‘The best decisions in life never are,’ the woman replied. ‘Look, I can’t tell you what to do one way or the other, but what I can say is that you have a long road ahead of you. I know that makes me sound like a hypocrite, but I had a child to keep me going and even though he’s all grown up now, I still do. But it isn’t easy being on your own. No man is an island, as they say, and believe me, it can get very lonely. We need someone to share our lives with. We need to love and beloved.’
‘You sound like my sister and best friend. They think I should just go with the flow and see where ittakesme.’
‘Wise words,’ said the woman. ‘Maybe you should listentothem?’
The woman carefully eased herself off of the stool and picked up her handbag. ‘Time I should be going,’ she said, as she headed forthedoor.
‘Don’t forget these.’ Annabel called after her as she held up theflowers.
The woman turned with a knowing smile. ‘They were never intended for me,’ she said. ‘They were always meantforyou.’
Annabel watched her make her exit and felt confused. Why would a complete stranger want to gift herflowers?
‘But…’
Before she could say anything else, the woman was already out of the door and half way into the taxi. Forced to watch it pull away, she looked down at the blooms inherhand.
‘Daffodils.’ Acknowledging their meaning, she couldn’t help but smile toherself.
Annabel stared at the car as it drove off into thedistance.
‘New beginnings,’shesaid.
23
Music playedin the background as Annabel flitted around the kitchen, tossing the last of the vegetable peelings into the bin and giving the work tops a final tidy up as she went. While humming along to the tune, she turned her attention to the mound of pots and pans on the draining board that were waiting to be dried and put away. Her humming stopped. Did she really use all that just to make a simplecasserole?
As she grabbed a tea towel, she couldn’t help but laugh at herself. Having never been what anyone could call an organised chef, she wondered why she’d never invested in a dishwasher. For most people, they came as standard and, looking at the pile before her, she could certainly see why. She thought back to when she and Tom had first moved into the house. Back then, such a purchase had seemed an unnecessary expenditure and, later on, she supposed there’d never been any point. After all, how hard was it to wash a single plate, a knife, andafork?
She paused, and realised her solitary dining experiences could very well soon be a thing of the past. A prospect that felt both invigorating and scary at the same time. Forced to reign herself in, she tried not to think too far into the future. ‘Now you’re getting ahead of yourself,’ she said. ‘It’s still early days. And as you well know, a lot can happen in themeantime.’
With the self-pep talk over and the last of the drying up put away, Annabel checked the kitchen clock. Never one to run ahead of schedule under any circumstances, it surprised her to find she still had plenty of time to spare. She smiled and looked up to the heavens. ‘What do you think, Tom?Impressive,eh?’
Annabel refused to let herself think too much and took a deep breath. However, she knew it was a case of too little, too late; no amount of breathing exercises could stop her excitement creeping in. With her insides stirring, she couldn’t work out if it was a host of butterflies now playing havoc in her tummy, or a little man in there using her intestines as a trampoline. Either way, she had to find a way to at least try andcalmdown.
‘Maybe it’s time for a well-earned glass of wine,’shesaid.
She made her way over to the fridge. Annabel took out a bottle of white and retrieved a glass out of the cupboard; she poured herself a small measure. ‘That’ll do,’ she said. Although unable to resist, she decided to add just a tad more for prosperity’s sake. She raised the glass into the air, in a self-congratulatory toast. ‘Cheers!’shesaid.
‘It’s only us,’ a voice suddenlycalledout.
Annabel paused mid sip. She hadn’t even heard the frontdoorgo.
‘The kids were playing up and I just had togetout.’
‘And as I’m all on my lonesome,’ shouted another. ‘We thought we’d come and keep youcompany.’
Annabel’s shoulders slumped. Katy and Rebecca, that’s all sheneeded.
‘Something smells good,’ said herfriend.
As she and Rebecca burst into the room, Annabel watched her sister stop in her tracks. Suddenly suspicious, Rebecca’s eyes narrowed as she began surveying her surroundings. From the daffodils on the dining table to the casserole cooking in the oven, she took it all in, before walking over to the stereo and abruptly turningitoff.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked, the room at once silent. ‘And before you try to even to deny there’s something taking place here, remember, I know youtoowell.’
‘As do I,’ said Katy. ‘So come on,revealall.’
Annabel did her utmost to appear cool and collected. ‘I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about,’ she replied. ‘You’re both obviously imagining things.’ Not that the lack of an admission did anything to allay her visitors’ curiosity. If anything, it seemed to make itworse.
