“A long story.” I put on the kettle, grabbed two mugs from the cupboard, and popped a teabag in each. Then I sat at the table across from her and reached for her hand.
She smiled and sighed. “Don’t you worry about me. Now, tell me about your time at the allotment. Did you meet the handsome young man with the plot next to mine?” She waggled her brows in suggestion.
“I’ll make the tea, then I’ll tell you.”
She got this excited look in her eyes. Nope, never gonna happen.
“And so,” I said as I finished my tale of woe. “I managed to annoy Gordon, who was downright patronising. And as for Luke… I’m really not sure what to think about him. I’m sorry, Aunt Doll, but you need to find someone else to look after your plot.”
She was quiet for a long time, studying me with her intense gaze. My aunt had an uncanny knack of being able to read me like a book.
“I could pay for someone to do it. God knows Toby and Luke would do it for me out of friendship, no payment required. But this time, I’m not going to listen to you.” She placed her mug back on the table with a thud.
“Why? I can’t go back there. Luke thinks I’m weird. The feeling is mutual, I might add. And I hate that he keeps calling me Red.”
I sounded so whiny. Like a child who couldn’t get their own way. But I was a grown woman, and I guess I needed to start acting like one. My aunt needed me, and I wanted to be there for her. The main reason for not wanting to go back, which I didn’t tell my aunt, was that in a twisted way, I was attracted to him.
“Felicity Donaldson, I love you very much, but sometimes, you exasperate me.”
She was calling me by my full name. Not a good sign.
“You know I’m not good with others. My Kryptonite is peopling. I really like Toby, and you, of course, but I’m better off…”
“Hiding behind a computer screen and working online. Yes, I know this. And that’s why I’m not going to stand for it anymore.” She reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “You need to mix with real people. It’s not natural to avoid physical contact and interacting with others the way you do. You need to get out and socialise more.”
I rested my elbows on the table and put my head in my hands. I really felt like crying. Luke had got me all riled up and it was messing with my head.
“Come on. It can’t be that bad. And no wonder he was angry. Fancy throwing dirt at him. You’ll have to apologise. You know me, I’m always impartial. If it had been the other way round, I’d have said the same to Luke.”
That was true. Aunt Doll never took sides.
“I did. It was just a heat of the moment thing. And look at my poor nails,” I whined, showing her the chipped nails.
“Oh, Fliss. For goodness sake, they’re only nails. They’ll grow again. Take my advice, wear gloves and cut the nails down.”
I took a long look at my once beautiful nails, wishing them a silent goodbye.
“Did I tell you he was single?” A cheeky smile crossed her lips.
At that point, I laughed. I was acting like a spoiled brat. Things needed to change. I just had to hope I didn’t bump into Luke too often. Something about him pushed all my buttons in a most confusing way.
“Okay, that’s enough with trying to matchmake. I’ll give it another shot at the lottie.”
“That’s my girl. Now, why don’t you go shower and get changed.”
I stood up and kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart. Oh, and, Fliss?”
I turned to face her. “What?”
“Wear something more appropriate when you next go to the lottie. You look like a cartoon character in that get-up.” She snorted with laughter.
I joined in. I may not have liked Luke teasing me about my clothing, but my aunt was allowed to.