‘Do better in the snobbier places. S’OK. Have some regulars. They enjoy my version of “Yesterday” and my take on Ryan Adams’ “Wonderwall”.’
‘I always liked that one.’
I pat the ground. Eva was right. I am afraid of letting him into my life again. But not because he’ll hurt me. He’s a harmless dude who doesn’t mean enough to do that. I just wouldn’t have the patience to deal with his level of flake.
He sits, placing his guitar carefully down on the grass first. ‘Come here often?’
‘I used to come here a lot and talk to Mum. It was closer than the cemetery and I felt her spirit might be here.’
‘I haven’t visited her grave in years but I still talk to her too. I feel her cringe when I hit a bum note or a dead string. Sometimes I hear her singing along to a riff. And other times she’s there in the spaces between notes. You know how “Yesterday” works in seven phrases … Our brains don’t question that because we’re used to it, but if we heard it for the first time we’d be crying out for that middle eight. She’s there, sometimes, in the missing bar.’ We sit in silence again. I wait for it. The request for money, or a bed, or whatever he needs from me. It doesn’t come. So, I ask how he found me.
‘Wasn’t looking. This is my route home. I’ve been teaching music in a project for troubled teens. Ironic really, wouldn’t you say, when I didn’t look after my own kid.’ He opens his mouth and hesitates before spilling out some news. ‘I’m getting married, Daisy. That’s why I called round a few weeks ago. It’s not like I need your approval, but it would be nice. She lives over there.’ He points across the park, to the estate we came from. ‘It’s time to move on, time I played a new song. Will you meet her? I’d like you to.’
‘I wondered why you were back busking round here.’
‘I never left. Cleaned myself up. Got respectable, started to teach on Twitch and do sets in pubs.’
‘You still play Brucie?’
‘Nah, they all want Adele and Ed Sheeran now– their tunes are solid, I suppose.’ He pulls his prized guitar out of its black plastic bag and picks out the opening bar of ‘The Promise’. ‘Of course, they can’t compete with the brilliance of this.’
‘I was singing that a couple of days ago myself. You know your favourite tune is about a guitar-playing loser?’
‘Wrong. It’s an optimistic song. So is “Yesterday”. Although they sound like a dirge for middle-aged men on first listen, they’re both about hope.’
Chapter 36
The following morning, I trudge to my street corner to pick up a Cup of Joeand officially end my hopes of starting something with the owner.Even Doodle is subdued. Despite looking tired, and paler than normal, Joe’s as chirpy as ever with the two customers in front.
He smiles weakly when he sees me. ‘Daisy! I was hoping to chat with you. Usual?’
‘No thanks. I’m over that.’
‘I’ve only just managed to stomach a cuppa. Man flu. Nearly died.’ He runs his cloth along the countertop. ‘Daisy … I …’
‘Your daughter is sweet. She has your eyes. And your wife or girlfriend or whatever– she’s stunning.’
‘My ex-partner. Lia is her daughter not mine. They’re staying with me while they sort out a place to live. We’re not together. I tried to explain …’
‘You’re pretty together though if she’s staying in your flat.’
‘They’re family, Daisy. Maria ran into some problems in Italy. I was in a position to help until they find somewhere local or head back to Naples. I had to …’
‘Don’t worry, I understand.’
‘Oh, that’s a massive relief. When she told me you’d met them my temperature skyrocketed. And then when you wouldn’t answer my phone or texts, I thought the worst.’
‘Family is everything. That’s why you need to cherish them, Joe. It’s literally everything– take it from someone who has never had one. Go home and be with yours for Christmas.’
When Vince answers his front door his cheeks are flushed. ‘I’m trying to master the ultimate junk food– a fish stick sandwich.’ High on his efforts, he ushers me in, reaching for the coffee pods.
‘Why does everyone in your family think they can put the whole world right with a cup of coffee and a baguette?’
‘Because we can?’ He grins. ‘Still standing after your grilling from Aurora the other day I see.’
‘I’m getting there. Certain people in my life seem to think putting me on a stage and publicly cancelling me is what I need.’
‘Ah, but this time I was your chief cheerleader,’ he says. ‘Join me for lunch?’
