‘We must get a bottle of champagne,’ said Jules excitedly. ‘Only a glass for you though,’ she said. ‘We’ll just have to polish off the rest!’
When Jules returned from the bar and they had settled down with their drinks, Jules asked Luca to tell the story of the proposal. Luca talked them through it step by step. Libby still couldn’t believe it. She knew she would never get bored of hearing the story. Neither would she ever get bored of looking down at her ring; it would be a wonderful distraction whenever she was losing the will to live at work.
After they had eaten their meal and ordered the bill, Jules suddenly remembered something. ‘Libby, my sister mentioned something to me yesterday. I think you might find it an interesting proposition…’
‘Very mysterious – go on!’
‘Well, she has a work colleague called John who she is trying to set up.’
‘Ooh yes!’ Libby nodded enthusiastically. ‘Helen will be back in the UK soon.’
‘It’s not actually for Helen. He is sixty-four.’
‘What? For who then?’
‘I was thinking maybe… for your mum?’
Angus laughed. ‘Matchmaking Miriam are we now, Jules?’
‘I think that’s a great idea,’ said Luca. ‘Why not?’
‘Well, I suppose it would be nice for her to meet someone,’ Libby said thoughtfully. She hadn’t even considered the idea of her mum dating but, now she came to think of it, why on earth shouldn’t she? It had been years and years since her father had died. Plenty of women remarried and had a second chance at happiness. Maybe it was possible for her mum too?
‘OK, so what do you know about this John?’ Libby asked.
‘I’ve seen a picture; he’s really nice looking for an older man. Grey hair, smiley eyes. He looks absolutely charming.’
‘Sounds good so far…’
‘And he’s apparently the most lovely guy. Megan thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread. He’s got a great sense of humour and has asked her if she knows any nice women. His previous wife died quite some time ago and he’s ready to get back out there.’
‘What do you reckon?’ asked Angus.
‘I think we should do it. I’ll call her later and see if she’d be up for it.’
‘OK well, let me know what she says,’ Jules grinned.
Later that evening, Libby phoned her mum and put the proposed date to her. She made sure that her description of John was right up her mother’s street.
‘A date? Darling, what on earth are you talking about?’
‘Jules will give John your phone number and then he will call you to arrange a time and a place for you to meet up.’
‘I see. Well, I can’t say I’ve ever done that before.’
‘I know, it’s a strange idea. But it might be fun.’ Libby wasn’t sure how well this was going.
‘You know what, darling; I think it could be rather fun to be taken out by a chap. It’s been a jolly long time since your father died.’
Libby was amazed. ‘Really, Mum? That’s great. Good for you!’
‘It sounds rather terrifying, I must admit, but it is probably about time I did something that puts me out of my comfort zone.’
‘I must say, Mum, I’m very proud of you. I thought you’d tell me to get lost immediately for having suggested such a thing!’
‘It’s good to know I’m still capable of surprising my own daughter,’ laughed Miriam.
She was amazed that her mother had sounded quite so enthusiastic about the whole idea. She sounded a little nervous too, but she hadn’t said an outright no, which is what Libby had been expecting. Libby reassured her that it would be a very relaxed affair, maybe just lunch or a drink, and that she would help her choose what to wear. She then phoned Jules to give her the go-ahead for her matchmaking.
Miriam and John went on their first date one Saturday in early March. He drove out to Kent and took her out for lunch in a local pub.
‘So, Mum, how was it?’ asked Libby the next morning.
‘It was wonderful,’ said Miriam.
‘Wonderful!’ Libby laughed. ‘Oh my goodness. So you like him?’
‘Very much. We had lunch together and we just couldn’t stop talking! We stayed there all afternoon chatting away and then we went for a walk along the beach. We didn’t quite want to part ways just then, so we went to the Builder’s Arms and had a couple more drinks and then John drove back to London.’ It turned out Miriam had been utterly charmed by him from the first second she had laid eyes on him and, by all accounts, he seemed equally besotted with her.
To Libby’s absolute amazement and delight, they began ‘courting’, as Miriam put it. By the beginning of April they had declared themselves an official couple. Libby had never heard her mother sound so happy. She was like a schoolgirl, giggling and laughing, full of a new lease of life. The two of them together were unimaginably sweet. They had found kindred spirits in each other and spent hours together gardening, doing the crossword and going to the theatre. Libby couldn’t believe that Jules’s matchmaking had worked – and so easily at that. It was an enormous weight off her shoulders to know that there was someone else out there who was looking out for her mother. The responsibility no longer rested entirely with her. For the first time since her dad died she could relax, comforted by the knowledge that her mother was in a safe, loving and capable pair of hands.
