Page 65 of Waiting for a Bright New Future

“She doesn’t respond. We parted on bad terms.” He hadn’t told Jayne that her story about tortoise smuggling had triggered everything.

“I could come with you?” A dash of hope lightened Jayne’s voice. “It would be nice to have a night out.”

“I’ll be gone more than two hours.Verawon’t stretch that far.” It was wrong to feel relieved she couldn’t go with him.

Interesting feelings, bro.

Silently, he replied, “Thank you for the observation, Sandra, but this isn’t a night out for pleasure. It’s more of a business meeting and Jayne’s presence plus the need to get home for Lillian might sidetrack me.”

“This won’t become a habit, will it?” Jayne asked. “Like the website?”

“What?” He’d never mentioned looking at Florence’s picture online.

“The other day, you said I could use your laptop to check my email while you cooked.”

Stuart felt uncomfortable. “You checked my browsing history?” Was that normal in a relationship?

“Accidentally.”

On purpose.

He and Jayne shouldn’t have secrets. It didn’t matter.

But it does matter, doesn’t it? You’re feeling spied on, aren’t you?

“Tonight is a one-off attempt to talk to Florence and give her a chance to reclaim Tibby before you, Lillian and me start our life together.”

“OK.” Her voice was resigned. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, though? And you will call in on Mum during the day?”

“Yes and yes.”

“I do love you, Stuart. I’m sorry if I’m giving you the third degree but I hate the thought of losing you again.”

Her voice pulled at his heart. “You won’t lose me. This is something I have to do.”

After Stuart put the phone down, a strange combination of freedom, anticipation and exhilaration crept over him. His last concert had been as a student. This wouldn’t be the same, of course. He wasn’t going to see proper pop stars in a big arena, but there would be foot-tapping and singing and, even alone, he would be part of communal enjoyment and good feeling. He smiled and turned his mind to the practicalities.

What did people wear to concerts? Florence liked his navy chinos and that shirt in a slightly lighter shade of blue.

Chapter Thirty-One

The venue was a working men’s club. Double Berry Black were due to play at 9 p.m. and Stuart arrived just before. The young girl on the door smiled when he unfolded his A4 ticket. Stuart cringed — everyone else had the ticket on their phone.

Oh dear. But slow and steady does the job. You’ve made it to the concert, haven’t you?

The hall was set out with tables, mostly at least part-occupied. Rather than sit with strangers, Stuart got a cola from the bar and found a wall to lean against at the back of the room. The band’s gear was already set up on the stage and the largest drum was emblazoned withDouble Berry Blackin red-and-black lettering. Stuart tried to imagine how Florence’s husband might look on the drums: an ageing rocker with a T-shirt stretched tight over a beer belly or well-toned, well-groomed and well-dressed?

Conversation ebbed and flowed around him like the buzz of insects. Stuart pulled out his phone and pretended to be in demand. He scrolled through the sent text messages that Florence had chosen to ignore.

If they’d fallen out so badly that she wouldn’t even reassure him she was still alive, what was he doing here? Any normal person would accept the friendship was beyond repair, rehome the cat and move on. Clinging on to the wreckage labelled Stuart as aBilly No-Mates.

Except he did have mates. He had Jayne and Lillian. He had William. He had his role at the library. He had his cycling-club buddies. Life was becoming fuller than it had ever been. He didn’t actually need Florence. He went to the bar for another cola and returned to his wall space as the lights dimmed and a figure bounded out into the pool of light on stage.

Stuart stared at her. She was too far away to see the detail of her face but he recognised the outline of her body, emphasised by a white-and-gold close-fitting catsuit that shimmered whenever she moved. She was curvy but lithe. Her voice filled the auditorium as it had once filled his kitchen. After a solo verse, the other band members bounced on to the stage, encouraging audience applause with energetic, enthusiastic hand movements. People responded with shouts and foot-stamping. The sentiment of the crowd made Stuart feel warm inside, a sort of reflected glory.

Like the rest of the band, Jim was dressed in white and gold. The cymbals hid his torso but, even from the back of the room, it was obvious his arms and face weren’t carrying flab. His expression was animated and constantly glancing towards his wife. Every few minutes Florence smiled in the drummer’s direction. They were definitely back together.

The band’s set was an hour long. A high-energy, all-encompassing hour. The crowd loved them and it was obvious the band loved the crowd. It was impossible not to get carried away in the music-induced euphoria. People were now standing rather than sitting at the tables. They were swaying and clapping. Movements grew bigger and very soon the audience was warmed up enough to be actually dancing.

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