I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.

  ‘What are you going to wear for the party?’ I asked, suddenly feeling guilty that my dilemma had been solved while Ann was still in need of an outfit.

  ‘I need to find myself a rich man or, failing that, the manager of a department store very quickly.’ She gave a theatrical sigh. ‘I’m joking! I wouldn’t swap my Dave even for David Tennant… well maybe if the opportunity arose!’

  We both laughed.

  ‘And I’m sure I’ll find an outfit hidden away in the deep dark depths of my wardrobe.’

  ‘I feel so guilty now.’

  She gave me a sideward look. ‘Honestly, I have loads of things I can wear,’ she replied. ‘You’re going to make heads turn wearing this beauty.’

  I touched her arm affectionately. ‘Thanks, Ann.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘For just being you. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.’

  ‘Come here, you daft bugger. Give me a hug.’

  I laughed as she threw her arms around me. ‘Now let’s finish measuring the dress and then we can pack it away before Henry gets home. What are you going to do with it then?’

  ‘I’m not sure,’ I replied, shrugging. ‘I need to give the parcel back to Marcus but what if he gets home later than Henry?’

  ‘How about in the meantime I store it at mine?’

  ‘What about Dave? Where will he be? Won’t he wonder what’s in the parcel?’

  ‘Dave’s already texted me to tell me he’s working late tonight. I’m beginning to worry about him. It seems to be all work and no play for him at the moment. I’ll be glad when Christmas Eve finally arrives so he’ll have a few days’ holiday to look forward to.’

  ‘Yes, Henry seems to be in the same boat at the minute. What’s the plan for Friday night? How are we going to get to the venue?’

  ‘Hmm, why don’t you come over to mine and get changed there? It’ll be like the good old days! We can dance around to our favourite tunes while we’re getting ready and have a little tipple before we go out.’

  ‘Will Dave mind?’

  ‘Luckily for the pair of us, he has a date with the vicar.’ She smirked.

  ‘The vicar?’

  ‘Yep, he’s been roped in to erecting some shelves in the local community hall. The vicar collared him outside the corner shop this morning. He didn’t dare refuse in case he’d be sent to hell.’

  I giggled. ‘That is so funny!’

  ‘Well let me tell you, Dave doesn’t think so.’

  ‘At least he’ll be out of the way.’

  ‘I’ll come and pick you up around six. That way your car won’t be stranded at mine overnight, and we can book a taxi for around seven.’

  ‘That sounds perfect, thanks. Are we still going to bingo tonight as usual?’ I queried.

  ‘It’s up to you. Can you escape if we’re out on Friday night too?’

  ‘Henry’ll be fine. These days he prefers sitting in and watching telly. It’s not as if I usually go gallivanting every day of the week – and it is Christmas after all.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’

  ‘Yes, absolutely.’ I nodded.

  ‘Now let’s pack this dress up and I’ll take it with me.’

  Standing on the doorstep and temporarily waving goodbye to the dress and Ann, I smiled as I saw Marcus’s car swing into the road at the bottom of the cul-de-sac. I folded my arms and leant against the door frame, waiting until he climbed out of his car.

  I beamed across at him, my heart racing. I was anxious about how he would react when I told him I couldn’t possibly accept his kind gifts. I waited until he’d finished parking before ambling over. He slammed his car door shut then looked over towards me and smiled.

  ‘Are you waiting for me?’

  I cast my eyes upwards and the warmth I felt towards Marcus swept through my body.

  ‘Yes I was. I’ve come to say thank you. It was a lovely gesture.’

  He touched my arm affectionately. ‘You don’t need to thank me. Are you coming in for a moment?’ he asked, glancing around the street as he placed the key in the front door.

  ‘Just for a minute,’ I answered, following him quickly into the hallway and shutting the door behind me to keep the cold air out.

  ‘How was Frank today?’

  ‘He was a superstar. I loved walking him.’

  ‘I’ll just let him out in the garden. Go and make yourself comfy in the front room. I’ll be two seconds.’

  I heard Marcus unlock the back door and a few seconds later he was back, standing by my side in the living room.

  I took a deep breath. ‘Marcus, thank you so much for the present. It was so unexpected.’

  ‘That’s the best kind of present.’

  ‘But how did you know?’

  ‘Know what?’

  ‘How did you know I was smitten with that dress?’

  ‘That’s my little secret,’ he smiled.

  I tilted my head to one side. ‘Come on, tell,’ I said and playfully hit his arm.

  ‘When I left you both in the restaurant I was late for a meeting – even more so when I realised I’d left the agenda on the other side of the store. I spotted you and Ann staring at the display from the top of the escalator. The look on your face said it all. You wanted that dress. I knew you hadn’t bought it because my meeting was in a room that looks out on the street, and I saw you leave the store a few minutes later with no bags and disappointment written all over your face.’

  ‘Aha! Detective Bowman.’

  ‘I knew right then that that was the dress for you, and I also knew how stunning you were going to look wearing it. I hope you don’t mind?’

  ‘It wasn’t just the dress though, was it? There was the shrug and the handbag too.’

  ‘Yes, the whole outfit.’

  ‘Marcus, they’re beautiful but too expensive. No one’s ever bought me anything so expensive. The most luxurious thing I own is my wedding ring.’

  As soon as the words left my mouth my thoughts travelled back to Henry. The proposal, my ring and how I melted inside. Back then, by the time 7 p.m. came round each evening, I’d be exhausted. I used to sink down into the settee and put my feet up while I nibbled on a bar of fruit and nut. Henry had been an absolute darling. He had always prepared tea when he’d got in from work and had never moaned about it once. The pregnancy sickness had taken its toll. The general myth is that the sickness disappears at three months. I was the exception to the rule. The day I stopped being sick was the day I gave birth.

  One particular evening I’d been lying on the settee with my legs stretched out and my head resting on Henry’s lap. He’d been gently caressing my baby bump when out of the blue he’d felt the baby kick for the very first time. I’d never forget his reaction. He’d been so overwhelmed with emotion that tears had welled up in his eyes. He’d kept his hand there the whole time the baby was moving inside me. Once he was sure the movement had ceased he’d kissed my forehead tenderly and said this was a time of celebration. I’d had no idea what Henry was talking about and after disappearing into the kitchen, he’d returned with two champagne flutes filled to the brim with sparkling water.

  ‘It’s the best I can do,’ I remember him saying. Money had been tight and we’d been spending every spare penny on making sure the house was decorated before the baby arrived.

  He’d clinked his glass against mine, then I’d noticed something gold in the bottom of the glass. I’d gasped at the sight of a ring.

  Henry had knelt down on one knee in front of me and took my hand in his. ‘Lizzie Martin, please will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’

  Of course my answer had been yes. The ring had been inexpensive yet perfect. We didn’t have much money but Henry had scraped together fifty pounds after spotting the gold band in a shop window in the quaint little jeweller’s shop near the marketplace. He’d promised me one day he would buy me a sparkly engagement ring to go with it, but I’d been happy with just the wedding ring. I treasured this ring with all of my heart. And now…

  ‘You’re worth it, Lizzie,’ Marcus replied.

  I took a deep breath and looked up into his eyes. I faltered for a second and took a deep breath. ‘Thank you. It’s an absolutely beautiful dress, but I’m not sure I can accept it.’

  ‘Why?’ His eyes searched mine as he waited for me to answer.

  ‘It wouldn’t be right, and I’m not sure how Henry will feel about it.’

  At the mention of Henry’s name Marcus looked deflated.

  ‘Lizzie, I really want you to keep it,’ he said softly.

  ‘I can’t. I’m so sorry,’ I whispered.

  He nodded and took hold of my hands, looking at me intently.

  ‘Do you feel what I’m feeling, Lizzie?’

  For a second I didn’t answer, not trusting myself to speak.

  ‘I think so,’ was all I could manage.

  Tilting my face towards his, he stared me straight in the eye and kissed me tentatively. A surge of electricity ran straight through my body. I felt my body pushing against him and I kissed him back.

  My body rose against his; I thought my heart was going to burst through my chest, it was pounding that much. The feeling was almost too much to bear.

  ‘Marcus, I shouldn’t be doing this,’ I said, anxiously glancing over his shoulder towards my house. ‘We can’t do this. I’m married. I have Henry.’

  He sighed. ‘I know and I wish…’ He cradled my face in his hands. I closed my eyes and rested my face against the warmth of his cheek. This couldn’t happen; I had Henry and the girls. But the attraction was strong and I’d need to fight it with all my strength.

  25

  I smiled, listening as one of the women outside the bingo hall told her friends about her previous Saturday night out. To be fair, she didn’t remember much about her evening, but after drinking her entire body weight in fruity cocktails, she’d woken up lying next to a bloke called Ian and apparently the cocktail hadn’t tasted as nice the second time around. I winced at the thought of it.

  ‘At least she remembered his name,’ Ann said, winking.

  ‘Ha, you weren’t listening properly. She only knew his name after he did a runner in the morning and left his mobile phone behind.’

  ‘How would she know his name from that?’ Ann asked.

  ‘The wife phoned; she picked it up.’

  ‘Jeez, I’m so glad I’ve outgrown that stage of my life. I couldn’t think of anything worse.’

  ‘I never had that with marrying Henry so young, and for that I will be eternally grateful.’

  We both laughed.

  ‘Have you ever felt you’re missing out on something?’ Ann asked in a serious tone.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Only ever sleeping with Henry.’

  Thoughts of Marcus popped into my head. I hadn’t told Ann that he’d kissed me. It wasn’t that I was keeping it from her as such; it was more that I wanted to savour the moment – knowing that it was ‘our’ little secret – for a while longer.

  ‘I can’t imagine having only ever slept with one bloke,’ Ann continued.

  ‘You have threesomes regularly then?’ I smiled.

  ‘Of course not!’ Ann giggled.

  ‘I have no idea what I’m missing out on because I suppose I don’t know any different.’

  ‘Let’s just say there are all sizes out there – large ones, medium ones, thick ones – not to mention chipolatas.’

  ‘Eww, stop there! I dread to think,’ I said, holding my hand up.

  ‘I’m just saying,’ she said, grinning.

  ‘Well don’t just say,’ I insisted.

  The queue began to filter into the foyer and we handed our coats over to Elsie, who hung them in the cloakroom and thrust a blue raffle ticket over the counter.

  ‘Anything valuable in your pockets?’ she muttered, not making eye contact.

  ‘No, I don’t think so.’

  ‘I can’t be held responsible if anything goes missing,’ she said.

  ‘How are you, Elsie?’ I asked.

  ‘Mustn’t grumble,’ she replied, tweaking her hearing aid, which squealed so loudly it probably brought a halt to every stray dog for miles.

  ‘I don’t want to get old,’ Ann whispered to me.

  Our coats hanging safety in the cloakroom, we pushed open the swinging double doors into the main bingo hall. I winced. The smell hit me every time.

  ‘It doesn’t get any better, does it?’ Ann said, wrinkling her nose. ‘Why do bingo halls all smell the same? And what is it?’ she asked.

  ‘It’s a cross between Old Spice and lavender.’

  ‘I don’t want to get old,’ Ann said again.

  We both stood still and scanned the room. ‘There are two seats next to Doris,’ she said, pointing, ‘or a couple next to Madge. What do you reckon? Make your mind up quick though,’ she said. ‘Doris is waving madly in our direction.’

  ‘I hope she has her flatulence under control this week. It was blooming lethal last week.’

  ‘A weapon of mass destruction,’ Ann agreed, chuckling.

  ‘Hmmm, choices. Madge it is then.’

  We bought our books and walked up the aisle towards Madge. Seeing the disappointment on Doris’s face, we gave her a quick wave before sitting down at the far end of the room. Madge looked up and gave us a welcoming smile as she cleaned her spectacles. She was in good health for a golden girl.

  ‘How many books have you bought tonight, Madge?’

  ‘Six,’ she said. ‘I had a little win on a scratch card on Monday so it might be my lucky week.’

  ‘Let’s hope so, Madge. Good luck,’ Ann said cheerily. She turned to me. ‘I’ve got a feeling about tonight,’ she said. ‘And it’s all down to this little beauty.’ She pulled out a new neon-pink dabber from her Take That pencil case.

  There was a very loud gasp from the rest of the table. ‘Have you seen her dabber? That’s a fancy bit of kit,’ a green-eyed Nora grumbled, twirling her biro then scoring it back and forth on a piece of rough paper to try to make it work.

  ‘That thing wouldn’t look out of place on a shelf at Ann Summers,’ I said and winked.

  ‘Funnily enough that’s what Dave thought until I said those days were well and truly long gone.’

  ‘How are you pair getting on?’ I asked.

  ‘Same old, same old. We’re struggling with money. It doesn’t seem to matter how hard you work, there’s always something that needs paying for. A new washing machine, a fridge – and the vacuum cleaner has just decided to give up.’

  ‘I know that feeling,’ I mumbled.

  ‘The red letters keep coming from the bank and the only way I can see out of it is getting Mum’s house sold. And in the meantime I’m paying for the care home until she passes away.’ Ann’s eyes sparkled with tears and her lip began to wobble. ‘We’re in it up to our eyeballs. I could murder Dave. He took out a loan without telling me. He was so behind with his invoicing that he had a major cash-flow problem and couldn’t pay his suppliers. The interest is so high that the repayments are astronomical.’

  I touched her arm affectionately. ‘Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ she replied. ‘But thanks for asking.’

  Suddenly we were interrupted by a loud drumroll, which was followed by rapturous applause. We both looked up.

  ‘Can you please put your hands together and give a bingotastic welcome for your compère this evening – the one and only Barry May!’

  ‘Blimey, he certainly milks his introduction to the max every time.’

  ‘And thank God there’s only one Barry,’ Ann added, clapping like a demented sea lion.

  ‘Hello, ladies and gentlemen.’

  I laughed, shaking my head. ‘This gets more like panto every day.’

  ‘My name is Barry – Barry May and I’m your bingo caller for the evening.’

  ‘I love the way he gives his full name like that,’ Ann said, sniggering. ‘It’s like he’s auditioning for a game show.’

  ‘Before we begin, we all know the drill,’ Barry hollered down the microphone as he gave everyone a twirl.

  ‘Eek! Look at that suit!’

  He was wearing a pristine white suit jacket and shirt with a red bow tie. Coupled with his long curly hair and matching black moustache, the effect was dazzling. He twirled his bow tie at us.

  ‘Let the ten-commandment chant of bingo begin,’ he bellowed, pointing with a long cane towards the screen behind him as the words began to roll.

  1. Thou shall not sit in thy neighbour’s lucky seat.

  2. Thou shall not stare at thy neighbour’s card.

  3. Thou shall not take the caller’s name in vain.

  Barry raised his eyebrows and pointed to us all.

  4. Thou shall not call false ‘bingo’.

  5. Thou shall not threaten to kill the ‘caller’.

  6. Thou shall not wish bad luck on thy neighbour.

  7. Thou shall not steal thy husband’s money for bingo.

  ‘Chance would be a fine thing,’ Ann said.

  8. Thou shall not brag about how much thou hast won.

  9. Thou shall not whine about how much thou hast lost.

  10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbour’s winnings.

  ‘Are we ready?’ Barry yelled.

  ‘Yes,’ came the deafening reply from the room.

  ‘Let’s get going,’ Barry roared, sweeping his arms into the air. ‘Barry’s balls are flowing!’

  The whole room chuckled.

  You couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm.

  The first couple of games flew by as the dabbers thudded on to the table like bullets from a machine gun.

  The game was in full flow when another group of women entered the hall. In a cloud of disapproval, the majority of players glanced up towards the double doors and scowled. It was an unwritten rule that being late for bingo would not be tolerated, and the laser beams of condemnation confirmed that.

  ‘Five and nine, fifty-nine. Eight and eight, eighty-eight. Six and three, sixty-three. Nine and two, ninety-two, Barry sang like a canary.

  There was a loud gasp from Betty behind us. ‘I need one more number,’ she squealed.