Читать книгу Five French Hens - Judy Leigh - Страница 11

Pam was still cooking when the first guest rapped at the door. She frowned. ‘They aren’t due until half seven. It’s barely quarter to. Stay there, Elvis – don’t touch the cheese, please. Or the salad – I know how much you like to pilfer.’ She ruffled the fur around his ears and he pushed a wet nose into the palm of her hand. ‘OK, come with me to the door, then.’ She scooped him up and went into the hall. Someone had knocked again. Rose was huddled on the doorstep in a pale pink faux-fur jacket and jeans.

‘Hi, Rose. New coat?’

Rose nodded from the doorstep. ‘I went out over the weekend – I bought myself this jacket and a dress, a swimsuit and some underwear – all in pink. I wanted to cheer myself up – it’s spring, almost. Besides, my name is Rose, not Dullard.’

‘This is Elvis. Are you all right with dogs?’

‘Fine.’ Rose nodded as she followed Pam through the little lounge and into the kitchen. ‘What a sweet house, Pam. The thing is – I don’t know – this business with Jen. I’m not happy…’

‘Red wine OK?’ Pam lifted a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

‘I don’t usually drink much wine, but OK, I’ll have one glass, Pam.’ Rose took the wine and swallowed a mouthful hastily. ‘You see, I’ve been thinking about things. Since the dinner, since the night we went out. I bought myself some new things. I just wanted to treat myself. I’ve been in the doldrums a bit and I thought it might be time to get out of them.’

‘Well done you.’ Pam smiled. ‘We’re having aubergine and butter-bean tagine and a salad – is that OK?’

‘Sounds wonderful.’ Rose sipped more wine, leaning over to tickle Elvis’s chin. The little spaniel stared at her with round eyes, unblinking. ‘Pam – I hope you didn’t mind me coming here early. I wanted to talk to you about something. If it’s all right.’

‘Of course.’ Pam stirred the tagine, replaced the lid and gave Rose her full attention. ‘What is it?’

‘I wanted to talk about Jen – to try to get my own head round this thing with the engagement. I said too much yesterday – opened my mouth and spoke my mind. I felt awful afterwards. But I’m a bit worried. She’s such a sweet-natured person, so kind, and this whirlwind thing with Eddie…’

‘You don’t trust him, Rose?’

Rose stood upright, placing her hands on her hips. ’I might be wrong – I hope I am – but what if he’s a skinflint, a pinch-penny, going to Las Vegas with his son and gambling while she has a limited budget for her wedding dress and her honeymoon is a paltry weekend in Dorset? That’s not exactly the doting fiancé, is it?’

Pam shrugged. ‘I see what you mean but I’m sure he cares for her. He’s a pensioner – they both are – he probably just wants to economise. And she clearly adores him.’

‘Pam.’ Rose placed the wine glass firmly down on the countertop. It was only a quarter full. ‘I was fortunate in many ways to share my married life with Bernard. I loved him and he was a good man. We had a son, Paul, and we were happy. But there were problems.’ Rose took a breath. ‘Generosity wasn’t his forte. Or thoughtfulness. You know what I mean? I rarely had birthday presents or Christmas presents. He said he cared and that was enough for me, but he never showed it. I’d be upset to get nothing on my birthday and he’d say, “Oh, sorry, Rose – here’s a ten pound note – treat yourself.” I loved Bernard, but he wasn’t very thoughtful or generous and years and years of it affected my confidence – I thought myself not to be worth spoiling or being treasured, if I’m honest. I denied myself because I was being denied. He came first and I was second best, and it became a habit, feeling not worth much. We had holidays, on his terms, but I never had independence – I never bought myself new clothes or had much fun.’

Pam nodded, a little surprised to see Rose so animated, her words tumbling out quickly. ‘You think Eddie is like Bernard?’

Rose brought her lips together. ‘Yes, I do. Bernard was a kind man even if he was a little too careful with the contents of his wallet. We were happy enough, good company for each other and he was appreciative even if, although I shouldn’t say so now he’s gone, our life could be a little boring. And I do miss him, although I don’t think I knew how much I would when he was alive. We bickered a lot. I suppose we both just took each other for granted, slipped into a rut. Now I miss him being around the house, his smile, his silly jokes. But Jen is a sensitive soul. She needs someone who will cherish her and Eddie puts himself first.’

‘Rose…’ Pam lifted the lid of the tagine. Steam rose in front of her face like a potion. ‘I’m sure Eddie adores her.’

Rose’s voice became higher. ‘Look at Tess. She’s a strong woman and her Alan never gives her the time of day. He plays golf all the time. She is a lovely person, but you saw her the other night. She’s lonely, starved of fun. I mean…’ her voice became louder as she finished her glass of wine ‘… I’m alone and desolate and sad and dowdy but I’m better off than both of them.’

‘You might be being a bit hard, Rose. Jen seems happy with Eddie.’

Rose nodded. ‘I’m sure you’re right, Pam, yes – I’m probably seeing it all wrong. And I’m overprotective. I thought that too – it’s in my nature. That’s why I married Bernard, to care for him and put him first. My fault, I suppose. But times have changed now. And I’m worried. I thought I’d come early, Pam – to talk to you. You are wise and sensible and I know you’ll be able to calm me down and help me think straight. At the moment, I’m just a little bit edgy – I’m probably being unfair and you seem so grounded.’

Elvis barked in agreement, lifting his front paws high and tottering on his hind legs. Pam offered him a morsel of cheese, which he dropped to the floor and snaffled up greedily. Rose’s face was serious. ‘Do you think I’m overreacting?’

Pam shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know, Rose. You may be right. We’ve all only known each other since the class started last autumn but we seem to get on well. We’re all protective of Jen and we hardly know Eddie at all.’

‘There’s definitely a bond developing between the five of us – and that’s why I thought I’d talk to you about my feelings. Jen’s known Eddie less time than she’s known us.’

‘Maybe Jen will be fine.’ Pam recalled the image of Eddie on the beach, Elvis’s sandy paws on his jacket. She remembered Eddie buying the vitamin pills in the wholefood shop and she realised she had no idea about his suitability as a partner. ‘They’ll be company for each other, won’t they?’

‘I’m in my seventies now and I’ll admit it – I’m lonely. But I’d rather have no company at all than a man who didn’t put me first and treat me like I was special.’

Pam stretched a hand down and tousled Elvis’s fur. He licked her palm. ‘Maybe you’re right, Rose.’

They were thoughtful for a while, and then the sound of the knocker being rapped at the front door jolted them. Pam rushed to the hall, Elvis yapping at her heels, and tugged open the door to see three smiling faces, three women holding up bottles of wine and chorusing, ‘Hello.’

Pam held the door open and Della, Tess and Jen tumbled inside, full of delight at the compact prettiness of Pam’s cottage, the glowing fire in the hearth, the cuteness of Elvis, whom they were immediately showering with kisses, and the warm smells of a succulent tagine. Rose unfolded her arms, plastered a smile on her face and hurried into the lounge to embrace her friends, saving a special warm hug for Jen.

‘Anyone for more apple cake and cream?’

‘I couldn’t, Pam.’ Della blew air from her lips. ‘I’m full. But it was delicious.’

‘That was lovely.’ Jen smiled, helping herself to more water.

‘I’ll have a sliver, please – it was so nice.’ Tess held out her plate. ‘Anyone else for more wine? Rose?’

‘A little.’ Rose nodded. ‘Thank you. Now – what were you talking about just before, Della?’

‘Second chances. I was saying how nice it was that Jen has a second chance at love. You know, I believe life offers us opportunities every now and then. A meeting with someone, an opportunity to do something new. And we should take our chances with both hands.’

‘Like bungee jumping, do you mean?’ Tess pulled a face. ‘Like a bucket list?’

‘Bucket lists depress me,’ Rose mumbled. ‘I don’t like the idea of doing something quickly, before you die, in case you miss out. But I do like the idea of doing something because the opportunity is there and the desire is there, spontaneously.’

Della thought for a moment. ‘I think I’m guilty of drifting – you know, just putting things off until tomorrow.’

‘But you are happy, Della.’ Tess sipped her wine. ‘Life is good for you. I spend far too much time being disappointed, disgruntled.’

Rose laughed. ‘So do I, Tess. We should make a change.’

‘But I don’t know how to change for the best. If I left Alan, it would be chaos. Besides, we do get on, sometimes.’

‘Is that enough?’ Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘Bernard and I used to bicker. I thought it was enough to make me happy, a marriage, and another person around the house, but is it really the only option?’

Elvis barked, leaping up on Pam’s knee. She rubbed his ears and he settled down. ‘I often think how times have changed.’ She sighed. ‘Young women now do their own thing so much better than we did. We thought we had it all in the 1960s – we were independent, we had freedom. I was a bit of a hippy – you know, free love and festivals and all that. But it was just another excuse for men to have everything on their own terms. They can be a bit controlling, some of them.’ She sighed again, her face temporarily sad. ‘We were still chattels, something to look good on their arm – second best in terms of opportunity, despite Germaine Greer.’

Della nodded. ‘I was glad I married early. But although motherhood is a blessing, my boys wore me out. Young women nowadays have it much better than we did. They have cleaners, childminders, house-husbands.’

‘And wonderful careers.’ Tess leaned forward. ‘They can own their own cars, houses. They keep their own names when they are married, they do as they please. We got it all wrong. Did you see those women in the restaurant at Felipiano’s? Short skirts, lashings of lipstick – in touch with their own sexuality. Flaunting it. I’d love to be like that. They were loud, proud, enjoying themselves.’

Jen grinned. ‘We gave them a run for their money that night, though.’

‘We did.’ Tess laughed. ‘There’s life in us all yet…’

‘Right.’ Rose put her elbows on the table. ‘That’s it. We can do what they did – better, even. We need to organise a hen party for Jen.’

‘Just like theirs – what a great idea.’ Tess scooped up the last of her apple cake.

‘We could do cocktails again,’ Jen agreed. ‘At the Havana Bar and Felipiano’s. It was a lovely night.’

‘I’d go there again. I really enjoyed it. We could have L-plates, angel wings.’ Tess licked her lips. ’What about a stripper? You know, a fireman… with a hosepipe and a thong?’

‘Maybe…’ Pam shrugged. ‘But perhaps cocktails and an Italian meal don’t make a real hen party.’

Jen raised her eyebrows. ‘The women at the other table seemed to be having a great time. I’d be happy with us going there, all together, having fun.’

‘Yes.’ Pam glanced at Rose, who had closed her eyes and was thinking. ‘But it’s hardly the same as Las Vegas. Eddie will be away having a special time, bonding, seeing shows, gambling – not doing something anyone could do any weekend. We should come up with something else – something a bit more fun.’

‘Something a bit wilder?’ Della put her hands to her face. ‘Like a nightclub? There are some good ones in Exeter.’

‘Or what about a hen party in London?’ Tess sat upright. ‘Goodness me – we could do an overnight in London.’

‘Good idea.’ Pam smiled. ’A whole weekend. That would be a real chance to let our hair down.’

‘Rubbish.’ Rose opened her eyes wide. Her face was set, determined. ‘A night in London? We can do better than that.’ She looked from one face to the other. ‘We’re going to the City of Love itself, Paris. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll have the best hen party possible. We’ll make our own plans and it’ll be tailor-made by us for the most fun we can have. Let’s grab this opportunity. Say yes – let’s do it.’

The women looked at each other, their eyes wide. Then Pam raised her wine glass. ‘All right. Let’s all go to Paris. What do you think, Jen?’

Jen’s face shone as she lifted her tumbler of water. ‘Why not? Paris it is.’

The five of them held their glasses aloft and chimed them together. ‘To Paris,’ they chorused.