Page 57 of A Part of Me and You
‘Thank you,’ I respond.
Eliza steps aside at last and lets the poor woman out, but as soon as she steps outside, she’s back again.
‘Shelley, before I go,’ she says. ‘Do you know a young girl, a teenager, dark hair, pretty but wears a lot of make up? She was looking for you.’
‘Ah yes, that must be Rosie,’ I say with a smile. ‘Did she call in while you were here?’
Betty has that strange look about her again.
‘She did,’ she tells me. ‘Is she a friend of yours? A relative of yours?’
‘No, no she’s here on holiday,’ I explain. ‘Any message from her? I’m sure she’ll text me if she needs me for anything important. And now that I think of it, I’d better plug in my phone. She might have been trying to get me for something.’
I go behind the counter and do just that. Hearing that Rosie was looking for me gives a sense of urgency that I can’t explain. Maybe it’s the feeling of being needed by someone? The feeling of being able to give to someone something that comes with just being me?
‘Here on holiday? Oh, is she?’ says Betty and she glances at Eliza and then back to me as if she doesn’t believe me. ‘No, no message from her as such. She just said to tell you that she called to say hi and that was it. Off she left in a blaze of makeup and perfume that I didn’t recognise.’
‘Thank you, Betty,’ I smile at my ever so courteous shop assistant as she makes her way outside again. I honestly have never known her to be so curious.
‘And sorry again for being late!’ shouts Eliza, then she mumbles under her breath to me. ‘God forbid if she’s late home to feed her bloody well cats. Honestly, was there any need for that look on her face? Is she always like that? You know, you think you know someone!’
‘Never,’ I say to my mother-in-law and I am telling the truth. ‘She is never like that. She did look a bit shaken though, didn’t she? I do hope she’s okay and that I wasn’t taking the mick by being late. I’d hate to have to come in here in the mornings now that I’ve discovered brunching and walking the Prom when the rest of the world is working.’
‘And why would you when you don’t have to?’ asks Eliza. ‘Take it easy, Shelley. You’re not out of the woods just yet, love.’
Eliza tilts her head to the side and watches me as I fix clothes on the rails in my little boutique, the only haven where I can seem to occupy my mind completely. I feel her stare and the warmth of her smile on me as I go to the counter where I read down Betty’s list of notes from the morning. Betty always writes down how many customers called in and at what time and she makes a note of what was sold even though I can tell all that by balancing my till receipts with stock.
Customer 1 – 9.35 am – browsed, didn’t try on, didn’t buy.
Customer 2 – 10.05 – bought scarf and green wrap dress, said she would be back for more. Said she would tweet about it also.
Customer 3 – came in as customer 2 was trying on. Bought denim jacket and said the smell reminded her of her father. Strange fish. Didn’t like her.
Customer 4 – just before lunch, teenager, English accent. Not a customer after all. Asking for you.
And so it goes on, but then I freeze at what she has scribbled on a different piece of paper that I don’t think she meant to leave behind, and my stomach goes sick.
‘What is it?’ asks Eliza, noticing my sudden change in mood. That woman could pick up energies from anywhere in the world and I’m not kidding.
‘Nothing,’ I say to her with a deep breath. I lean across the counter to cover Betty’s note and I force a smile as my stomach rips into shreds. ‘Nothing at all. Thank you so much for today, Eliza. It was just what I needed and lots more. I had a great day, thank you so much. You’re such a star to me.’
But Eliza is not one bit convinced.
‘You know you can tell me anything, Shelley’ she says, unconvinced. ‘Is there something going on that’s worrying you? Are you missing Matt? Did you have a row or something?’
I stand up straight and shake my head.
‘No, no, I’m fine, I really am fine,’ I tell her. ‘Now run along or you’ll be late for your committee meeting,’
She gasps as she remembers that she is meant to be at the Cancer Research Society AGM in ten minutes.
‘And thank you again for today!’ I call after her. ‘I owe you lunch or dinner soon!’
She waves without looking back and mutters to me as she leaves but I have no idea what she is saying. Then she is gone in a blaze of perfume and positivity and I look down at Betty’s note and try and make sense of it all, but I have no idea what it means. Or do I? No. I don’t want to go backwards, I can’t go backwards. I feel my breath shortening so I take out my phone and I call the first person I think of who can make me feel better.
I call Juliette and the second she answers, I scrunch up Betty’s scribble and I throw it in the bin.
‘Juliette, it’s Shelley,’ I say and I close my eyes when I hear the now familiar sound of her voice. ‘What are you guys up to today?’
