when she looked up from the scrutiny of her Cluedo cards and saw Maurice get to his feet. He hesitated for a few seconds and then appeared to make up his mind about something. Turning towards their table, he marched smartly over to their group as if he was going to drop in for a chat and then just as abruptly veered away and headed for the cloakroom area at the back of the pub.
‘Did you see that?’ asked Winnie. ‘I thought Maurice was going to come and tell us off for making too much noise, like he did last week. He looked very stern.’
Anthea raised her eyebrows. ‘Just let him try, darling,’ she said. ‘We’re no noisier than the rest of the people here. It’s a free country.’
‘Have you been out with him again this week?’ Beryl said. ‘Didn’t you say he was taking you to the pictures?’
‘No, I had to cancel because my boiler blew up, remember? He was quite miffed about it. Said he’d been planning a nice meal for us afterwards. We usually do a matinee so there’s no danger of one of us dropping off to sleep partway through. He hasn’t been in touch since.’
