Chapter Thirty-Two

2019

Lizzie

Lizzie had arrived at the pub ten minutes early. She was now sitting waiting on the wooden bench at the bus stop opposite the building, trying to appear inconspicuous. She’d left the car near the church again and walked, thinking she’d draw less attention to herself – but now, as she felt eyes on her, Lizzie wondered if that plan had failed.

Two men in their late fifties, she approximated, were sitting at a table in the small, gravelled area beside the entrance of The Plough. They were nursing pints, and each had a cigarette between their fingers – plumes of smoke curling above their heads. Their eyes turned towards her several times as they spoke, their deep voices drifting across the road, but Lizzie couldn’t make out what they were talking about or if their topic of conversation was ‘the stranger on the bench’.

As she considered getting up, crossing over, and entering the pub just to stop the curious glances, she caught sight of Robert. He was exiting the side alley to the right of the pub, one that also ran alongside Brook Cottage Store. It was good she’d been able to identify another villager who’d previously just been a name in an article – finding out he was the son of ‘family friend’ Nell Andrews had been very helpful prior to this meeting. She stood, and began walking to meet him, relieved she’d no longer be alone.

‘Hi, Rob,’ she said, deciding in that moment he was more of a Rob than a Bob, or a Bobby. He was dressed casually – jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. His hair was slick with gel, which only served to accentuate his receding hairline, but he was attractive in a boy-next-door kind of way.

‘Wasn’t sure you’d show,’ he said in return.

Lizzie raised her eyebrows, questionably – uncertain what he meant.

Rob smiled. ‘I thought you might have been joking there in the shop, asking to meet at the pub.’

‘Oh. I wouldn’t have asked if I hadn’t meant it. Why would you think that?’

‘Sometimes people say things they don’t really mean,’ he said, shrugging.

‘Oh, dear. That sounds as though you have prior experience.’

‘Well, yes – it’s been known. But it’s been more usual for me to ask someone out, not the other way around. I think some just said yes to get out of the awkward situation and then left me hanging. Although, it’s not like there are many ladies in Mapledon who are eligible and in the right age bracket. The pickings are very slim in the first place …’

‘I see. So, that makes me feel real special.’

‘Oh, my God. I didn’t mean that to sound … you don’t live here – I don’t mean you,’ he said, flustered.

Lizzie gave him a gentle knock in the shoulder with her fist to indicate she was teasing him. But then had a surge of panic. She was acting as though she was keen on him, wanted to be special. Christ, she was only meant to be charming him in order to get information, not coming across as wanting more than just a drink. She’d have to rein it in. Maybe mention her husband, quickly, before she led this poor guy on. He seemed nice enough; she didn’t want to be that disingenuous.