She nods. ‘It’s marvellous. So bright and cheery!’
‘Thank you, Jean, that’s very kind of you to say.’
‘Well, Dora,’ she begins, ‘I was saying to my son, Wilbur, that when you get to our age, you can feel a bit invisible. It’s nice to find somewhere where you feel comfortable, and you’ve always made us feel welcome here.’
‘Youarealways welcome here, both of you.’
She nods and picks up her bag. ‘We’ll be off, then. Bye, love.’
I get a little choked up as I watch them leave. I hope Wilbur is kind to his mother. She deserves it.
Three hours later, the last of the guests are leaving, including Larry who’s given extra mac and cheese as a parting gift along with a promise that I’ll join him and Anna for dinner when they’re next in Scotland. I slip into a booth and kick off my shoes.
‘Can I go to Joanne’s house?’ Charlotte asks, plonking down beside me. ‘Her dad will run me home later.’
‘Which one is Joanne?’ I reply, looking over at the three teenage girls huddled by the door.
‘Blue-streaked hair. Nose ring.’
‘Hmm… and what do her parents do for a living?’
‘MUM!’
‘I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Yes, you can go but please text me her address, don’t ride alone in the car with her dad and don’t come back with anything pierced.’
‘Ugh, you worry too much.’
‘Always,’ I reply.
She hugs me quickly and is off like the roadrunner before I can tell her what time to be home.
Finally, the diner is empty. The place looks like a bomb has gone off, but I’ve sent the staff home. We can deal with the mess in the morning. Faith joins me in the booth while Victoria locks the door and grabs a bottle of champagne from the fridge.
She returns with three glasses and proceeds to pop the cork.
‘Well, ladies,’ she toasts, rapidly filling each glass. ‘Here’s to a very successful launch.’
I raise my glass and laugh. ‘I’m exhausted, but we nailed it.’
I’m certain that the entire street can hear us cheer as we toast.
An hour later we’re still stuck to the booth.
‘Thanks to both of you for all the hard work you’ve put in,’ I say, picking at the remnants of some leftover nachos. ‘In both business and in life, I’d be nothing without the pair of you.’
Faith laughs. ‘What percentage is this wine? All I did was throw together a guest list, you two did all the work.’
‘Hmm, I suggested the jukebox,’ Victoria adds. ‘You came up with the rest. It’s been all you, Nora. After seeing how it turned out, I’m kinda embarrassed I didn’t do more.’
I shake my head. ‘Vic, if you hadn't suggested going into business in the first place all those years ago, we wouldn’t be here. And Faith, if you hadn’t sent me off to that bootcamp, I’d still be stuck in the same, indifferent place I had been for years. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you both.’
‘That bootcamp really got to you, huh?’ Faith remarks. ‘Maybe I’ll sign you up for the next one. I think it’s in—’
‘No!’ I exclaim. ‘As enlightening as it was, I have no intention of participating in one ever again. No, thank you.’
‘Not even if Will was there?’ Vic asks, glancing at Faith. I know that look. They think I’m still moping over him. I haven’t thought about him in, well, minutes.
‘If I’m meant to see him again, it’ll happen,’ I reply. ‘I’m done trying to make sense of any of that. Besides, I’d rather focus on meeting someone who’s actually available and not just forced to do yoga with me.’
