I tried to sound enthusiastic. ‘I just thought it might be a good way to take my mind off things!’ (Sorry, Cora, I’m so sorry.) ‘Not so much the women but more the chance to get out there, do different things, meet new people.’ I felt like I was rambling now and came to a halt.
Lottie looked as surprised as I felt. ‘But—’
‘But fair is fair,’ I interjected, removing the spotlight from myself, ‘and I only want to do it if you and Luke agree to try things the old-fashioned way. That will give us all something to plan and help out with too.’
Lottie scuffed her stockinged foot on the floor, making marks in the dust. ‘I’m not sure, Grandad. There’s so much going on, I don’t really have the time to—’
‘Nonsense. It won’t take up lots of time.’ I was sounding positively forceful but I realised this was my way to help. I might not have your skills in conversation, Cora, but I could do something practical.
‘Well, I suppose, if you really want me to.’
‘I do. I think it will be a fun thing for the both of us.’
‘Luke didn’t seem completely against the idea,’ she admitted. ‘All right,’ she said, standing up, ‘if you’re sure . . . ’
‘I’m sure!’ I almost banged my head on the beam as I stood.
‘OK then!’
‘Excellent!’ I exhaled in a short, relieved burst. ‘Excellent.’
With that agreed I ushered her back down the ladder, knowing I needed to get something before I followed her. I reached round behind me and rummaged through the kitchen box, extracting the glass juicer and holding it carefully against my chest as I made my way back downstairs.
Teddy
Chapter 9
Love is a commitment you need to work at like any other
SIDNEY, 84
It didn’t take long for Grandad and his friends to put plans in place. The first night back in our flat, Luke and I were met with a flashing light on our answerphone.
‘Lottie, Luke,’ Grandad began, voices cutting across him so that we could barely hear what he was saying.
‘Are you trying their mobiles?’
‘Did we write down Ludo? I have always really enjoyed Ludo.’
‘No one else likes Ludo, though, Geoffrey.’
‘Ssh, I can’t hear myself leaving this message. Luke, Lottie,’ Grandad repeated a little louder, ‘so pleased you’ve agreed, can’t wait to get started. We’ve been planning things a little more.’
‘Where’s the tonic?’
‘Ssh, I’m leaving them a message. Oh, I needed to ask whether you both think I should join Grindr too. Howard seems to think it’s another dating website. But enough of that for when I next see you, which is soon because we’ve got your first date all lined up. It’s next Tuesday, in fact. Hope you can make it, I’ll send the address. Should be a good one to kick off.’
‘Is there a dress code?’
‘He can send that in the message, can’t he?’
‘There won’t be a dress code.’
‘Does this gin really have cubebs in it? I can’t taste them . . . what is a cubeb?’
An abrupt sound of a dialtone followed and I looked at Luke, whose mouth had fallen open a fraction, and then we both burst out laughing.
‘What have we agreed to?’ he whispered.
‘I have no idea,’ I said.
The following Tuesday came around far too quickly.
‘We’re late,’ I said, tugging on the skirt of my teal green tea dress. I hadn’t worn it in years. It had once been a firm favourite. I had pulled it off a hanger at the back of the wardrobe, realising I hadn’t made an effort to dress up at all for an age. Moving past the sea of black and grey work suits to a row of forgotten colours and shapes, I reached for a dusty pink coat to wear over it.
‘Teddy will understand,’ Luke said, infuriatingly unfazed.
‘I hate being late,’ I huffed as we let ourselves out of the flat.
‘Which is weird for someone who is always late.’
‘Haha.’
Luke shrugged. ‘You look pretty,’ he said. ‘So it’s worth being five minutes late. What is a whistle drive anyway?’
‘A whist drive,’ I said.
‘What’s a whist?’
‘Oh my God, Luke, you’re an idiot,’ I said, buying myself time because I didn’t know the answer either. ‘It’s cards, isn’t it?’ Not wanting him to ask more I sped up, the train station just up ahead.
‘Sorry, card shark, I’m more of a poker man.’
‘Luke, you’re shit at poker.’
He stopped walking, stared down at his feet. ‘I know,’ he said in a quiet voice, ‘but I want to be a poker man.’
‘Well, maybe we can work on that after tonight.’
‘Maybe I’ll become a whistle expert.’
‘Whist.’
‘Whatever.’
The train was on time and we arrived in the main hall to see lots of round tables scattered around the room, four chairs at each, people milling between them. I craned my neck to see Grandad, Howard, Geoffrey or Arjun, but came up blank. On a large wooden easel by the doorway an A3 sheet of paper denoted our groups for the evening and there were also laminated name badges on a table on the other side.
‘Christ,’ Luke whispered, ‘it’s very organised, isn’t it. No escaping if you find out you can’t whistle.’
I stared at him, mouth twitching as he grinned at me. ‘Also, we are seriously bringing down the average age of the room.’
He was right: everywhere we turned there seemed to be white hair, walking sticks and bifocal lenses.
‘I suppose that’s to be expected,’ I whispered.
‘Funny idea of high romance.’
We had been put on a table with two women called Margaret and Paula.
‘Stranger Danger!’ Luke sing-songed pinning his name badge on his jumper.
‘Ssh,’ I elbowed him.
He looked good tonight, dressed in cream chinos and a maroon chequered shirt I hadn’t seen him in before.
‘Is that new?’ I asked, pointing at the shirt.
‘I bought it for our first old-person-style date,’ he said proudly puffing out his chest. ‘Gonna be taking this courting you seriously.’
I felt a glow in my stomach.
‘Lottie, Luke – you made it.’ I jumped a little at Howard’s too-loud voice, turning to see him standing next to us dressed in red corduroy trousers and a blue and white striped shirt. ‘Nothing like our biannual whist drive to fan those flames,’ Howard said with a sarcastic eye-roll. ‘Teddy’s idea of your first date has a lot to be said for.’
‘I think it’s a good idea,’ Arjun said, looking equally smart next to him. ‘Hello, Lottie, hello, Luke. So, are you feeling lucky?’
Luke cracked his knuckles. ‘Luck will have nothing to do with it, Arjun.’ Even though he hadn’t played the game before, Luke seemed irritatingly confident that he could win. Annoyingly, he probably would. He was horribly good at most things. My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, hoping the next time he ordered six Chicken McNuggets they only put in five.