Sing For Me

Strangers and Salads

"Hello there my love can I help at all?" I ask a lady at the cosmetic stand at the front of the store, she was late fifties very pretty 

"I'm looking for a foundation darling, something to hide these age spots under my eyes" she says pointing them out to me although I can barely see them. I pick her something out explaining its properties and benefits she seems interested and asks a lot of questions God what if she is a mystery shopper. "It's nice to find someone who knows what they are talking about" she says and I smile "not that my husband appreciates it he says I look fine without make up" she laughs 

"Hmm my husbands like that, but then he's an old softy" I tell her 

"Ah but you don't need it my dear, you are beautiful" she says I look down afraid to take the compliment.

"There's a real glow about you, I'm being really cheeky here but are you pregnant" she shocks me 

"What makes you think that" she looks me up and down 

"So I'm right" she asks

"Yes I'm nearly three months" she smiles 

"Is it your first?" I laugh 

"No third" 

"Goodness quite a family you have, your husband must be very proud" she has no idea 

"He is yes" I must beam when I speak about Ben as she notices

"You love your husband very much don't you, it would take a fool not to notice" I must blush as I do 

"Yes I do I'm very lucky, do you have children?" I ask, her face changes she looks sad, 

"I did have, I had a son but I lost him, many years ago now" I wish I hadn't have said anything 

"Oh I'm so sorry" feeling awful 

"Its something I've had to live with my dear" she taps my tummy taking me by surprise 

"Take care of yours my darling and your husband to have something so wonderful, that clearly makes you so happy should be treasured, thank you for your help" she says and heads for the till. I'm left lost what was that all about.

"Are you OK Lis" Mike asks coming up behind me, I tell him about my chat with the lady and I point her out to him, 

"She's not a regular, on holiday maybe" Mike doesn't forget a face we work smack bang in the middle of the city hundreds and hundreds flock in here every day and still he knows who lives here and who doesn't. 

We are stood close to the door as she comes passed again "Thank you my dear, good luck with the new baby" she says 

"Thank you" I say waving her off. 

"How did she know you were pregnant?" Mike asks 

"She guessed" I tell him 

"It was weird, just weird, it was like she knew me, she knew how I felt about Ben without me barely talking about him" Mike shakes his head with no real response to that 

"Perhaps she was one of those psychic's or something" he says as I look at him 

"Do you believe in all that do you" I ask he laughs 

"Why has she got you spooked has she Lis" she hasn't but there was just something with her "Perhaps she knew what you and Ben were up to last night" I turn and look at him 

"Me and Ben weren't up to anything last night we watched Holby city and went to bed thank you" he grins 

"Yeah to play doctors and nurses, I bet he's got a lush bedside manner" ooh I could hit him