Rhodri was rolling a poster print for a customer, and when the coast was clear Isabel, fit to combust, burst out with, ‘Did you know Nico and Delwyn were an item?’
Rhodri laughed. ‘I don’t think they’ve made it official, but yeah, I had a pretty good idea they were smitten.’
‘Well, I had no idea.’ Isabel was almost indignant. ‘I felt like a right plonker when she told me.’
‘I’ll admit I was surprised they got together because it was you Nico had the hots for initially.’
‘Pardon?’ Isabel spluttered, certain she’d heard wrong.
‘Why else do you think she was in and out of the gallery? It wasn’t to discuss my potting attempts; it was to catch a glimpse of you.’ He looked bemused.
Isabel was dumbfounded. How’d she managed to miss that? ‘I thought she was always showing up because you two were an item.’
Rhodri roared with laughter this time. ‘Er no, I’m the wrong sex I’m afraid, besides Nico isn’t my type.’
‘What, you don’t do blonde and beautiful? And I’m glad my naivety so amuses you.’
‘It is pretty funny. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now that Nico’s moved on and I think her and Delwyn make a much better match, don’t you?’
‘Yeah.’ The memory of Delwyn’s shining, happy face flitted to mind. ‘I think so too. Um, Rhodri is there any chance of you doing me and Constance a teensy favour tomorrow? I wouldn’t ask, only it’s rather important.’
Chapter 39
Constance was waiting in the foyer of Sea Vistas when Isabel and Rhodri arrived at the arranged time on Sunday afternoon. She was ensconced in the wheelchair Jill had organized for her once more, and Rhodri greeted her effusively. Constance preened, pretty in pink, when he bent down and planted a kiss on her cheek. She made to get up from the chair perfectly capable of walking the short distance out to the carpark, and he helped her to her feet before linking his arm through hers.
He turned his attention to Nurse Jill affording her with a grin as he gestured to the wheelchair. ‘Do we need a crash course in operating this piece of equipment?’
Jill had been filling in paperwork at the front desk, something she’d confided to Isabel drove her potty about nursing these days. Isabel watched on amused at the way the sensible nurse, glad of the distraction, flushed under the handsome Welsh man’s gaze and fiddled with her hair. ‘No, Isabel has had the run down; she holds a full license.’ Her giggle was positively girlish. ‘Enjoy your outing, Constance.’
‘Are you off somewhere nice then?’ A baritone voice called over.
Isabel turned in its direction and saw that the rich, rumbling tones belonged to a dapper gentleman. He’d have done well on the radio with a voice like that, she thought idly taking in his well-cut suit. His generation didn’t do casual, she thought, and there was something rather romantic about that bygone era of smooth talking, black and white movie heartthrobs. A newspaper was rolled up under his arm, and he’d obviously just come from the dining room. He would be around the same age as Constance, but his posture was still admirably ramrod straight. ‘Actually, I’m not sure where we’re off to yet. Constance’s got us heading out on a bit of a mystery tour,’ she said, smiling at him.
‘Does she now? She was always a theatrical one. Well, mind how you go and look after her.’
Constance, however, announced she was not in the least bit prone to dramatics in a loud enough voice for them to get the message before she put her best ballet flat forward, eager for the off.
‘We will.’ Isabel smiled at the elderly gent, touched by the genuine concern she’d heard in his voice.
‘Right, let’s get this show on the road.’ She took the handles of the wheelchair and followed Constance and Rhodri’s lead out into the fresh air.
‘Who was that?’ she whispered loudly in Constance’s ear as she caught up with them, even though they were a safe distance away not to be overheard.
‘Who?’
‘Don’t be all coy with me Constance; the dreamboat in the suit.’ She used her mum’s turn of phrase for Rhodri.
‘Dreamboat? That’s rather a stretch Isabel. That was Walter, I’ve known him forever. He used to run an antique store a few doors down from my little shop.’
‘Ah, I see.’
‘There is absolutely nothing to see young lady, so you can get that daft look off your face.’
Rhodri’s mud-splattered and somewhat battered Land Rover was parked nearby, ready and waiting. Isabel had been bemused how someone who hardly ventured out in his vehicle had managed to get it so dirty. He’d laughed and told her he liked to get off road sometimes to scout for painting locations. His smile dried up though as they pondered how they’d get Constance into it.
Now, the pair of them supported her weight while she made indignant murmurings. Ignoring her, they managed to hoist her up into the passenger seat. Isabel helped her with the seatbelt before tackling the wheelchair, which was also a two-man job as they tried to figure out how to fold it. ‘So much for you having a license,’ Rhodri muttered, but they got there in the end. Once it was stowed in the boot, Isabel clambered into the back seat and buckled in. Rhodri slid behind the wheel, and she leaned into the space between the
