Page 39 of The Old Gals’ Bucket List

When they got back, Keith’s car was missing. Mary looked puzzled. ‘I wonder where he’s gone? He never goes out – unless he’s gone to the shops again.’

‘He’s coming around a bit, I think,’ Patti said. ‘He was really enjoying the barbecue yesterday. Maybe he’s popped over to see your friends.’

Before they could speculate any further, Keith drove in. He opened the car door. ‘Afternoon, I thought I might be back before you three got home. I know what you’re like when you get out together.’

‘Where have you been?’ Mary asked curiously.

‘You mentioned having cocktails by the pool tonight, so I went out to get some ingredients for the cocktails. And some snacky things.’ He paused. ‘You didn’t stop to get them on the way home, did you?’

‘No, I was going to the shop later so you’ve saved me the journey. Thanks, love.’ Mary gave Keith a peck on the cheek and he smiled at her.

Patti’s spirits lifted as she watched them. Keith was unwinding, and Mary adored him, that was evident. She was worrying over nothing.

‘I’ve invited Leo too,’ Keith said. ‘He popped over this afternoon to say that there are some flamenco dancers at his friend’s restaurant on Saturday night so he wanted to check if that was okay with us.

He’s provisionally booked a table as the restaurant gets busy. It’s really decent of him, isn’t it?’

‘Yes it is. He’s a good friend.’ Mary turned to Patti and Sandra. ‘Did you hear that, girls? Leo has managed to arrange for us to see some flamenco dancers. Honestly, nothing is too much for that man. He’s a dream.’

‘He certainly is! I can’t wait!’ Patti said eagerly.

‘Neither can I. I can’t wait to try your cocktails either, Keith,’ Sandra added.

‘Maybe you can show Sandra, she wants to make her own cocktail,’ Mary said.

She turned to Sandra. ‘Keith’s quite an expert.

We used to have friends around a lot and Keith always made cocktails whilst I did special desserts for everyone.

We had such fun.’ Mary sounded wistful and Patti’s heart went out to her.

She obviously missed those fun times. Well, hopefully Keith was ready to start socialising again.

Patti and Sandra went over to the casita to get changed. Patti chose a brightly patterned maxi dress with a lacy bolero top whilst Sandra put on some white cropped trousers and a lilac short-sleeved blouse.

‘We better not forget the mosquito spray,’ Sandra said, picking up the can from the worktop. ‘They’ll make a meal of us otherwise.’

‘Tell me about it, pesky things. The smell of the spray overrides my perfume though so I prefer to use the mosquito bands Mary gave us.’ She had one on each wrist and one on each ankle.

‘I’m wearing those too, but a mosquito sneaked down my top the other day and bit me right in the middle of my boobs, so I’m not chancing it.’ Sandra sprayed herself liberally with the mosquito repellent.

Patti hesitated then followed suit. It was stupid to risk getting a couple of mosquito bites because the smell overpowered her perfume. Who would notice?

When they went back to the terrace Leo was there, looking quite dashing in long beige shorts and a green and white patterned short-sleeved shirt, talking to Mary. Again.

They both sprung apart when they saw them coming. They looked a bit uneasy, Patti thought. She hung back, letting Sandra carry on.

‘Hello, what are you two all in a huddle about?’ she asked.

Mary flushed and glanced over her shoulder. ‘Oh dear, is it that obvious?’

Patti swallowed. Had she been right?

‘You do seem to be whispering together a lot.’

Leo and Patti exchanged glances. He nodded slowly.

‘Okay, I’ll tell you but please don’t breathe a word to Keith,’ Mary said.

Oh God, she’d been right. Suddenly she didn’t want Mary to confess. She didn’t want to know. How could she keep this from her brother?

‘Maybe you’re best not to tell me. It’s not fair to ask me to keep it from Keith,’ she stammered.

‘Goodness, Patti, you look horrified. What on earth do you think I’m going to confess?’

Patti looked from Mary to Leo then back to Mary again. ‘I… er…’

Mary’s eyes widened. ‘Heck! You think we’re having an affair, don’t you?’

Patti felt her cheeks heat and couldn’t even bring herself to look at Leo. ‘Well…’ Her voice trailed away.

‘We’re planning a surprise for Keith. Leo is sorting it out for me.’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t believe you jumped to that conclusion. I hope Keith hasn’t as well!’ She turned abruptly and walked off into the house.

‘Oh dear. I’m so sorry. It’s just that Keith and Mary are at loggerheads a bit, and you seemed very attentive…’ She couldn’t look him in the eye.

Leo smiled. ‘De nada. It is nothing. You are right that things are a little… not quite right… with Keith and Mary, which is why we are planning this surprise.’ He thrust his hands in his pockets his eyes meeting hers, unwavering.

‘I would not do that to a friend. To cheat like that. I am not that kind of person.’

Now she felt even worse. ‘I really am sorry.’ How stupid was she to jump to that conclusion just because Leo spent a lot of time here, and she’d caught him and Mary talking together. Now she’d embarrassed herself and everyone else.

‘Besides, there is someone else that I like. Someone who is free. And I was asking Mary’s advice about that, also.’

‘Oh, I see.’ She guessed it must be one of the neighbours.

She could understand that Leo was a bit hesitant and wanted advice.

It was hard to get back into the dating game when you’d been out of it for a while.

She should know! She’d made a few attempts with Tinder and other dating apps since she and Adrian split up but there had been so many disasters she’d given up.

She was better off on her own. ‘I hope it works out for you.’

He nodded solemnly. ‘Me too. But this seňora, she doesn’t live in Spain.’

His eyes rested on her face, as if he was watching her reaction. He couldn’t mean… No… That would be stupid.

‘I see.’ She was repeating herself but she didn’t know what else to say. She’d already made a fool of herself once and she wasn’t going to say anything to make things worse. He must have met someone on the internet, lots of people did nowadays. ‘That’s difficult.’

He nodded again. ‘But not impossible.’

Time to end this conversation and go and make her apologies to Mary. ‘There’s always a way if you look for it, I guess.’ She hurried off to the kitchen to find Mary.

Mary was putting the last touch to the meal and Keith was opening a bottle of wine.

Patti looked at them both. ‘Sorry.’

Keith raised an eyebrow. ‘What for?’

‘She thought I was having an affair with Leo,’ Mary told him.

Keith threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’re way off the mark there, Patti. Leo has his eye on someone else.’

‘I know, he’s just told me. I think it’s someone he met on the internet.’

‘What?’ Mary and Keith exclaimed in unison.

‘He said it was someone who didn’t live in Spain.’

Keith shook his head and Mary put down the knife she was chopping the tomatoes with.

‘You really have no idea, do you?’

Patti looked from one to the other. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Patti. The lady Leo is interested in is you.’