He put his finger to her lips to shush her,then gently putting the painting down beside her as their eyes met. A palpable tension. A magnetic pull. A comfortable silence between them until Victoria whispered, ‘Kiss me again, Mr Pigeons.’
EPILOGUE
SAINT LUCIA
Mr Pigeons and the Perilous Pitons
April 2010
‘Remember when we were sat in that Brighton café in the freezing cold and Mandy insisted we have our hen weekends in the Caribbean?’ Victoria sucked through the straw of her pineapple-garnished cocktail.
‘Yes,’ Orla laughed. ‘And just look at us now, sitting in a beach-front bar, drinking rum punch. Trust you to go one better, Sharpie, and actually be getting married in St Lucia, too.’
‘Might be you next.’ Mandy prodded her friend gently in the ribs.
Orla turned her nose up. ‘I don’t think my Greg will do it again.’
‘Hmm,myGreg, eh?’ Mandy laughed. ‘He’ll always be Mr Winkler to us.’
Orla couldn’t help but grin. ‘Shut up, the pair of you.’
Mandy put her hand to her tummy. ‘So annoyed I can’t have a drink.’
Vic laughed. ‘Well, you will keep getting up the duff.’
‘Tell me about it. But forty was always my cut-off age and now this is a girl, I have to stop at three or Steve will actually kill me. It’s such a joy that his parents have taken the boys for the week.’
Vic kissed her friend on the cheek. ‘I love it. It makes up for all those I couldn’t have.’
Mandy welled up. ‘Oh, mate.’
‘I’m fine, honestly. I am the naughtiest auntie to those two gorgeous nieces of mine, and you know how much we love our dogs.’ Vic took another drink. ‘I really couldn’t be happier.’
‘Aww. If you’re happy, we’re happy.’ Mandy grinned.
‘And also, please can I request not to be a godmother for this one? It’s costing me a flipping fortune.’
‘And don’t you be fecking looking at me with godmother vibes in your eyes. I’ve just about learnt to look after meself,’ Orla added, causing them all to burst into laughter.
‘What a difference five years makes, eh?’ Mandy said wistfully.
‘Yes, indeedy.’ Orla put her head to the sun. ‘I meant to ask you earlier, Vic: how are you feeling on your new medication?’
‘So far so good, thanks. I remember, after that fateful Brighton night, all I could think about for months was my HIV. But now it’s only when I take the tablets and go for my regular checks that I have to think about it at all.’
‘I’m so proud of you, mate.’ Mandy welled up again. ‘You’ve handled it all so well.’
‘Thanks to having friends like you, that’s why. Stop,I’mgetting teary now.’
‘Oh, quit all this emotional shenanigans, the lot of you, and raise your glasses for a toast.’
Vic and Mandy did as they were told.
‘One for all and all for one,’ Orla declared.
‘One for all and all for one,’ they all repeated.
Orla stood up and shimmied her shoulders. ‘Now come on, hens – let’s get clucking!’
