Page 43 of A New Life in Amsterdam

Eighteen months later

Debbie stands by the canal with a big smile on her face. I run down and give her the hugest of hugs. Oh, how I have missed her. It feels like forever since she was last here.

‘I can’t believe I’ve had to come to you again. That’s what happens when you refuse to come home, even for a holiday,’ says Debbie.

‘Well, I’m busy with my stall. Don’t want to let my regulars down, plus I’m having far too good a time with this one,’ I say, looking over at Abe.

‘I can see that. Look at you! Doesn’t she look well, Nigel.’

‘You do look well, Sandy. Great to see you here. Finally, I can see where you ran off to when you sold up.’

‘Yup, welcome to Amsterdam and New Beginnings. You are going to love it here, just like Debbie and I do.’

‘Well, I must admit my first impressions aren’t bad. I’ve already heard there’s a Heineken tour somewhere around here. I’m looking forward to that, and the Sex Museum. I’ll have to visit those two places.’

Debbie and I grin at each other. How did we guess those would be first on his list of attractions to visit?

‘But, anyway, first things first, let’s see this houseboat of yours,’ says Nigel, still standing on the side of the canal. ‘You going to invite us in then, or what?’

‘Of course. Sorry. Do you want Abe to give you a hand with your bags, Debbie?’

‘No, it’s alright. I can manage them all.’ Nigel looks at Abe and introduces himself, speaking very slowly.

‘I am Nigel. From Wales.’

‘You can speak properly, Nigel. Abe speaks very good English.’

‘Oh, tidy.’

Debbie rolls her eyes, and it is just like being back in Wales with the two of them. Nothing has changed since we were last together.

Abe and I take Debbie and Nigel inside the houseboat and show them around. The decorations have been revamped slightly since Debbie was last here, as I have moved the furniture around a bit. This time she can stay in my room as I’ll be on Aquaholic with Abe.

Nigel has a good look around the living room and kitchen area as he brings in the luggage.

‘I have to say, this isn’t quite what I expected. It’s much better and, fair play, it doesn’t even smell of damp.’

‘Nigel!’ scolds Debbie.

‘Well, I’m just saying it as it is. I’m being nice. You’ve done a lovely job, Sandy. Much better than I expected. Ooh, yes. Now, I could live somewhere like this.’

‘Could you?’ Debbie and I look at each other hopefully.

‘Oh, definitely. It would be a bloody lovely way to live now I’m retired.’

I wonder when Debbie is going to tell Nigel that Aquaholic next door is for sale. I suspect she will take him on the Heineken Experience and ply him with samples there first.

‘Can you go out on the roof there?’ asks Nigel inquisitively.

‘Oh, yes. Go and have a look.’ When he sees the rocking chair and the scenery, Nigel is going to be sold.

Debbie is about to whisper something to me when Nigel comes back down.

‘Debs, have you seen it up there? Brilliant view over the canal.’

‘Yes, I know. I saw it the last time I was here.’

‘Imagine smoking a pipe up there in your dressing gown, rocking back and forth,’ says Nigel.

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, you can’t stand pipe smoke.’

‘No, true. But what I mean is, it’s very relaxing up there.’

Debbie winks at me, delighted that Nigel is already falling in love with the place. I hadn’t expected him to be this easy to win over but, then again, New Beginnings has that effect on people.

‘Right then. We’d better leave you to settle in for a while. I’m sure you want to unpack and freshen up before tonight. Anyway, I have an important appointment to attend with Abe now. We’ll have to rush, or we’ll be late.’

Abe looks at Debbie curiously.

‘Do you know where she wants to take me? She’s been planning this for ages and won’t give anything away,’ says Abe.

‘Nope. Sorry, only just arrived, I’ve no idea.’

Abe shakes his head.

‘We’ll be back at seven p.m. to collect you for dinner. I thought we could go to a fabulous Chinese restaurant on the water tonight. It’s not too far from here. Is that okay with you, Nigel?’

‘Oh, yes. I do like a chow mein.’

‘Great. They have robot waiters and everything. It’s so much fun there.’

‘Oh, I don’t know about robots. They’re putting people out of work, aren’t they?’

‘It’s okay. There are still lots of staff there. Don’t worry. I promise you’ll like it.’

I shake my head at Nigel; he is so set in his ways. I do hope Debbie can talk him into moving next door like she believes she can.

‘Maybe we should have let them stay on Aquaholic so they could get a feel for it. See if they like it,’ I say to Abe, as we head to the appointment I have made for us.

‘No, we did the right thing. Let them experience some of the magic on New Beginnings first. That’ll make sure they want to move in next door.’

‘True. I like your thinking. Oh, I can’t wait for you and Ted to move in with me. It’s going to be wonderful. Ted will be back where he came from. Isn’t that lovely?’

‘It is. Who’d have thought it would work out with him moving back in?

He’ll be glad to have us back home this afternoon.

I must say I’m surprised you wouldn’t let him come with us today.

Where is it that you’re taking me that we had to leave Ted at home?

You know how he likes to come everywhere with us. ’

‘I know, but Beatrix is with him. We’re almost there now.’

‘It’s a good job I trust you.’

Soon enough we arrive at the place I have planned for the surprise.

‘Right, since it’s your fifty-ninth birthday, I thought you might like a tattoo.

I’ve researched this place and it’s one of the best. No pressure, we can always back out if you don’t want one.

I’ve already explained the situation to the staff, and how this is a complete surprise, and that you might not want to go along with it.

But I remembered how you said you wanted a tattoo before you hit sixty.

You still don’t look a day over forty, by the way.

But, yeah… Would you like a tattoo for your birthday? ’

‘Seriously? You remembered me saying that?’

For a moment, I am worried my plan is going to backfire. How stupid of me to book a tattoo as a surprise. In hindsight, perhaps it isn’t the most sensible birthday gift. I watch as a big grin reaches across Abe’s face, and he pushes the tattoo parlour door open.

‘I love it. I think it’s the best birthday present ever.’

‘Really? You’re not just saying it?’

‘Nope. It was on my bucket list, and I needed someone to give me a push. It’s brilliant, and so thoughtful. I mean, I only have another year left to get one by sixty, so I’d better get on with it.’

I breathe a sigh of relief as a tall man with piercings through what seems like every orifice greets us and sits us down with some artistic drawings. The pictures are incredible. They are so beautiful that they look like they belong in one of the art galleries around the city.

‘I also have this book,’ says the tattoo artist opening another large plastic-backed book.

‘Many who come in for couples tattoos choose from this one. You can have the same tattoo or half a jigsaw piece, for example, and the partner has the other side that fits. There are so many choices.’

A female tattoo artist walks in and introduces herself to me saying that she will be doing mine.

‘You’re booked in for a tattoo also?’ says Abe, looking at me.

‘Yup, I could hardly leave you to do it on your own.’

‘Shall we choose a tattoo from the couples book then?’

‘I’m happy with that if you are.’

‘Wow. I always said it had to be the right tattoo, and this is perfect. Let’s have a look and see what we can find.’

‘You do know a tattoo is for life,’ I remind him one last time.

‘Well then, I guess now we’re committed for life. Is commitment really so bad?’ he asks.

‘No, not when you’ve found the right person.’

We browse the tattoo book together and point at the same one at the same time.

‘That one?’ we say jointly.

We laugh at our synchronicity as we both tell the artists which tattoo we want.

‘Yin and yang. It has to be that one,’ says Abe.

The tattoo artists prepare us both and we place our wrists out ready to be inked.

As they sterilise the area and the coldness hits my skin, I realise there is no turning back.

The noise of the tattoo gun starts up and I think to myself how commitment comes in all different forms. It doesn’t always have to be about a fancy ring.

But just before the artists can begin, Abe grabs my other hand from across the bed he is lying on and squeezes it tight.

‘For life,’ he says.

‘For life,’ I agree.

‘Good, because now that I’ve found you, I want it to be forever,’ grins Abe.