Ana called Flint and Keith over to help Mr Redwood transfer her boxes from the back of his car to Flint’s and then Gay said goodbye.
‘You will keep in touch, won’t you? Things will be much easier now that I’ve got Mr Redwood. He can answer the phone for me …’
‘Or you could answer the phone for yourself?’
‘Well. One thing at a time, Anabella. One thing at a time. And thank you for this, by the way. For organizing this. I think it’s been a very good thing.’ She smiled tightly and Ana smiled back at her.
‘Me too, Mum, me too.’ She kissed Gay lightly on one cheek and closed the door on her.
‘Oh, Clint,’ said Gay, suddenly winding down the window and beckoning at him. ‘I wanted to apologize for last week. For your hand. I’m terribly sorry. It was most unnecessary and really rather vulgar. I’m most embarrassed.’
Flint shrugged it off and waved a nearly healed palm at her, and then Mr Redwood and Gay reversed from their parking space and drove away.
Ana turned to Flint as the car disappeared from view. ‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘What for?’
‘For that. For what you did with Mum. She wouldn’t have come otherwise.’
‘Yeah she would,’ he said, enveloping her in a hug.
‘She wouldn’t,’ she insisted, wrapping her arms around his huge torso, ‘and you are wonderful.’ She tipped her head up towards his and smiled as his lips touched hers.
‘Come on, you two – enough of all that,’ said Lol, twirling a shawl over her shoulders as the sun started disappearing behind the trees, ‘we’ve got a party to go to!’
44
‘Hi there, everybody. Hope you’re all enjoying this very special soirée. My name is Lolita Tate and these other guys’ – she indicated the musicians behind her – ‘are just some weird old blokes who can play instruments. This bloke’ – she pointed at Keith – ‘is the world’s greatest living tambourinist. And also, I am very happy to say, my lover. And we’ll be your band for tonight. We’re happy to do requests, so feel free to offer suggestions. We’re also very happy to accept guest musicians during the course of the evening, so if anyone thinks they can do any better than us, just let us know. OK, boys – take it away.’ The drummer tapped his cymbal three times and then the band launched into a fantastic version of ‘Born to Run’.
Ana turned to Flint and smiled. ‘Can you dance?’ she asked.
He grimaced. ‘Not even slightly,’ he said.
‘Good,’ she said, ‘neither can I.’
They both leaned back against the wall and watched the party. Flint had his arm around her shoulder and she drew his fist towards her and kissed his knuckles. There were about thirty people in the room. A lot of the ‘fans’ had stuck around, having originally said they were only going to stay for one drink. Amy was still here and was now dancing with one of Keith’s friends, who looked as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Ed had left immediatelyafter the service at the cemetery, his eyes looking slightly red but with a sense of relief about him that it was finally over. And Dr Chan had told Zander about a dozen times that they had to leave but he was still here, drinking a warm shandy and sneaking puffs on other people’s cigarettes when Dr Chan wasn’t looking.
Lol’s voice was absolutely incredible. Ana had never heard her singing live before, only on tape, and shivers ran down her spine just listening to her. And the band was brilliant. Ana had no idea that Lol was going to put together such a professional outfit for her. Saxophones, trumpets, electric, acoustic and twelve-string guitars. The band was almost bigger than the party.
Flint and Ana held each other tight and watched the band, swaying around a bit, both with matching stupid grins on their faces, chatting every now and then. A still-dancing Amy tottered towards them, grinning from ear to ear.
‘Oh Ana,’ she said, ‘Bee would have loved this, you know. It’s been a marvellous day. Absolutely marvellous. Now. There was something I needed to ask you. And I know that now’s probably not the best of times, I know how busy you young people are, but I needed to ask you – about John. Not that I’m not thoroughly enjoying his company. I am. But dear Freddie has some, er … objections to his presence. And I wondered if you might give some thought to alternative arrangements for the dear creature …’
Ana looked at Flint.
He smiled at her. ‘I’ll have him,’ he said, easily.
Amy clapped her hands with delight.
‘Really?’ said Ana, ‘are you sure?’
‘Yeah,’ he said, why not? I’ve always wanted a pet. And he can catch spiders for me.’
‘You’re scared of spiders?’
‘Uh-huh. Terrified …’ He addressed Amy. ‘How’s about I pop round tomorrow and pick him up?’
But before Amy could answer there was a lull in their conversation, just in time for them to hear Lol say, ‘We have a singing virgin in the house, a certain young lady who tells me she thinks she can sing but she’s not sure because she’s never sung in front of anyone before. Well, singing runs in her family so I’m convinced she’ll be great. Ana – where are you?’