‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Margot agreed. ‘And we won’t make a mess, we’ll be careful.’
‘He wouldn’t be happy with me,’ said Bonnie.
‘Bonnie, let’s just enjoy the food for now, shall we.’ Margot’s smile put her at ease and her thumping heart gave way to satiety and good conversation. Thinking of this as an adventure was exactly the right thing to do, and it was really, wasn’t it? This was adventurous compared to the way Bonnie had been closing herself off to the world lately. Forget the developer for now, focus on tonight, focus on being here with these two very special women.
‘Did Iris leave a number so you could call him?’ Bonnie asked once they’d finished eating and cleared everything away. Neither Margot nor Faye had grilled her about selling up as they ate and for that Bonnie was grateful.
‘Call who?’ Margot asked, a paperback in her hand. She and Faye had both been looking at some of the titles on one of the book tables.
‘The locksmith,’ said Bonnie.
‘Oh yes.’ Faye took out her phone. ‘Good point. I’ll message Iris and get it.’
Margot started talking about the book she had a hold of –Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. ‘I’m reading this one at the moment.’ She read the wording on the back out loud, presumably for Bonnie’s benefit.
Bonnie patiently listened. It did sound like a good story. She’d have to let Margot down gently. ‘I don’t really fancy it.’
‘We have to do something while we wait,’ said Faye.
And then Margot pulled her phone from one of her back pockets and from the other took out a small rose-gold case.
‘What’s in there?’ Bonnie asked.
‘Headphones.’
‘Oh, those fancy sort. Earbuds, that’s what they’re called, isn’t it?’
‘They’re brand new actually.’
‘Very nice,’ said Bonnie.
‘Try them.’
‘Whatever for?’
Margot turned her phone to face Bonnie and the same title –Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Finewas on the screen. ‘This is the audiobook version. I’ve been listening to it on my walks.’
‘I thought you said you were reading it.’
‘I am, but audiobooks are a type of reading.’ She held the case out again. ‘These earbuds are new. I got them in case I lost the others, so you’ll be the first to try them.’
‘But you’re listening to it.’
‘I know which chapter I’m up to – I’ll use the paperback copy. I’ll buy it. I wouldn’t mind having it anyway.’
‘I don’t know, I don’t think it’ll keep my interest.’ And she was still getting used to simply being in the bookshop after all this time.
Margot ignored her. ‘I’ve paired the headphones with the phone but didn’t get the chance to try them out yet.’
‘Paired them?’
Margot rolled her eyes. ‘Would you just put them in.’
Margot was so determined that it made Bonnie realise that sitting around doing nothing but think about how Howard was no longer here any more, or how she’d alerted the developers to a potential sale, wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She needed a distraction.
Bonnie pushed each earbud into her ears.
‘Volume okay?’ Margot asked.
