Riverside
Should Anna be wary of her new recruit?
MARY and Ruby were walking in the April sunshine along the riverside path.
Ruby held hands with Mary’s granddaughter, Sarah, while Mary pushed grandson Jack in his pram.
Above them the sky was clear and blue with the promise of a beautiful day ahead.
“It’s days like these that make me feel alive,” Ruby said, breathing in the spring air.
“Do you know what, Mary? Thy friendship makes us fresh.”
Mary shot Ruby a look. “Pardon?”
“I said –” Ruby began. “I know what you said!” Mary laughed. “I’m wondering why you said it.”
“It’s one of the Bard’s famous quotes about friendship,” Ruby explained. “It’s from ‘Henry VI’.”
“Why are you quoting Shakespeare?”
“Because it’s National Shakespeare Day this week, didn’t you know?”
“Now, why would I know such a thing?” Mary asked. “I didn’t have you down as the cultured type.
“So how do you know it’s Shakespeare Day this week?” she went on.
A mischievous grin played around Ruby’s lips.
“I’m a woman of the world, Mary. I know all kinds of things.”
Mary was not convinced. “Oh, all right!” Ruby laughed. “I read it on Twitter this morning.”
As the two friends walked along the path, chatting happily, they spied Anna coming out of the riverside apartment complex, arm in arm with Mike.
Ruby nudged Mary. “Look,” she whispered. Mary surreptitiously turned her gaze towards Anna and Mike, who were huddled close together, looking very much in love.
“Do you remember when you and George used to canoodle on the street like that?” Ruby asked.
“Yes, but it feels like a lifetime ago now.” Mary sighed. “I can’t even get George to hold my hand any more.
“Once upon a time he couldn’t get enough of me, and now it’s like we’re living separate lives.
“Anyway, never mind my love life. How are you and Jim getting on?
“Have you found out where he keeps disappearing to when he’s taking Buster for a walk?”
“Not yet,” Ruby admitted. “But I’ll get to the bottom of it, just mark my words. The course of true love never did run smooth.”
“Isn’t that Shakespeare again?” Mary said. Ruby nodded.
“Isn’t it St George’s Day this Friday?” she asked.
Mary thought for a moment.
“I suppose it is, yes.” “Then why not treat George to a night at the Old Engine Room and see if you can put a bit of sparkle back?
“Clive’s putting on a special menu with roast beef and treacle pudding.”
“That sounds like just the sort of plain and simple food George would enjoy,” Mary acknowledged. “I might just do that.”
“Dave’s lined up a band for the night, too,” Ruby said. “So if music be the food of love, play on.”
****
As Mary and Ruby walked on, Anna and Mike were going in the opposite direction.
Mike was heading to work at the Old Engine Room and Anna to her hair salon.
“I really have to dash, Mike,” Anna told him. “I don’t want to keep Chelsea waiting.”
Mike coughed. “Speaking of Chelsea,” he began nervously. “She was a bit full-on last night when she joined us in the pub.”
“How do you mean?” Anna asked.
Mike pulled nervously at his shirt collar.
“Well, every time you left to go to the bar or to the ladies, she came over to my side of the table and sat a little too close.”
Anna gave Mike a puzzled look.
“She is acting a little strange,” she said.
“Yesterday she bought the exact same jumpsuit as the one I was wearing, then styled her hair in the same style as mine.”
“She probably admires you.” Mike smiled. “She’s an impressionable young girl.”
“Nevertheless, I think I should speak to her, especially if she has designs on you.
“Copying my clothes is one thing, but trying to steal my boyfriend is another.”
Mike put his arm around Anna.
“Is that what I am – your boyfriend?” he teased. “I think we’re a bit old for you to call me that.”
“What should I call you, then?” Anna asked.
“How about calling me your fiancé?” he asked in all seriousness.
Anna stood stock still and stared hard at Mike, watching as he got down on bended knee on the riverside path.
“Anna?” he began, gazing into her eyes. “Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
Anna’s hand flew to her heart and she gasped.
“Yes,” she cried. “Oh, Mike! Yes!”
Mike stood and he and Anna hugged.
Caught up in the moment, neither of them noticed Chelsea, watching from outside the hair salon – with a wicked grin on her face.
More next week.