‘Absolutely any time,’ said Tess with a thumbs up in Suzy’s direction. ‘The thing is, our friendships become more important as we get older. We have our families, but quite rightly, they are doing their own thing, and as for men, well, they take a different role in our lives now.’
‘Or no role whatsoever,’ said Gina. ‘I’ve given up on them. I’m far too busy these days to make time for a man, and in the past, they’ve caused me nothing but problems.’ She gave a conspiratorial glance at Tess. ‘You know, this is the first birthday I will spend as a single woman in about thirty years. I’ve always had a man at my side, spoiling me, taking me out for dinner, and a few weeks ago, I was thinking how miserable it would be to spend it on my own.’
‘Don’t worry, we’ll spoil you just as much tomorrow,’ said Tess.
‘Exactly, and I realised that I would have just as much, if not more fun, with you guys. From now on, I’m happy to concentrate on my work and my friends and family. That’s not to say I wouldn’t be open to offers if anyone special comes along, but I’m not holding my breath.’ Gina’s distinctive laughter rang out around the room.
Suzy asked the smart speaker to play some mellow background tunes, while Tess jumped up from her seat and tended to the vegetarian chilli con carne that she had prepared and brought from home and which had been bubbling on the stove for the last half-hour. She would serve it with some fluffy rice and the crunchy baguette that they’d picked up from the local bakery in Lower Leaping.
‘Funny to think that you’re giving up on men at this point in your life, when the rest of us are just hoping to get started again.’ Suzy picked up a crisp from the bowl that Dilly had placed on the table and chomped on it nonchalantly. Tess and Gina immediately looked at each other in surprise.
‘Are you?’ said Gina. ‘Well, this is a turn up for the books.’ Suzy had never shown any interest in meeting a new man in all the time they’d known her. Ever since she’d lost her husband, Martin, she been content to concentrate on working and bringing up her children.
‘Well, you know, we all are.’ Suzy looked towards Dilly and Tess as though they might agree with her. ‘Tess is starting out again with Rob and I suppose that’s made me realise that there are some nice, decent, more mature men out there. And Dilly is…’ Her words trailed away.
‘Don’t bring me into this. I’m a hopeless case. I can’t see myself finding a fella now, even if I wanted one, and I’m not sure that I do. I’ve got used to being on my own and pleasing myself,’ she said with that bright smile that always tore a little bit at Tess’s heart. Getting to know Dilly better had afforded her glimpses of the vulnerability and insecurity beneath Dilly’s outgoing and cheery exterior.
‘What about Danny? I’m sure he’s got a soft spot for you. The way he was singing to you at the open mic, the other week,’ said Gina with a playful grin.
‘What? No! Danny’s young enough to be…’ She stopped herself, doing the maths in her head. ‘Well, not quite, but… no, he’s a new client, who’s become a friend. It happens a lot in my kind of business,’ she said, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of Gina’s comment, turning the spotlight back on to Suzy. ‘So you think you’re ready to find someone new to share your life with?’
‘Not even that. But just someone to go out to dinner with, or to go on holidays with, to share stuff with. Up until now, I couldn’t even contemplate the idea, but with the kids gone and me having more free time, I can see that it might be nice to have someone special in my life.’
Gina was still observing Suzy as though she had grown another head.
‘About bloody time, that’s all I can say. Really, though, I think it would be really good for you. Expand your horizons somewhat.’
‘Yeah, well, we’ll see what happens,’ said Suzy thoughtfully. ‘I’m simply putting the idea out there, in case anyone might be listening,’ she said, addressing the universe. ‘Anyway, something smells absolutely delicious. It’s making my stomach rumble.’
Tess took that as a sign to leap up out of her chair.
‘Okay, let me put the rice on and then we can get stuck in.’
After negotiating her way around the unfamiliar stove, she put a pan of water on to boil, found some pasta bowls in the cupboard and then cut the baguette into chunks, to the backdrop of her friends’ bubbly conversation. It was true what they’d said: old friends were nourishing to the soul. Outside, it had grown darker, but the string lights on the perimeter of the decking and the sound of the constant rhythmic rumbling waves acted as a reassuring reminder of their coastline location.
‘Right,’ she said a little later when the rice was ready. ‘Dinner is served. Come and help yourselves.’
To appreciative exclamations, they dished up dollops of rice and chilli, and buttered crusty bread, the meld of smoky aromas stirring their appetites. Gina refilled the wine and fetched glasses of water too. There was a small, round dining table by the double doors, but by general consensus, they agreed to sit on the sofa, with their stockinged feet curled up beneath them and their bowls on their laps which, in the low lighting of the lodge, was so much more relaxed and comfortable.
‘This is so good,’ said Dilly, tucking in enthusiastically, and everyone was quick to agree.
‘So,’ said Gina, not one to let a potentially enthralling topic of conversation slide, ‘is there someone in particular who has brought about this change in you?’
Suzy dropped her gaze, running her fork distractedly around her bowl.
‘Not really.’
‘That means yes,’ said Gina triumphantly. ‘Come on, Suzy, you’re amongst friends here. I’m sure I can’t have been the only one to notice that you were getting on extremely well with Michael in the pub the other week.’
‘Gina!’ Suzy admonished her, giving an anxious glance in Dilly’s direction.
‘Oh, don’t worry on my account. You know what I’m like. A new single, eligible man in the village and I’m all of a flutter, but it’s only a bit of fun. From the moment I met Michael, I knew he was out of my league.’
‘Now what have I told you?’ said Tess, gently chiding her friend. She hated the way Dilly constantly put herself down. ‘No one is out of your league. Any man would be lucky to have you in his life.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Gina, and Suzy nodded her agreement too.
‘Oh, I know that, of course,’ said Dilly airily, ‘but I’ve only ever admired Michael from afar. A girl’s allowed to look, isn’t she? I’m not a frigging nun, but we come from different worlds. The pair of us would have nothing in common, even if he were to fancy me, which he wouldn’t in a hundred years. Whereas you, Suzy… I noticed it too. What Gina was saying. You seemed to hit it off with him from the start.’
