‘Good-looking?’
Irene blushed. ‘I think so.’
‘I think I best look up this Arthur for myself!’ Elle teased.
Irene chuckled.
‘I think you should grab this little bit of happiness while you have the chance.’
Irene smiled at her. ‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘How does Arthur feel?’
‘He says one day we will be rocking together in the old people’s home,’ she said, giggling as she rummaged in her bag for a packet of sweets. ‘Here, have a pastille. I always find the black ones are the nicest.’
Elle popped the sweet into her mouth. ‘Arthur sounds like he wants to be part of your life then.’
‘I think he does.’
They sat for a moment, staring across the cemetery. ‘Shall we go and see Neville?’
Irene nodded and pointed to the flower vendor. ‘Let’s get a bunch first.’
After they’d purchased the flowers, they made their way towards Neville’s grave.
Elle hoped that one day she would find a love as true as Irene and Neville’s – they really had been soulmates. She instantly thought of Noah. With everything that had been going on in her life this week, she’d been preoccupied with thoughts of her meeting with Cora, but she looked forward to catching up with him at his book signing.
Watching Irene lay the flowers on the grave, Elle passed her a tissue to dab her teary eyes. ‘The emotion gets me every time. Our love was the most wonderful thing in the world. I really hope that someday you find someone just like my Neville.’
Elle hugged Irene, her thoughts still firmly fixed on Noah.
* * *
‘Welcome to Thursday night book club!’ Mim announced, standing by the counter in the teashop. She clapped her hands together and all eyes turned towards her. ‘Two minutes until we start, so get yourselves settled.’
Elle and Irene were sitting in their usual seats by the window, sipping tea from beautiful vintage teacups. Elle glanced out of the window on to Love Heart Lane and noticed Aiden’s car pulling up outside. He leaned over and kissed Pippa on the cheek before she clambered out of the passenger side and waved at Theo.
‘She’s all loved up.’ Irene pointed towards her.
The bell above the teashop door tinkled and Pippa walked towards them with a huge smile on her face.
‘Dare we ask what you’re smiling at?’ Elle enquired.
‘Just life! That’s all!’ she trilled, still smiling.
Elle could hear the happiness in her voice. ‘I’m made up for you. You deserve to smile again after everything Nick put you through. It’ll just be me that’s left on the shelf.’ Her eyes flicked towards Irene who also smiled.
‘What’s that look for? What have I missed?’ Pippa asked.
‘Irene has met a wonderful gentleman from her walking group.’
Pippa’s eyes widened and she grinned. ‘Tell me more, Irene, tell me more!’
‘His name is Arthur.’
‘Apparently, he’s very thoughtful, kind, generous and easy on the eye,’ Elle added.
‘When are we going to meet this lovely man? We definitely need to give him the once-over, don’t we, Elle?’
