She knew some people discouraged this, arguing the money would only be spent on drink or drugs, but who was she to say how he should live his life? If she could bring some small comfort to his miserable day, then she would. Perhaps one day the man would be in a position to pay her kindness forward. Alice had learnt from an early age the importance of doing just that, after someone in her life had helped her immeasurably.
The man thanked her and smiled, an almost toothless smile, and she could not help wondering what his story was and how he had ended up on the street. Another time, she would have stopped and chatted with him, but having decided to take the train home, she needed to keep going if she was to be at the station on time.
The train platform was busy, and Alice stood back cautiously not wanting to be caught up in a scramble to get on the train. Luckily, a young man offered her his seat when she eventually boarded the crowded train, for which she was grateful.
As the train pulled out of the station, she thought of the homeless young man and all the other lost souls out there and once more counted her blessings.
She was excited for her dinner party and was grateful that the residents had had the good grace to accept her invitation. People were so busy these days, she hadn’t been sure that they would.
As she gazed out of the train window she reflected that she really did have a lot to be thankful for. It was important to stay positive.
EIGHT
MARK
Mark was enjoying the snooker match on the television, but suddenly realised that the final would be televised the following evening and was tempted to decline his invitation to Alice’s dinner.
It felt ridiculous to feel this unsettled about attending a dinner party, but it had been years since he had sat around a table chatting to strangers. In fact, he was not sure he ever had. Nights out or casual dinner invites had only ever included close friends or neighbours.
Diane would organise the whole thing, whether it be drinks and nibbles or a sit-down meal. Even then, it would be an informal affair, with something like a huge lasagne in the middle of the table and some nice wine.
He supposed there would be a lot of small talk; after all none of the guests knew each other. Maybe they would talk about hobbies or travel. He wasn’t sure what would be the topic of conversation, but they would almost certainly talk about their families.
Then he would tell them about losing Diane and they would awkwardly offer their platitudes. He would be asked if he was okay, and how was he managing? Of course they would meanwell, but all the same he would be marked out as different. Someone people pitied. He had no desire to be pitied.
He sighed deeply as he watched a snooker player clear the table with a score of one hundred and twenty. The party was still a day away, yet he could already feel his stomach churning over at the thought of it.
He worried that refusing the invitation at this late date would be rude, maybe even selfish. Perhaps Alice was lonely too. Was he lonely? Or did he simply enjoy being alone? He still had his friends at the marina whenever he felt the desire to socialise. But he had to admit that it was less frequent these days.
He tidied away his plate, the microwave curry a little better than he had expected. Maybe it would be nice to enjoy a home-cooked meal.
Perhaps he was worrying over nothing, and it would be just fine. He could just listen more than chat as he had always been a good listener. He would compliment Alice on her food, maybe even leave early, on the pretence of an early start in the morning. A few hours and it would all be over.
It would be the first party he would be going to without Diane, and he knew he ought to embrace it. Did he really want to spend the rest of his life in solitude, despite the feeling of nerves that refused to go away?
When Diane had been by his side she would carry the conversation, and put him at his ease. Tomorrow it would just be him. He could imagine his wife telling him to enjoy his evening, and that it would do him good to get to know his neighbours. And, of course, she would be right.
Mark hated how being alone made him overthink everything. When Diane was here, he would breeze through his days, and if he ever did have a slight worry about something, she would always reassure him.
‘One day at a time,’ she would tell him if he worried about something in the future.
He decided he would take her advice. Let tomorrow come, with its own challenges. For now, he would just enjoy this evening. He smiled to himself as he headed to the kitchen to grab a beer from the fridge and carry on watching the snooker match.
NINE
DECLAN
‘Hi.’
Declan nodded as he was heading into the apartment block, just as Jess was returning with Maisie, a little after five o’clock. She had collected Maisie from after-school club, then lingered at the duck pond up the road, where Maisie was delighted to see a mother with a quartet of fluffy ducks gliding across the water.
‘Hi.’ Jess took in Declan’s smart suit and handsome face, his dark hair that was always stylishly groomed, and his deep-brown eyes that gave him an almost Mediterranean look. She was surprised that she had never seen him with a partner or bumped into anyone leaving his place.
‘Have you had a good day?’ Declan asked amiably.
‘Not bad, thanks. You?’
‘Yeah, good thanks. It’s nice to be out of the office, though, especially as the weather has warmed up.’
