Happy Endings at Mermaids Point, page 13
‘I can’t make any promises on her behalf, but she might.’ He watched Aurora wriggle past his mum to duck down beside Emily and pose for a selfie with her. ‘Looks like she’s finding that courage just fine.’
‘How is everything?’ His aunt gave him a searching look. ‘Are you sure about all this?’ She tilted her head in Aurora’s direction.
Nick nodded. ‘We’ve decided not to fake anything.’
Nerissa’s expression changed from concern to confusion to wide-eyed comprehension. ‘Really?’
‘Really.’ He found his gaze wandering back to Aurora, like there was a string drawing him back to her time and again. She was back between his parents now, holding the single-page menu the pub offered and laughing about something his dad was saying. She looked like she’d been a part of their group forever.
‘Who’s this?’
Nick turned to his left at Jake’s words to find his friend staring at him, rather than at the dog in his lap. ‘This is Gabriel. Aurora found him abandoned at the motorway services.’ When his friend’s gaze didn’t shift from his face, Nick wondered what the problem was. ‘How are you, Jake?’
‘All right.’ He did an admirable job of not looking in Aurora’s direction. ‘Did I hear you right?’
‘Yeah, you heard.’ Nick couldn’t keep the note of challenge out of his voice. Of all the people here, he expected the strongest pushback from Jake. His background as an investigative journalist made him naturally suspicious of everyone and everything – or perhaps it was the difficult time he’d had with his dad when he was growing up that made it hard for him to trust. His dad had died the same time the story about Aurora had broken so perhaps that had something to do with it as well. It had been a really tough time for Jake and Nick could only imagine how all those emotions could get tangled up with each other. He offered his friend a conciliatory smile. ‘It’s a good thing.’
Jake stared at him for a long moment before finally giving him a nod. ‘If you’re happy, I’m happy for you.’ He looked down at the terrier perched on Nick’s lap. ‘Now then, fella, what’s your name?’
That was the last Nick saw of Gabriel for a while as Jake and his sister commandeered the dog. With some effort, his father called them to some semblance of order and food and drink selections were made. A list of everyone’s choice was jotted down on a scrap of paper torn out of a notebook his mum had found in her handbag, and Nick agreed to accompany his dad to the bar. He managed to squeeze into a spot at the crowded bar and greeted the landlord and his sometime boss, Pete, with a grin. ‘I hope you’re ready for this,’ he joked as he handed over the list.
Pete rolled his eyes and gestured to the waiting patrons who were standing two or three deep along the bar. ‘It’s a madhouse in here tonight. I was going to give you a call earlier, but I didn’t think it would be fair to interrupt your family dinner.’ He cast a scowl at Andrew Morgan, who’d managed to wiggle in next to Nick. ‘Trust you to arrange a get-together and monopolise two of my best staff!’ Jake’s mum, Linda, did much more regular shifts in the pub than Nick and, like everyone else who came within his parents’ orbit, had become a part of their wider family.
‘I’ll give you a hand.’ Nick turned to his dad. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘Of course not. I’ll fetch Tom and he can help me ferry the drinks instead.’
Ignoring the landlord’s call of protest, Nick persuaded a couple of regulars to step aside so he could lift the bar hatch and let himself through. He continued into the kitchen where he tore off the food order from the bottom of his mum’s list and handed it to the chef. Turning to the huge stainless-steel sink, he folded back his sleeves and washed his hands and forearms. Returning to the bar, he sorted out his family’s order first, his dad and Tom forming a little chain gang to ferry the drinks back to the tables. There was a polite scuffle between the pair once Nick put everything through the till and they both tried to pay for it. ‘Just split it,’ Nick said with an exasperated sigh as he snatched both debit cards and tapped them in turn on the payment terminal. ‘Don’t worry, Dad, I made sure you covered my hefty tip,’ he said with a grin as he handed the cards back.
‘Cheeky so-and-so.’ Andrew tucked his card back in his wallet. ‘Don’t let your beer get warm, now.’
‘I’ll just help Pete clear this lot and I’ll be back. Look after Aurora, yeah?’
His dad beamed at him. ‘She’s holding her own, son, don’t worry about that.’
It only took Nick ten minutes to help Pete clear the rush at the bar, and he returned to the tables with a promise to lend a hand after they’d eaten if needs be. Aurora had moved from her spot between his parents and was now chatting to Ivy and Alex. Determined not to let the family monopolise her for the whole evening, he made everyone scoot around so he could make room for himself between her and Alex. ‘You’re a man of hidden talents,’ Aurora said with a smile as he slung a casual arm around the back of her chair. He let his fingers rest on her back just below the nape of her neck. Nothing intrusive, just a small point of connection, which she leaned back into for a moment before turning her attention back to Ivy. ‘So what can I do on Saturday that would be of most help?’
‘You really don’t have to,’ Ivy protested, which received a quick hush from Alex.
‘If she wants to help, let her help,’ he said, turning the full wattage of his charming smile on Aurora. If he kept grinning at her like that, Nick might have to have a quiet word with him.
‘Alex,’ Ivy chided. ‘Aurora’s here for a break, not to perform like some dancing monkey at everyone’s beck and call.’ She turned a horrified look on Aurora. ‘Not that I’m comparing you to a monkey, oh my God, I can’t believe I said that.’
Laughing, Aurora reached out to pat her hand. ‘It’s exactly what I feel like sometimes, but honestly, I’m more than happy to pitch in. I could pop in tomorrow and we could take some publicity photos and I’ll stick them on my Instagram and let people know I’ll be helping out. It might bring a few more people in.’
‘Brilliant!’ Alex interjected before Ivy could object again. ‘Dad’s going to be Santa so perhaps you could help him with that? Do a few selfies with the kids after they get their gift boxes?’
‘Sounds perfect. Do you want me to wear a costume, or anything? I can dress as an elf, or a character from a children’s book even.’ She touched a hand to her short crop of blonde hair. ‘I could be Tinkerbell!’ Aurora sounded genuinely excited about it and Nick wondered again about how much Christmas fun she must’ve missed out on over the years.
It wasn’t his sort of thing at all, but if it made her eyes shine like that, then what the hell. ‘I’ll dress up too if you like. Though I’m not being Peter bloody Pan,’ he added hastily.
‘I hadn’t thought about it, but that sounds like a fabulous idea!’ Ivy grabbed Aurora’s hand. ‘I’ve got of the perfect bolt of green fabric at the shop so if you let me take some measurements tomorrow I can run up a dress for you, no problems.’
‘It’s Friday tomorrow,’ Alex said in a gentle voice as though he didn’t want to dim his girlfriend’s enthusiasm.
‘It’ll be fine!’ She eyed Nick thoughtfully. ‘Do you have any black boots?’
He frowned. ‘I’ve got some black wellies I wear on the boat.’
‘Perfect! I’ve got an old nightshirt somewhere that I can easily turn into a shirt. Dark trousers, a bandana for your hair and a sash for round your waist and you can be a pirate.’
‘Do I get an eye patch?’ Nick said, screwing up one eye.
‘If you want one. Hmm, I wonder if I’ll have time to knock up a toy parrot for your shoulder…’ Ivy leaned her elbow on the table and called across to Alex’s mother. ‘Mimi, can you give me a hand tomorrow to run up a few things on the machine? I’m going to make a few extra costumes for Saturday.’ Mimi was the nickname Philippa Nelson had adopted when Tom’s children were small, refusing to be called anything like Granny, which she said made her sound ancient.
The older woman smiled. ‘Of course, darling. Archie’s sloping off to the golf course with his pals so I’m free all morning.’
‘You know the physio said I need to walk lots to keep my leg going.’ Archie said it like going to play a round of golf was a great sacrifice and not his favourite pastime. The presence of a championship-level links course just along the coast had been almost as much of a reason for him to agree to move to the Point as getting to spend more time with his sons and grandchildren.
Mimi rolled her eyes. ‘It’s such a hardship for you, my dear. How very brave you are.’ Every word dripped with gentle sarcasm. ‘How many costumes are we talking about?’ she asked, turning her attention back to Ivy.
‘Depends how far we get, but probably four?’
‘Four?’ Alex shot her a suspicious look.
Ivy’s smile was all sweetness and light. ‘We can’t expect our friends to get dressed up and not join in.’
‘No. No bloody way.’ Alex shook his head vigorously but there was an air of defeat to his words.
Nick gave him his best suck-it-up-mate grin. ‘Come on, Alex, where’s your Christmas spirit?’
Alex glared daggers at him. ‘In the bottom of a bloody whisky bottle if I have to dress up like an elf.’
‘Not an elf,’ Ivy said as she rose from her chair to settle herself on Alex’s lap. ‘I was thinking something more along the lines of the nutcracker soldier.’ She kissed him before he could give voice to any more protests.
‘Well, if you put it like that,’ Alex said, sounding marginally less grumpy. ‘We can continue this discussion later.’
Nick was well into his second stint behind the bar when Pete caught his elbow in passing. ‘You didn’t have to do this, you know.’
He shrugged. ‘It’s fine, really. Besides, it gives Aurora a chance to get to know everyone without me hovering over her.’
The barman followed his gaze towards where the Morgans and the Nelsons were sitting. Their plates had been cleared and the tables spread apart a little to make room as the group had expanded. Tony, Nick’s uncle on his mother’s side, hadn’t been able to make it to dinner but had arrived with his girlfriend for a late drink. A couple he recognised as friends of Linda had also joined them and Doc Gadd – Tom’s predecessor at the surgery – had his hands resting on the back of the chair occupied by his partner, Barbara Mitchell, who was a lovely woman but never one to shy away from the opportunity of a good gossip. Food service had stopped an hour before but there was no sign of the crowded tables thinning out. ‘Well, you can stop by with her anytime,’ Pete said, giving Nick a nudge and a grin. ‘She’s very good for business.’
‘I’ll send you a bill later.’ Nick’s laugh was cut off by someone waving an empty pint glass in his direction. He’d just finished serving the man when the background music switched to a song Nick immediately recognised. He spun towards Pete with a suspicious glare, but the landlord was oblivious, deep in conversation, one hand resting on the tap of a local brewery ale. A hush fell over the room as the first haunting strains of a crystal-clear voice drifted from the speakers. It was ‘Home Again’, Aurora’s number-one hit from the previous Christmas. Heads popped up and swivelled with the inquisitive eagerness of a mob of meerkats, all eyes fixed on one person.
‘Give us a song, love,’ a voice called from somewhere over near the door.
‘Oh, yes, Aurora, sing for us, please!’ another called, followed by a quick round of applause.
Helpless, Nick could only watch as Aurora glanced around at his family before rising to her feet and holding up a hand when the applause started up again.
The first verse of the song swelled to its climax, and as it switched into the chorus, Aurora opened her mouth and began to sing along. ‘No matter how far, no matter how long we are apart, I’ll hold tight to the dream of you, until I’m home again’. Her eyes caught Nick’s, and for a moment he let himself dream she was singing those words for him alone. By the time she finished there were more than one or two damp-looking eyes around the room. A huge round of applause broke out and Aurora grinned and took an exaggerated bow, flourishing one hand as she bent at the waist. When she straightened up, her cheeks were flushed and Nick could tell how much she fed from the energy in the room. When the playlist rolled into the next song – something from a nineties boy band he couldn’t remember the name of – Aurora went to sit down.
‘More!’
‘Please, Aurora!’
With everyone distracted, the pressure at the bar had eased so Nick let himself out through the hatch and began to push his way through the people who’d stood up and were looking like they might crowd around the table. Before he could intervene, his mum came to the rescue. Standing, she tugged Nerissa to her feet. ‘This is our era,’ she said to Aurora with a wink. ‘Have a seat and let the professionals show you how it’s done.’ The next moment she started singing along with the song with more enthusiasm than proper regard for the key of the tune. A laughing Nerissa tried to pull her hand free and back away, but then Tom jumped up and hooked an arm around her waist and started singing too. His deep baritone wasn’t bad at all and earned him a few cheers and whistles. Surrendering to the inevitable, Nerissa joined in and they soon had anyone old enough to know the words to the song joining in.
Nick edged around them to claim the empty seat next to Aurora, who was clapping along. ‘All right?’ he asked.
‘Oh, Nico, your family are the best!’ She flung her arms around his neck and pulled him close. ‘You’re so lucky.’ As he watched his mum in all her glory waving people nearby to their feet and encouraging them to join in the impromptu singalong, he found himself agreeing wholeheartedly.
9
By the time they spilled out onto the pavement with the landlord’s impassioned pleas to ‘Get lost, the lot of you, before I call the police,’ Aurora was half-hoarse from too much talking, laughing and singing. Though the busy pub had thinned out a bit, plenty had stayed until last orders and beyond for what had turned into an impromptu Christmas party. They stood around on the pavement, buttoning up coats, tying scarves and identifying friends and neighbours to walk home with. Aurora was tucked into Nick’s side, Gabriel nestled against her chest so she could keep him safe from the crush of bodies all trying to leave the pub at the same time.
Once the crowd started to thin out, she set the terrier on his feet, his lead hooked loosely in her free hand. Nick tugged her against him again as soon as she straightened up and she rested her head contentedly against his chest as their group slowly splintered. Laurie and Jake headed off first. They lived up on the top of the Point, according to Nick, so had the furthest to go. Alex and Ivy and Andrew and Sylvia went next, turning down a side street that would take them away from the seafront and into the village proper. Everyone else was heading in the same direction as her and Nick so they started a slow meander along the street. Aurora had been too distracted by Nick’s kisses on their way down to pay much attention, but now she had time to take in the shopfronts with their pretty lights and festive window displays. It was tempting to pause and study each one, but Max wasn’t the only one stifling a yawn so she kept pace with Nick towards the rear of the group. A gleam of blonde hair a few shades darker than her own flashed in the glow of a street light as Emily turned her head, as though checking they were behind them. Aurora gave her a smile when their eyes met. She was a sweet girl, a little shy at first but she’d grown more confident as the evening had progressed.
They reached the end of the row of shops and paused in front of a sprawling white building set back somewhat and surrounded by a low stone wall. ‘Here we are,’ Tom said, pushing open the wrought-iron gate and ushering the family towards what Aurora supposed must be the surgery.
‘Thank you for a wonderful evening,’ Aurora said, trying to take everyone in at once with her smile. Max broke from the group and surprised her with a hug. Untangling herself from Nick’s arm, Aurora returned the embrace and pecked a quick kiss on Max’s cheek, making his face flame even in the gloom.
‘Come on, you, stop stalling on bedtime.’ Nerissa tugged Max away with a laugh, then turned back to Aurora. ‘You will come on Wednesday, won’t you?’ she asked, repeating the invitation to her and Tom’s wedding she’d extended earlier in the evening.
‘If you’re sure it’s not too late to add another guest, then I’d love to.’
‘Of course I’m sure! It’s all very casual. Sylvia, Laurie and the other ladies are gathering here to help me get ready before we walk up to the church, so come and join us. The reception is in the pub and it’s open to everyone in the village. I’ll see you before then, most likely, so we can chat a bit more if you have any questions.’ Nerissa glanced behind her to where the rest of the Nelsons were disappearing into the open door of the surgery. ‘Look, I must go because it’ll be ages before we can get everyone settled and Tom has an early start in the morning. Nick has my number so send me a text, okay?’
‘Okay. Goodnight!’
‘Come on,’ Nick said, settling his arm around her once more. ‘Let’s get you home.’
Home. She liked the way that sounded on his lips, and with a little tug on Gabriel’s lead to get him moving they made their way up the hill that shielded the harbour from the rest of the seafront.
By the time they’d climbed the stairs to the first floor, Aurora was in full post-adrenaline crash. She might be used to performing in front of thousands of people, but standing up and singing in The Sailor’s Rest had almost been more nerve-racking because it mattered more. Not that she didn’t put everything into each show she did, but the audience was an amorphous entity rather than individuals who mattered to Nick, and now to her. These were potential friends, people she would pass in the street, threads of the fabric that had been woven into a pattern of community. She wanted them to like her – it scared her a little how much she wanted it. After her third yawn in quick succession, Nick paused in the act of unlocking the door to his flat and smiled down at her. ‘We don’t have to do this right now. Why don’t you go to bed?’
