The Happy Endings Book Club Read Free Page B

bear.
    “Come in,” Arley called.
    Paige entered the room and he waved her into a chair.
    “So how did it go?”
    “Not as well as I …” And with that Paige burst into tears. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I feel like I’ve been such a bother all day. But I’m dreadfully worried about her. She’s completely lost her mind.”
    Arley pushed a box of tissues toward Paige and waited patiently for her to stop crying. Then, once her eyes were dry, he continued.
    “What makes you think she’s lost her mind?”
    “When she told me my father was—is—a fairy, she didn’t mean gay. She meant …” Paige’s eyes opened wide. “She believes he’s a fairy.”
    Arley nodded. “Yes.”
    “A fairy,” Paige said again.
    “Right.”
    “A fairy . As in pixies, goblins and fairies.”
    “Three completely different races, but yes, I understand what you mean.”
    Paige was bewildered. Arley either didn’t understand at all, or he didn’t think it was that shocking. “I think my mother has dementia,” she said.
    “There’s only one way to find out,” he told her.
    Paige nodded. A meeting with the doctor. A round of tests, no doubt.
    Arley’s eyes twinkled. “You’ll have to find out if your father is alive.”
    *
    Paige spotted Eva at their regular table in the far corner of the small Indian restaurant. She still did a slight double-take when she saw her friend. Eva had only recently decided to stop dying her hair and embrace the gray. She now had a silver pixie cut that, if anything, made her even more beautiful. She was one of those knockout women at any age, with curves in all the right place, incredible eyes and cheekbones to die for.
    Eva saw her and gave a wave. Here they both were well past middle age, yet Paige often felt like they were two kids, always so thrilled to see each other. She needed to see Eva tonight. She was so wound up about her mother.
    Jean had been a devoted parent, but not a warm one. She’d always kept Paige at arm’s length. There were times Paige would catch Jean watching her and she’d have the strange feeling that the look in her eyes was one of regret. Their relationship was built on habit and responsibility rather than affection, but even so, she was filled with fear at the thought of her mum disappearing into the abyss of dementia. As frustrating as Jean could be, she was the only mother Paige had, and it was a comfort to know she was there.
    Paige gave Eva a kiss and relaxed as she took off her coat. It was cold outside, but nice and warm in here.
    Paige glanced at the menu. “Have you ordered for us?”
    Eva nodded. “All sorted. Masala mushroom, aloo jeera and some samosas for starters. Now tell me about your mum.”
    Paige gave her an update. She gave her all the details, including the bit about her father being a fairy and living in the hills of Cornwall. Eva nodded and asked a few questions, and a couple of times reached across the table and patted Paige’s hand.
    “So have you spoken to Jean’s doctor?” Eva asked.
    “No, Mum doesn’t want me to. She said children should only take over dealing with their parents’ doctors when those parents are in adult nappies.”
    “She’s got a point. So what did this sexy physiotherapist say?”
    “Did I say he was sexy?”
    Eva laughed. “No, but I could tell you think it by the way you blushed when you said his name.”
    Paige rolled her eyes. “I’m so pathetic.”
    “Au contraire, my friend. It’s a charming quality, and I’m sure the physio agrees.”
    “Well, it doesn’t matter how sexy he is, I think he’s as mad as my mother.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Because his solution is for me to go and find my father.” She gave her friend a look that said, Can you believe it?
    “Your real father who’s been dead for years, or the fake fairy one?”
    “Arley says it won’t do any harm, and will show my mother that I’m supportive of her.”
    “He has a point. I had an uncle with dementia and it’s