‘I’m perfectly fine; just tired, which is only to be expected because I am eighty-nine years old you know, so don’t fuss, Isabel.’
That was the Constance she knew and loved. ‘Okay, well, I’ll come and see you tomorrow morning.’ Isabel turned to leave pausing in the doorway and turning around. ‘Constance?’
‘Hmm.’
‘I’m so very glad I met you.’
‘And I you, Isabel. Isn’t it strange that I have Ginny to thank for my having met you?’
Chapter 42
Somehow Isabel got through her shift at the Rum Den that evening despite her head buzzing with all that Constance told her that afternoon. She managed to give the wrong change out twice, receiving a sharp look from Brenda for her efforts and forced herself to focus on the pint pulling at hand. The pub was humming and the hours flew by until last orders, by which time Isabel’s feet were throbbing. She’d been run off them all night, and she took the notes Brenda scooped from the till gratefully forty minutes later when they’d finished clearing up for the evening.
‘I’ll see you Tuesday, thanks, Brenda.’ She slung her bag over her shoulder and made for the door eager to be off.
‘’Ere ‘ang on a minute. Can you pick me up some more of that turmeric powders? It’s worked wonders with me bunions. And, what do you reckon we can do for my varicose veins? It’s all the standing behind the bar that aggravates them.’
‘I’ll call in on Delwyn tomorrow and see what I can find.’
‘Sandshoe, because they ain't half giving me grief.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Sandshoe. Its cockney rhyming slang ain't it, for thank you. Enjoy your day off. ‘Ave you got anyfing nice planned?’
‘I’ll pop in on Constance in the morning, and my mum was making noises about getting the ferry over for the afternoon if she could swing the morning off work.’ Isabel hoped she didn’t bring Prince Charles with her. The last time she’d brought him with her, reluctant to leave him at home on account of his separation anxiety, he’d been so excited to see her he’d cocked his leg on the gallery floor.
‘Well, be sure and bring Babs in for an on-the-‘ouse drink if she does, she’ll have to leave that pooch outside though.’
Isabel didn’t raise a smile.
Brenda frowned, and Isabel noticed one eyebrow had been painted in higher than the other. ‘You all right luv?’ she asked.
‘Yes, I’m fine, thanks.’
Brenda moved over to the entrance and unlocked the door. ‘It’s just you seemed like you were somewhere else tonight.’
‘I was a bit. I’ll have my mind on the job come Tuesday, I promise.’
Seeing that was as much as she was going to get out of her Brenda opened the door and stood hand on hip waiting for her to pass, ‘If you say so, me girl.’ As Isabel walked past her, she reached out and touched her arm. ‘If you need someone to talk to—’
‘Thanks, Brenda, I’ll remember that.’
To her surprise, her boss gave her a smile that was almost maternal. ‘Night now and mind how you go.’
Isabel was touched and reiterating the sentiment she stepped outside eager to get home and be alone with her thoughts. She jumped as a man stepped forward from a darkened doorway and her hand flew to her chest. ‘Bloody hell, Rhodri! You have got to stop doing that.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’ve not long finished my pottery class with Nico so I thought I’d walk you home.’
‘Thanks.’ Isabel knew his pottery class finished ages ago. She heard the lock turning in the door behind her pleased Brenda hadn’t seen him. Her boss, she knew would be all too quick to read things into the situation that weren’t there. ‘Did you finish your masterpiece?’ She knew he was working on a salad bowl.
‘No, the glaze is done, and it’s back in the kiln. Hopefully, I can bring it home next week and make—’
‘A Caesar salad?’ It was Isabel’s favourite. ‘With croutons and a poached egg that’s not too runny?’
‘A Caesar salad with croutons and a poached egg with a set white it is then.’ He grinned, his teeth white against the inky night.
They walked along in silence for a bit illuminated by the thick yellow street light. ‘Rhodri, thanks again for today,’ Isabel said, as they passed by the Cancer Research Op Shop. The headless mannequin dressed in a pretty summer frock looked almost spooky in the muted light.
‘It was no bother; it was a nice afternoon out. I enjoyed myself.’
‘You’re a very kind man.’
‘Ah, no more so than anyone else.’
‘No, that’s not true. The way you are with Constance its lovely and gifting her that painting, well, I think that was the highlight of her year.’ She didn’t add that the way he waited around outside the pub late at night to walk her home was sweet too.
‘She reminds me of my nan; she was a proud lady too. I miss her. It’s a funny thing when someone you’ve been close to all your life is suddenly just not there anymore.’
Isabel didn’t have much experience of that, and so she stayed silent.
He nodded before saying, ‘I can see her in you too.’
‘Your gran or Constance?’ Isabel wasn’t sure she liked the direction this conversation was going in.
‘Constance,’ he shrugged, ‘how can I word it? You’re both like these colourful, vibrant butterflies.’
‘Oh.’ Isabel didn’t know what to say, it was such a lovely sentiment. As they rounded the bend onto the Esplanade, she looked up and saw a carpet of stars over the Solent. ‘Do you fancy walking for a bit? It’s so quiet, and I love the sound of the water when the tide is in. My brain’s been whirring away at 100 miles a minute this evening, and I find
