‘So, you’ve made their stories into your book?’ she asked.
‘Not exactly, but I’ve taken what I’ve seen and heard in the village and made it into something different.’
‘So, what’s it about?’ she asked, sipping again. ‘Your book – or can’t you tell?’ Her mother had told her that Dan was quite accomplished, having worked on a couple of big TV adaptations over the last few years.
‘Well, it’s the story of…’ He shook his head and smiled easily. ‘It’s always the hardest part, putting it into a couple of sentences.’ He patted Dora for a moment, probably didn’t even realise he’d done it. ‘It’s the story of a woman, widowed and once downtrodden, who begins to get her mojo back.’
‘I like it,’ she said and her eyes drifted to the top of the village opposite, catching the last rays of the fading sun off the cathedral spire. ‘Is it based on anyone I might know?’
‘Uhh.’ He blew out a long shaft of air that was filled with a kind of shy dread. ‘That’s the thing, I’m hoping that you won’t recognise her, but yes, I’ve built her up based on a few of the local ladies about the village…’ He waited, because of course, she was a doctor; she was good at keeping her mouth firmly shut. She kept silent, even when she wanted to rail at the unfairness of things or sing from the rooftops that there was good news. Of course, she couldn’t tell someone else’s news – that was buttoned into her over a lifetime of practice. ‘Yep, you’d be good at keeping it to yourself,’ he confirmed. ‘It’s loosely based on your mother and Elizabeth. I mean, I haven’t put in any real details, not so you’d know who inspired her, but…’ He lowered his voice. ‘I’ve put in the Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club…That’s the bit I’m really hoping they won’t mind.’
‘You know about that?’
‘Yes, I’m afraid so. They didn’t tell you that I bumped into them one night?’ He threw his head back, laughed a loud and contagious sound that Lucy picked up as a giggle at the daftness of it all. Then he looked at her, perhaps realised how much in the dark she was. ‘I think it’s great – they both seemed to get so much out of it.’
‘Yes, well we’re simple folks around here,’ Lucy joked. She couldn’t tell him that her mother’s days for swimming or any other kind of adventure were drawing to a close. She shivered, trying to shake that familiar desolate feeling from cloaking her once more. Instead she thought of Elizabeth and she knew she couldn’t tell him that the reason she had bounced back so quickly after the death of her husband was because his passing had been a bit of a relief. Nor could she mention that he had left her, not a merry rich widow as most of the village assumed, but rather almost destitute, subjugated, with a bleak past and an uncertain future. The reality was: if Elizabeth had not come across her husband’s outstanding debts, there was little doubt that none of those lenders would have revealed themselves until it was time to foreclose. No doubt all of this would add to the dramatic impact of Dan’s story, but it would not do a lot to preserve the social standing that Elizabeth so badly wished to maintain. ‘Have you told them that you’re writing about them?’
‘It’s not exactly about them…’ Dan said now a little defensively.
‘Maybe you should let them be the judge of that?’ She had a feeling her mother would be tickled pink; she wasn’t so sure about Elizabeth.
‘They probably won’t even see themselves in it. I mean, I’ve changed names and everything about their physical appearance is completely different. I’m even toying with setting it over on the east coast.’
‘Still, if you think there’s any chance…’
‘It’s just…’ He shook his head, turned to look at her, catching her eye. She had a feeling, he wouldn’t write anything that would hurt Jo or Elizabeth or anyone else. ‘People can be a little disappointed, because I’m seeing them through my own eyes, not through theirs…That can be a big difference.’
‘Not always a good one?’
‘In this case, I’d say, just different.’
‘Still…’
‘I can show it to them, but honestly…’ He drained the last of his can of beer and sat forward. The sun was just on its final step down before disappearing. ‘I enjoyed that. I don’t know when I last had a beer.’ He shook his head. ‘Will you come inside? I’m just going to have a bite to eat.’ And he disappeared through the door, leaving it open after him so she could follow.