Single Ladies Of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The by Nell Joanna

Author:Nell, Joanna [Nell, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: pensioners, retirmement village, friendships, self discovery
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2018-09-24T23:00:00+00:00

‘I suggest we spread out. That way we’ll cover all the genres.’

Angie wore pale cotton trousers with a loose button-up shirt and simple pearls in her ears. She had a cashmere cardigan knotted around her shoulders and yet another handbag. With her dark hair swept back from her forehead, she looked as gorgeous as ever. Utterly and effortlessly gorgeous.

In turn, Peggy felt more self-conscious and awkward than ever, her newfound confidence following the shopping trip already paling. Who was she trying to kid? At the end of the day, the whole exercise had been little more than window-dressing. Deep down, she was still that shy teenager, forever living in Angie’s shadow.

Peggy’s ice-pick heels click-clacked across the wooden floor. Several people turned to stare. She debated taking them off and plodding barefoot around the school hall. But then she remembered the state of her toenails. Instead, she leaned forward and tiptoed along the aisles of books.

She was surprised how many people were already milling about the hall. The place was filled with rows of trestle tables, each groaning beneath the weight of second-hand books. Boxes and boxes of them. Near the entrance, an army of middle-aged women totted up prices and counted out change. The line of customers, arms laden with hardbacks and paperbacks, threatened to swamp their valiant efforts.

‘Brian, why don’t you do history and non-fiction,’ said Angie. ‘I’ll do biographies and travel. Peggy, why don’t you concentrate on handicrafts and romantic fiction.’

Romantic fiction? How apt. Peggy remembered her little daydream in the car. Fantasy, would be more like it.

She watched Brian follow Angie like a lapdog, laughing at something she’d said. She turned and placed her hand on his arm as she shared the punchline. Brian threw his head back and laughed. Angie had made a career out of marrying eligible men, probably each with an equally eligible portfolio. She only had to click her fingers and they rolled over. It was beginning to get up Peggy’s nose.

As if to remind her of her shortcomings, her bladder yawned, stretched and wished her good morning. She hadn’t looked at a single book, romantic or otherwise. There was no point in protesting. In this battle of wills, she was destined to come off worse, and with the latchkey incident playing over and over like an annoying jingle in her mind, she couldn’t afford to waste time.

‘Can I help you?’ It was a girl of about sixteen. She looked like one of the high school students.

‘As a matter of fact, yes. Can you tell me where the nearest toilets are please?’

‘Follow me.’

What a lovely young person. It made such a change from feeling invisible to the younger generation. She was more used to being thoroughly ignored, or addressed via the screen of a mobile phone.

‘That’s very kind of you.’

‘No worries,’ replied the girl. ‘I’m planning to go to medical school when I leave school.’

‘How wonderful,’ said Peggy. She thought of Dr Stephen. She wished there were more young doctors like him.

‘Yes, I want to be a geriatrician.

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