Page 115 of The Winter of Second Chances
The folk band set up beneath a hastily erected gazebo and pretty soon their rendition of ‘Fairytale of New York’ by the Pogues was filling the cafe as they warmed up. Alex, Peter and Greg arrived just before six o’clock.
‘And what the fuck are they?’ asked Peter, nodding to the papier-mâché giants stood like a grotesque welcome party by the steps.
‘They are the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future,’ said Annie, pulling each of them in turn into a bear hug. ‘So, you’d better watch yourselves!’
‘Mum, this is amazing,’ said Alex, after they had given Greg the world’s shortest tour around the flat. They were standing in the cafe now. It was the first time they had seen it other than in photographs.
‘He’s not wrong, Mum,’ said Peter. ‘I’m really proud of you. Is that weird for a child to say to a parent? Fuck it, who cares, Iamreally proud of you!’
‘Me too,’ agreed Alex.
‘I concur,’ added Greg. ‘When my parents split up, my mum kept posting pictures of herself pissed, dancing on pub tables and draping herself across men half her age.’
‘Sounds like fun,’ said Annie.
Greg grimaced. ‘This is a much bigger up-yours to Max than photos of you poking your tongue in Greek waiters’ ears,’ he said.
Alex and Peter looked as though they were distinctly glad to have dodged that particular bullet.
John came in and introduced himself.
‘Good to meet you at last,’ he said, shaking hands with each of them. ‘Your mum talks about you a lot. All good things obviously.’
‘Well, isn’t that a coincidence,’ said Alex. ‘Because she talks a lot about you too!’
Peter sniggered.
‘Okay then!’ said Annie quickly. ‘You’ve got hot drinks, now off you go outside. I’ve got customers to serve.’
‘Does that include me?’ asked John.
‘You can stay if you don’t cause trouble,’ Annie smiled. She was acutely aware of being watched by Alex and Peter. Greg was smirking.
‘You’d better come with us then,’ said Peter. ‘Mum says you are a bit of a troublemaker.’
‘Does she now?’ John’s eyes twinkled as he grinned at her.
Annie felt hot.
‘Come on then, lads,’ said John, ‘let me introduce you to the locals.’
They all four headed outside. All this flirting with no actual action was doing nothing for Annie’s delicate hormones. One of these days she would spontaneously combust and all that would be left in the ash would be her pixie boots and her contraceptive coil.
‘Do you fancy him?’ asked Billy with his usual guilelessness.
Annie snorted.
‘It’s complicated,’ she replied.
‘People always say that but if you like someone and they like you, what’s so complicated about it?’
‘Billy, you are wise beyond your years.’
Aiden and Bill had set up a trestle table in the patio area and were ladling steaming mulled cider from two large vats into paper cups. The little pyres along the beach were lit and the dark promenade was as busy as any sunny Saturday. John came in with a cup of hot cider.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Close the cafe for ten minutes and watch the procession. You too, Billy.’
Annie did as she was told.Ten minutes won’t hurt, she told herself.
