Page 65 of In Just One Day

Jenny looked at her friend. She was clearly terrified. ‘Yes, of course.’

Jenny tried to get her to talk. After a while, Denise spoke, her voice strained.

‘I’m so sorry, Jenny.’

‘Please don’t apologise. I’m just worried this wasn’t a good idea.’

‘I had to come. I had to. I just… didn’t think I’d see anyone.’

‘Who was that woman?’

Denise looked ahead. ‘I’ve no idea.’ But the sadness on the stranger’s face had given her away immediately. Denise knew exactly who she was.

28

The sound of the bell brought Mack out from the back of the shop. Colin, resplendent in top-to-toe rust red stood before him, a book in his hand and a big grin on his face.

‘Colin, how are you today?’

‘Excellent, thank you. And thrilled to say I’ve taken delivery of a book that I’ve been longing to share with you. I have my own copy, of course, but I’ve been trying to track one down for you for some time.’ Colin handed the book to Mack with great care. ‘It’s quite old, as you can see.’

Mack held the book away and adjusted his glasses. ‘Chats About Wine.’ He opened the front cover.

‘Written by a chap called Hawker back in 1907. I came across it a while ago and have been meaning to recommend it to you for ages. He – Hawker, that is – refers to wine as “the elixir of life”. Here, let me find his description for you. It’s quite wonderful.’ Colin turned a few pages over and pointed to the text. ‘There, read that.’

Mack cleared his throat.

What then, it may be asked, is this wonderful elixir of life, which is almost as old as the world itself and yet is overflowing with the exuberance of youth; which restores and invigorates us when the powers of life are low; uplifts and cheers us in days of sorrow and gloom; evokes and enhances our joys and pleasures; and which, by the inherent force it is endowed with, gives animation, energy and inspiration to every sense and faculty we possess?

‘Wine, that’s what!’ Colin laughed. ‘I think you’ll enjoy reading that, Mack. There’s a whole chapter about the importance of having a good wine merchant in your town. It could have been written for you.’ Colin looked very pleased with himself.

‘Well, what can I say? That’s very kind of you, thank you.’ Mack was genuinely touched by the man’s kindness. ‘Can I repay you with a bottle of something?’

‘Absolutely not, but you can point me in the direction of a bottle to have tonight. I’m making something special for dinner, a classic French daube. I’m just picking up the last few ingredients and need a bottle of wine to use in the stew and one to drink with it later.’

Mack went towards the French wine section, reaching down for a bottle of Côtes du Rhône. ‘Use this one for cooking,’ he handed the bottle to Colin, ‘and this one to drink with it.’

Colin took the second bottle. ‘Vinsobres…’ He sounded unsure.

‘It’s the most northerly of the Southern Rhône top spots and this particular producer has vineyards only a stone’s throw from the Alps so the altitude gives the wines incredible flavour. And because it doesn’t have one of the big appellation names on the front like Châteauneuf or even Gigondas, it’s better value. In my opinion, that is.’

Colin held the bottle away from him, squinting at the label, turning it around. ‘Well, with that recommendation it sounds like just the thing. I’ll take both.’

Mack wrapped them in paper and put them in a box for Colin. ‘Here you go. I haven’t charged you for the cheaper one – and don’t argue about it.’

‘Well, that’s very kind, thank you.’ Colin tapped his card on the machine. ‘How’s Flora doing? I haven’t seen her for a while.’

‘Ah, she’s hanging in there. It’s not been the easiest time for her, obviously, but she seems to be getting back to normal life a little bit more now. She’s in here a few times a week now but still working from home, too.’

‘Poor thing, I do feel for her. Must be hard, losing someone like that, so suddenly. You know, here one minute, gone the next.’

Mack tried to change the subject. ‘So, how long are you cooking the beef for?’

‘About three hours all in. It’s all in the quality of the meat. And the wine, of course.’ He nodded knowingly at Mack. ‘When is the court case? For the boy, the one who killed Flora’s brother? I saw it reported in the paper a few weeks ago.’

‘Soon, I think. Apparently, the police were hoping it would have happened by now, according to Johnny, but things are a bit slow at this time of year. Still, hopefully it can all be over before Christmas and they can at least put that bit of it behind them.’ Mack handed Colin a receipt. ‘There you go, let me know what you think.’

‘Oh, I will, thank you, Mack.’ Colin picked up the box. ‘And say hello to Flora for me when she comes in, won’t you?’

---