‘What?’ asked Nora.
‘The ex-boyfriend project. Or have you decided against tracking them down?’
‘I found Salvador. There are pictures of him with a woman and a baby so I don’t want to contact him if he’s in a relationship. That would be weird.’
‘It’s all quite weird,’ said Jay. Nora shot him a look and he held up his palms. ‘If these guys weren’t what you were looking for the first time around I can’t see how they would be now.’
‘There’s a chance I was a little hasty in the past. I’m not known for my patience.’ Nora knew she could sometimes be quick to judge.
‘What are you looking for in a man? Other than someone who looks like Timothée Chalamet.’
‘I actually lean more towards the Viking look, if I’m honest. Jason Momoa, Chris Hemsworth in his Thor phase, The Rock or—’
‘Yep, got the picture,’ said Jay. ‘Apart from looking like a marauding Scandinavian, what qualities are important to you?’
‘Good question.’ Nora gave it some thought as they walked in step along Dalby Road. ‘I like a man who knows his mind and will stand up to me. I can be a bitbelligerent sometimes and I need someone who will call me on it but at the same time not piss me off.’
‘So an alpha male then.’
‘Not necessarily, although I guess a beta isn’t going to confront me. But I also want someone who is kind, funny and an animal-lover.’
‘Those things are more important than being solvent?’
‘Definitely. As long as he’s not sponging off me I don’t care what he earns but I do think someone who cares about animals has a good honest soul. And they’d need to love Oliver obviously.’
‘Obviously.’
‘On that note, I’m going on a course with work in a couple of weeks. I’ll feed Oliver before I go but do you think you could pop in and check on him please? I’d ask Dixie but she gets freaked out that his eyes look in different directions at the same time.’
Jay laughed. ‘As long as I’ve not had the phone call and been whisked off to Hollywood in a private jet to star in a multi-million-pound blockbuster alongside Margot Robbie, or absolutely anyone really, I’m not fussy.’
‘I love that you have standards,’ she said, giving him a nudge.
*
Dixie had only ever gone past Brinkley Place Retirement Village on her way to the village hall so it was a new experience to press the buzzer for Renee’s flat. Knownlocally as Wrinkly Place, it had a reputation as being at the luxury end of retirement living.
‘Welcome to Mozzarella Fellas Pizza. Can I take your order?’
Dixie faltered for a second. ‘Renee, is that you?’
‘Of course it’s me, you silly beggar! Come on in. Lifts or stairs on your right, I’m on the second floor, number twenty-two.’
‘Right, and do you buzz me—’
A click from the intercom and a buzzing sound from the door answered her question. Dixie wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting inside but having visited her great-nanna in a nursing home some years previously she had prepared herself for the lingering smell of bleach with a hint of urine. But what she was met by was something more akin to a Jo Malone candle. She had a quick look in a room to her left where the door was wide open and was impressed by the comfy-looking sofas and rows of filled bookshelves. She took the stairs to find Renee in her doorway wearing denim dungarees and waving at her. Dixie waved back and noted the thick carpet underfoot as she made her way to number twenty-two. ‘Drink first and then work? Or the other way around?’ asked Renee, ushering Dixie into a small, bright pink hallway.
‘By drink, do you mean alcohol?’ asked Dixie, walking through to a good-sized living room painted entirely in lime green.
‘Nooo, don’t be daft. I was thinking a small G&Twould set us up. What do you say?’ Renee picked up a bottle from the top of a 1930s sideboard.
‘If we get Elsie going, I’ll need to drive her to get petrol.’ Dixie dangled the keys. ‘And there’s a taxi waiting outside. Although there’s no rush,’ she added hastily.
Renee looked disappointed for a moment. ‘Oh well, I’ll pop a few in a flask in case of emergency.’
Dixie had a little browse while Renee sloshed alcohol into a Thermos. ‘Your home is really nice,’ she said. ‘I love the colours.’
‘I can’t stand sodding magnolia, and it’s a bonus to think that after I’ve pegged it it’ll take someone quite a few coats to cover it up.’
