The girls supressed their giggles.
‘Sorry, it appears my gran is leading your mum astray,’ Isla said, grinning, while shaking her head in disbelief as Martha stumbled into the living room clutching her phone.
‘We’ve set your mum up on a dating app,’ she informed everyone proudly. ‘And I’ll have you know she already has a match.’ Martha gave a goofy grin and seemed rather pleased with herself.
‘Even though she’s been swiping the wrong way, apparently,’ joined in Aggie, who’d eyed the remaining bottle of wine on the table.
‘I really didn’t have much choice, Martha wouldn’t take no for an answer.’ Rona rolled her eyes in jest.
‘I can believe that,’ laughed Isla.
‘Martha is very persuasive,’ Rona replied, before trying to walk in a straight line towards the kitchen. ‘One for the road,’ she said, returning holding three wine glasses.
‘And I’ll have you know,’ hiccupped Rona, ‘I don’t want a man or need a man. I’m perfectly happy on my own.’ She began to pour the wine while Martha and Aggie squeezed on to the settee.
‘So, what have we missed … anything interesting?’ asked Aggie, looking between the girls.
Isla snagged Felicity’s eye, a look that meant, Don’t mention anything about my argument with Drew.
‘Just general stuff,’ answered Jessica.
‘So how long are you staying for, Polly?’ asked Aggie.
‘However long Felicity and Rona will put up with me for. I’ve nothing to rush back for but I don’t want to outstay my welcome either.’
Felicity gave Polly a warm smile, ‘You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.’
Everyone’s attention was suddenly drawn to Martha’s phone which pinged with a notification.
‘It’s another match!’ she squealed in a drunken stupor. She narrowed her eyes and then they sprang back open. She scrutinised the screen. ‘Not bad … not bad at all,’ she said, twisting the phone to Rona. ‘Let’s message him.’
‘Let’s not,’ replied Rona, making a series of huffing and puffing noises and taking the phone from Martha’s hand.
‘You’re no fun,’ Martha claimed, a little disgruntled.
‘Can you see what I’ve had to put up with all night?’ grinned Aggie. ‘It’s like refereeing children.’
To everyone’s surprise, Rona was quiet, then the corners of her mouth lifted. ‘Oh …’ she exclaimed.
‘Told you,’ exclaimed Martha, in a smug tone. ‘He’s quite dishy.’
Everyone waited in anticipation to hear Rona’s verdict.
‘Come on …’ urged Allie. ‘The suspense is killing us.’
‘He’s actually, not bad … Prince Charming, indeed.’
Martha gave Aggie a knowing look, ‘See, just call me Cupid.’
All attention was on Rona.
‘This is exciting! Maybe I do need to get myself on Tinder after all,’ joked Polly.
‘He’s called Bill, and lives ten kilometres away …’
‘He must be somewhere over in Glensheil then,’ interrupted Isla.
‘And he’s retired and loves hiking. He does have a kind face,’ said Rona, thinking out loud.
‘It can’t hurt to drop him a message,’ said Felicity, beginning to clear away the empty bowls from the table.
But Rona wasn’t listening. ‘As much as I’ve had fun tonight … there … the profile is deleted.’
‘Spoilsport!’ the disappointment was written all over Martha’s face as Rona handed her back the phone.
‘If I’m going to meet a man, and call me old fashioned, but I want to meet him because he’s walked into my life, not through some sort of … what do you call them … apps?’
‘Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world these days,’ chipped in Polly. ‘But I know what you mean, I want someone to walk into my life and knock me dead.’
‘You’re no good to anyone dead,’ grinned Allie.
‘You know what I mean! I want to feel the first flush of love, feel the butterflies flutter in my stomach and be swept off my feet by someone in person. I want the whole fairy tale.’
‘So, you won’t be joining Tinder then, Pol,’ said Isla, draining the last of her wine from her glass.
‘Not any day soon!’
They all chatted and listened to Martha’s stories for the next ten minutes, then Isla felt herself beginning to physically tire. She knew she’d be up during the night with Angus for his night feeds. ‘It’s time for me to be making a move,’ Isla said, knowing she should make a move yet dreading going home to Drew, but as her gaze drifted towards her watch, she felt relieved knowing he’d be fast asleep due to his early morning start.
‘And me,’ admitted Jessica. ‘I’m up early for school.’
Everyone began to gather their belongings and they all thanked Felicity for a great evening. As the front door shut behind them, Felicity slouched into the chair and smiled to herself, hearing Martha singing down the road. ‘I hope I have that amount of energy at that age,’ she said.
‘Don’t we all. I’m exhausted just watching her,’ laughed Polly, pressing a swift kiss to Felicity and Rona’s cheeks. ‘See you in the morning … night.’
As Rona and Felicity began to load the dishwasher, Felicity noticed her mum deep in thought.
‘What is it, Mum? You seem like you’ve suddenly got the weight of the world on your shoulders,’ added Felicity tentatively.
Rona straightened and exhaled slightly. ‘Don’t mind me, I’m a little tipsy.’ Rona took a breath and leant over to wipe the worktops. ‘But for the first time in a long time I actually laughed tonight, and I mean laughed.’
‘So why the sigh?’ asked Felicity, perplexed.
‘Because as much as Martha is a loveable old eccentric, she knows how to have fun.’
‘You know how to have fun.’
Rona leant against the worktop. ‘When do I ever have any fun? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m unhappy, far from it …’
‘But?’ interrupted Felicity.
‘Even though I’m surrounded by people every day and I have you … sometimes I actually feel lonely.’
Felicity felt saddened, she’d never even considered that her mum felt this way.
‘I do the same thing, day in and day out … and I love my life … and I love our teashop and you are my world, but tonight … it made me think about the past … and all those special times I’d spent with your father. Nothing will ever replace the love we had, but sometimes …’ She took a breath. ‘Sometimes I wish to be cuddled or even have the opportunity to make more of myself … dress up, maybe be wined and dined.’
Felicity was unable to hide her amazement at her mum’s words but was quick to reassure her. ‘Dad died many years ago and you are very much alive. It’s natural you should feel this way. As much as we laughed and joked tonight, maybe it’s about time you looked for that special someone in your life,’ she said, knowing it was only a matter of time before she and Fergus would talk about setting up home together, leaving her mum rattling around in Heartwood Cottage all by herself.