AllFreeNovel
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Remember that Instagram isn’t real life, and we don’t know what’s really going on there.
Most important thing is that you’ve both moved on and now that the door is closed, you will meet someone better. I promise! I can feel it
Let me know if you want to voice chat later? Xx
Helen:Thanks guys
I just don’t know what went wrong there – or how he suddenly changed overnight??*
*Okay it’s been a year but still!
Hard not to take it personally :-(
How’s things with Frank @Sophie?
Mum’s calling (yes, I might as well be 13 again not 31!) brb! Xx
Helen sat down at the dining table and was grateful that her parents weren’t the kind of people to mention that she’d been wearing the same yoga pants and hoodie for three days now. She instinctively sat next to Nanny G – her favourite grandparent, and officially the last woman left standing of her older relatives. She was wearing her trademark lavender-coloured blouse with diamante butterfly brooch, and was nursing a small glass of port and brandy she’d been warming on the radiator.
‘How are you my dear?’ Nanny G’s voice had the timbre of an old-fashioned wireless set.
There was something about how close Helen felt to Nanny G that stripped her of all her resolve to not make a fuss, and she felt her face growing warm. If she’d fallen over when she was a child, her mum would have said, ‘stand up’ and Nanny G would have got her a plaster. She inhaled sharply, ‘Well, Jonathan has just got engaged. To Katy. I think during a hot air balloon ride over Lake Nakuru.’
‘Oh my! Well, he always did like to be the centre of attention – I suppose he let the world know his happy news in a suitably discreet and mature way?’
‘He posted a huge picture on Instagram captioned #thisisit.’ Helen paused to translate what she had just said into elderly relative speak. ‘Instagram’s a bit like a photo gallery for showing off how perfect your life is …’
‘I know! I opened an account last month, mostly so I could spy on you though!’ smiled Nanny G, discreetly prodding Helen’s hands with her fork. ‘I don’t suppose many people are interested in a nonagenarian’s life in Cornwall, and I still have to get the hang of hashed tags.’
‘Hashtags, Nan … I’ll think of some good ones for you later …’
‘Did I hear you mention Jonathan?’ Helen’s mum sat down at the table, and leaned in conspiratorially. ‘Don’t leave me out! Have you heard from him?’
Helen’s brother Henry started rapidly serving the potatoes, and shot her an apologetic look across the table.
‘He just got engaged …’
‘Oh …’
‘I knew it was coming …’
‘Well, there will be plenty of other opportunities darling, especially for someone as lovely as you! What about Dean?’
‘You mean Dean from uni?’
‘Yes! The tall one, nice smile, always very polite!’
‘Mum – Dean and I have been friends for over a decade, plus he’s gay, so I really don’t think there’s unexplored potential there …’
‘Oh yes, of course, I remember you saying.’ Helen’s mum paused to digest this reminder. Holding her knife and fork aloft, she gazed upwards as if searching for some divine inspiration to help her daughter’s plight. ‘Maybe you could try one of those dating apps? I read inWoman & Homethat they arethething right now to meet people …’
‘Unfortunately, Mum, dating apps are really for people who aren’t looking for actual relationships …’
‘I don’t quite see …’
‘Just trust me on this, Mum.’
‘Well, if you decide to try again, can you set me up a profile as well?’ Nanny G smiled. ‘There’s life in the old girl yet! Would you mind passing me the wine? I think that Helen and I would quite like some.’
