‘And where do I come in?’ Eleanor asked cautiously.
‘It’s for this lady, Heidi. She must be eighty-something now, but when she was younger, she was a pageant queen. Super glam. I mean, still is for an old lady, you know? But anyway. She asked me if I could take a picture that made her feel beautiful again. Now, I can take the shot, I can set the room up, but I have no idea about fashion or hair or make-up. As you kindly reminded me with the old poncho situation, my fashion sense is less than socially acceptable.’
Eleanor snorted into her coffee.
‘So, I was wondering if you’d help me? You and Salmaybe? Even if all you did was point me in the right direction. This woman has been through a lot, and I really want this to work.’
Eleanor looked into his pleading eyes.
‘I’m telling you now, Sal won’t do it.’
‘How come?’ Fin tried to hide his surprise. He’d been surer of Sal saying yes than Eleanor.
‘She can’t stand old people.’
Fin’s eyes widened in shock.
‘I’m serious! Ever since her grandad passed away, she has a weird thing about death and people getting old. That woman is doing everything in her power to live for ever. It would freak her out too much being in the care home.’
‘OK, so Sal’s a no,’ he confirmed. ‘What about you?’
Eleanor fiddled with a crumb of cake on the table.
‘Please,’ he begged.
Eleanor cocked her head and gave Fin a look that he hadn’t seen in years. It was a look that seemed to be equal parts exasperation and affection, and it was one that Eleanor had used regularly growing up.
‘Please, please,please.’ Fin pushed the plate of carrot cake towards her in a final act of persuasion.
‘Fine,’ she conceded at last.
‘Yes!’ He punched the air. ‘Thank you. Thank you!’ He breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Do you want to go and meet her now?’
‘Oh.’ She looked a little startled.
‘I mean, only if you have time,’ he added casually, cursing his enthusiasm. ‘Seize the day and all that.’
‘Sure. Why not?’ She shrugged. ‘But it will cost you another coffee and maybe another slice of that carrot cake.’
‘Whatever you want!’ He beamed.
‘Come on then.’ She stood. ‘Let’s see what on earth you’ve roped me into.’
*
‘Well, I won’t say she’s the friendliest old lady I’ve ever met,’ Eleanor whispered, as they closed the door to Heidi’s room behind them.
Fin was barely able to contain his laugh. ‘Yeah, I probably should have warned you about that. She can be a bit …cold.’
‘Cold?’ Eleanor cried. ‘She ignored me the entire time. Acted like I wasn’t even there.’
‘Actually,’ Fin corrected, ‘she did comment on your shoes, remember?’
Eleanor rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, to tell me they were the only decent thing about my outfit!’
‘Honesty isn’t necessarily a bad thing, is it?’ he joked.
She glowered at him hard. ‘I thought you wanted my help?’
