Follow My Lead Episode 18
“I thought you could use an extra pair of hands,” Lydia added.
“Or two,” Cyrus said, “if you have enough brushes.”
“You bet!” Stu quickly got them kitted out.
Danielle was surprised at the way Lydia rolled up the sleeves of her expensive shirt and got stuck in.
The four worked away, Lydia and Cyrus mirroring Danielle and Stu on the other side of the hall.
Danielle found her eyes drawn again and again by the easy friendship evident between Lydia and Cyrus.
It was in the way they joked with each other, and Lydia’s teasing. It was all so natural.
She cast a wistful glance at Stu. If Lydia could do it, surely she could, too.
Stu was chatting about the difficulties of keeping the hall running smoothly with so little management.
“We should put our heads together to work out a recruitment strategy, don’t you think, Dee?” Stu asked.
Danielle dragged her attention back to him.
“Yes, you’re right. We can’t go on like this.”
She thought he was about to suggest going for a drink to talk about it. This time she was ready to smile and say yes.
He said nothing.
Disappointment was a leaden weight in her heart.
“Go on like what?” Lydia had come wandering over.
Stu described the problems of keeping the hall running with no-one to do it.
“I see.” Lydia said, listening closely.
Danielle thought she saw a spark of interest in her eyes.
“Can anyone else smell chips?” Lydia cried suddenly.
Amidst their laughter, Danielle explained.
“It’s the chip van. He parks in the hall car park every Friday evening.”
As Danielle and Lydia talked, Stu and Cyrus had agreed that they’d done enough, and began packing everything away.
Stu rubbed his hands together.
“Some fish and chips would really hit the spot right now.”
Everyone was nodding and Cyrus pulled his wallet out of his back pocket.
“Fish and chips for four?”
“I’ll come with you,” Lydia said. “I want to see this mobile chip shop!”
She returned with a bottle of wine and paper cups.
“I caught Sylvia just before she closed,” she said triumphantly.
“I didn’t forget the driver, either,” she added, handing Stu a cold can of fruit juice.
Danielle gazed at her in admiration. The woman thought of everything.
Afterwards, Cyrus walked Lydia and Danielle home while Stu took off in his van.
“I’d better get this lot rinsed out,” he said, brandishing the bag of brushes and rollers.
Again Danielle was struck by how easy Lydia and Cyrus were with each other, and noted the hug as they said goodnight.
“You and Cyrus have become good friends, haven’t you?” she commented as she turned on the lamps and Lydia tugged the curtains closed.
“He’s the nicest man I’ve met for ages,” Lydia replied, her voice rising to follow Danielle into the kitchen, where she poured wine into two glasses.
“It’s typical, isn’t it?” Lydia went on when Danielle brought them through. “All these years I’ve not met a single decent man, and now I have two.”
“Basil?” Danielle confirmed, and Lydia nodded.
“Which one do you like more?” she asked, and Lydia sipped thoughtfully.
“I like them both,” she admitted. “Basil and I have so much in common, and I’m looking forward to seeing him.
“Yet Cyrus is such a nice man, and so interesting. One of the best.”
Suddenly her gaze sharpened.
“Like Stu. He’s the same type, a good guy. I see the way he looks at you . . .” Lydia eyed her over the rim of her glass. “Has he ever asked you out?”
Danielle felt her cheeks grow warm.
“Kind of,” she admitted, and Lydia frowned.
“What does that mean? Either he has or he hasn’t.”
“Well, he’s invited me out a couple of times for a drink and to talk about hall business.”
“And?” Lydia nodded encouragingly.
Danielle sighed.
“I panicked and made an excuse.” It was a forlorn, muffled wail as she buried her face in her hands.
“I really like him,” she confessed. “But I wouldn’t blame him if he never asks me again.”
Lydia patted her arm.
“Maybe you’ll have to do the asking next time . . .”