I interrupt her. ‘And six minutes later, hear a screech of tyres, the slam of a car door, and Hilary’s heels on the path.’
Hilary laughs. ‘I did time myself door to door and it was six minutes.’
Aunt Polly nods. ‘The sight of you coming into the kitchen would be enough to put me at ease. You solved a wide range of problems back then.’
Hilary nods and squeezes my aunt’s hand. ‘I’ll always be your fourth emergency service, Polly.’
They look at each other with such tenderness and adoration that I can feel emotion rising inside of me. Hilary leans closer to my aunt and gently kisses her on the lips.
It hits me. I made this moment happen. I brought them together.
Once we’ve finished our tea, I think about heading home.
‘Nelly,’ says Aunt Polly, ‘I’m going to stay here for a few days. Hilary is going to drive me back on Tuesday.’
Hilary beams at my aunt. ‘We have a lot of catching up to do.’
‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’
‘Trust me, she’ll be more than fine,’ says Hilary. ‘Your aunt has agreed to let me nurse her.’
‘God help me,’ says my aunt, jokingly. ‘Nelly, take Nigella back to your place and drive over on Wednesday.’
‘Are you sure?’
She smiles. ‘Have some fun with her.’
I stare at my aunt. ‘I’m not sure I’d ever call driving Nigella fun.’
What I have noticed since being at Hilary’s is that my aunt doesn’t look so pale, and when I leave, her smile is a little wider.
46
Aunt Polly texted me while I was on my way to work. She apologised for missing my message last night and was glad Nigella had got me home safely. I left out the part where I screamed and hit the steering wheel every time Nigella spat out a CD, turned off her radio, or stalled whenever she felt like it. Aunt Polly didn’t need to know that. She and Hilary had a lovely time together after I left, although she had to go to bed at eight because she was exhausted. She told me she’s had the best Monday morning in ages as Hilary made her breakfast in bed. That brought a smile to my face.
‘Are you missing him?’ Miranda is meant to be opening the bookshop doors but is lingering near the till where I am standing. ‘I hear he’s returned to London. It didn’t work out.’
I lie and shake my head. She doesn’t need to know that he has never left my mind for more than ten minutes.
‘He has a few issues,’ says Miranda. ‘Let’s hope being back in London will help.’
I feel a prickle of irritation and recall how little she told me about him. ‘You didn’t say anything about all that scandal he went through a few years ago.’
She lets out a nervous laugh. ‘Didn’t I? Sorry about that.’
She gestures to her outfit. A floaty floral dress and sandals. ‘My stylist’s advice for this week is for me to look like a romcom goddess who’s just been frolicking in a meadow.’
‘That’s lovely,’ I say, forcing out a smile.
In my lunch break, I sit in the back room and read Mum’s notebook.
I get to the last few pages and then her entries change.
1st July 2001
I watched a couple on the bus today. She was laughing at something he whispered. Her face was open and unguarded. Everything changed when I got off the bus and touched her arm.
I blink and stare at Mum’s words.
