by Pamela Fudge
I went through the contents of the overnight and toiletry bags in case there was anything I might have missed and was pleased that I seemed to have brought everything he might need. It was when he mentioned Ron that I clapped a hand over my mouth and admitted that, though I had thought to pick up his number, I had yet to ring him.
‘I’ll do it as soon as I get home,’ I promised.
‘They’re about eleven hours in front of us,’ Owen reminded me. ‘It will be the middle of the night.’
‘Don’t worry, Evie.’ Arthur patted my hand. ‘What he won’t know can’t worry him. Let him enjoy his Christmas for a bit longer and then, when you do speak to him, you be sure to tell him that I’m fine. You could do it on my Skype if I give you my passwords, to save your phone bill.’
‘I’ll ring him tomorrow,’ I decided. ‘It might give him more of a shock if a strange face pops up on your Skype.’
After assuring Arthur that Gizmo was just fine staying with me, and passing on the many encouraging messages from people that he seemed to recognise from my descriptions, we took our leave.
‘I didn’t like to say so in front of Arthur,’ Owen said, as we drove from the car park, ‘but he will need some kind of aftercare besides physio and may not be capable of living on his own.’
I nodded. ‘Yes, I’d already thought of that. He’ll have to come and stay with me.’
‘He’s not your responsibility,’ came the reminder.
‘Who else does he have?’
‘Well, I’ll help if you’ll let me.’ He saw my look and added, ‘He’s a nice old chap. I’ve become fond of him, too.’
‘I think we all have. I’ll talk to the nursing staff once he’s had his operation and find out what’s involved.’
He nodded, and then changed the subject, ‘Are you coming home with me? We’d all like you to be there.’
‘What about Gizmo?’
‘You shouldn’t even need to ask. We’ll pick him up on the way.’
I thought about the very different plans I’d made with Stuart for the day, but the thought was fleeting and I reminded myself quite strongly that I was very lucky to have an alternative offer.
‘Thank you.’
‘I feel to blame for your misunderstanding with…’
‘Stuart, ‘I finished for him. ‘Please don’t give it another thought because I shan’t.’
We decided to give Gizmo a quick walk before setting off again. The snow was melting rapidly now, leaving little piles of slush for the unwary to step in, although the park still looked quite pretty in places where the snow still lay white on the grass under the shade of trees.
The quick walk took a little longer than anticipated because of the number of times we were stopped for news of Arthur, and it was getting quite dark before we were on our way again.
‘Thank goodness,’ Alice greeted us, ‘What on earth took you so long? We were getting worried.’
‘Getting worried and getting hungry,’ Connor put in and was immediately told to ‘shush’ by the others.
‘Don’t tell me you haven’t eaten,’ I said, making my way through to the kitchen. One glance at the buffet all beautifully set out and obviously untouched, confirmed that they had been waiting all this time.
‘We wanted to wait for you both to get here,’ Jake explained, ushering us both to the table.
‘Help yourselves and then take your plate through to the sitting room,’ Ella encouraged. ‘We’ll have to eat on our laps because there’s not enough room or enough chairs in here.’
Very soon there was silence as we tucked into plates loaded with cold meats and pickles accompanied by crusty bread thickly spread with butter. It was clear that we were all absolutely starving – it had been a very long time since breakfast – but as soon as the edge had been taken off their appetites the questions started.
‘How is Arthur?’
‘When is his operation?’
‘How long will he be in hospital?’
Jake as a qualified physiotherapist, and Connor two years into his course to qualify in the same field were able to talk knowledgably about the aftercare he could expect. Both agreed he would need help at home, particularly given his age.
After making a great show of forcing ourselves to enjoy trifle, mince pies and various other treats, Ella, Mai and Connor begged to be able to take Gizmo for another walk and Alice and Jake insisted on clearing away and washing up.
‘Put your feet up and enjoy your wine, Mum,’ Alice smiled. ‘You’ve been rushing about all day.’
‘Actually, I would really love a nice cup of tea.’
‘Me, too,’ Owen agreed, stretching his feet out in front of the real fire that was burning in the grate.
When I looked at him again he was sound asleep. I hoped they would hurry up with that tea or I had the feeling I would be joining him. A soft tap at the front door roused me from a very comfortable reverie and brought my head up.
Alice put her head round the kitchen door and holding up her rubber-gloved hands said, ‘Can you get that, Mum? It’s probably the rest of them back from their walk.’
I was surprised they didn’t have a key between them, but then I supposed there was no reason they should because they were all staying at my place this holiday.
‘Wipe your feet,’ I warned, and then realised the lone person standing on the step was Stuart.
Chapter Sixteen
I stared at Stuart and he stared back at me, before saying in an apologetic tone, ‘I think it’s you who should be wiping your feet – all over me.’
‘Well,’ I said, ‘you won’t find me disagreeing with that. What are you doing here?’
‘Your daughter – or it could have been your stepdaughter – explained what had happened. I’m so sorry for jumping to conclusions, especially after seeing the other guy do exactly the same a couple of times, and I’m really very sorry to hear about Arthur’s accident. He’s a nice old boy.’
‘You coming here to apologise would have meant more if it hadn’t taken someone else to point out that you were jumping to conclusions,’ I began, quite ready to turn Stuart away. ‘I know what it must have looked like, but couldn’t you just have asked what was happening – and then waited for the answer.’
‘Yes, I know. Sorry,’ he said again.
‘Aren’t you going to invite Stuart in?’ Alice appeared beside me, looking immensely pleased with herself.
She was waiting for me to ask how she had found Stuart, I could see it in her eyes, but I really couldn’t be bothered and just wished she hadn’t. It was clear she thought she had done something wonderful for me, especially given her previous disapproval, and that was the only thing that stopped me turning him away and giving her an abrupt warning not to interfere in future. Without a word, I stood aside and Stuart came inside to join a family gathering that was never intended to include him.
Owen woke with a start from what must have been a very deep sleep, and if he was annoyed to find an interloper had joined the ranks while he slept, he hid it very well.
Alice made the introductions and then took Jake off to the kitchen to make sandwiches. I was pleased that Connor, Ella and Mai insisted on playing charades – just as we always had done on Boxing night – despite the presence of an outsider. To his credit Stuart joined in with a convincing show of enthusiasm, and if I noticed a distinct edge of competitiveness between him and Owen, I doubt anyone else did. However, I did draw the line at watching a fight for supremacy over the Monopoly board and gathered my things, and Gizmo, together and stated my intention to return home.
‘It’s a bit early,’ Connor protested.
‘You don’t have to come. I’m sure Stuart can give me a lift and Owen can bring the rest of you later. We all came with Owen,’ I explained to Stuart, ‘because he doesn’t trust us to drive in the snow.’
Owen protested, but Stuart just said, ‘Very sensible. It’s mostly gone now, but I’ve seen a few shunts around the area today. Not worth tak
ing the chance if you don’t have to.’
We drove most of the way in near silence, and what comments were made were stilted to say the least. It wasn’t until Stuart pulled his vehicle across my driveway and I was reaching for the door handle that he put out his hands in a supplicating gesture.
‘Ok, ok, I over-reacted, Evie. You might have done the same, faced with a similar scenario. I was jealous, and I freely admit it.’
I turned in my seat and gave him a look. ‘You could have just trusted me, Stuart. You must know I’m not the sort of person to sleep around.’
‘You’ve shared a house and family with the guy for years – I would hardly call that sleeping around.’
‘Well, I would. I’m sure I’ve said this to you before, but I’ll say it again, we shared a house, not a bed. Not ever, not even once. I’ve spent practically my whole life explaining this and if it’s something I am going to be continually doing for your peace of mind then we have to forget this,’ I paused and searched unsuccessfully for a word to explain the “this” that Stuart and I shared and ended up saying, ‘us,’ and then adding, ‘if there is an us.’
‘You must know there is.’ Stuart reached to take my hand, ‘I want to be the only man in your life – and in your bed, when the time is right – but I understand that you have a long history with Owen. I’m doing my very best to accept that and come to terms with it. Honestly.’
He sounded so humble that I felt the tension begin to seep out of me. The warmth I’d felt for him since our first meeting began to return.
Do you want to come in?’ I offered.
‘Yes, please.’
I gathered up my bag and the dog from the back seat and leaving him to follow, I let myself in. By the time we’d watched a DVD and shared a bottle of wine I had begun to feel comfortable with him again and even welcomed his tentative advances. In fact, things were starting to warm up nicely, when the front door opened and Ella could be heard protesting loudly about Connor’s competitive streak when it came to board games.
‘You don’t always have to win,’ she was saying, as Stuart and I quickly moved apart, fastened buttons and generally tidied our ruffled appearance.
‘I thought winning was the whole point,’ he was shrugging as he came in the door, and eyeing the bottle on the coffee table, forgot the conversation he was having to enquire, ‘Any wine left?’
‘Afraid not,’ I smiled, ‘but get another bottle from the fridge if you like, and some more glasses.’
‘You’ll have a hangover in the morning,’ Mai warned.
‘I’m on holiday,’ he pointed out with a grin, and bringing the fresh bottle to the table, offered to replenish our glasses.
‘Not for me,’ Stuart said immediately, getting up. ‘I really should be getting off. I’ve got work tomorrow.’
‘So soon?’ I said.
‘It’s what comes of being self-employed,’ he told me ruefully, as I walked with him to the front door. ‘Perhaps we can get together at the weekend and make up for the date we missed out on through my stupidity.’
‘Erm, the kids are all going back to uni this weekend, and I want to be around to see them off.’
Stuart made an effort to hide the fact that he was disgruntled at my refusal. That he didn’t understand my reason for it became clear when he pointed out, ‘Hardly kids, are they?’
‘To me they are and it might be a while before I see them again. Perhaps we can meet up for a drink one evening?’
‘I’ll ring you,’ he said abruptly, but then scooped me up in his arms and kissed me until I was breathless and we were both pretty aroused.
As I closed the door behind him I was confused – very confused.
‘Glass of wine,’ Connor wagged the bottle at me.
I shook my head. ‘Not for me, I’m off to bed.’
‘Me, too,’ Mai said. ‘It’s almost midnight.’
I glanced at the clock, and as I did so I suddenly said, ‘How far in front is Australian time to ours?’
‘Didn’t I hear someone say it was eleven hours?’ Ella supplied helpfully.
‘Right,’ I made up my mind, ‘I’m going to ring Arthur’s son, so can you all keep the noise down, please?’
‘We aren’t making any noise?’ Connor pointed out.
‘Well, don’t start,’ I advised, going into the hall for the number I wanted and the telephone receiver.
The male voice that answered was pleasantly deep with a very distinctive Australian accent, as might have been expected.
‘Am I speaking to Ron Parkinson?’ When he confirmed I hurried on, ‘You won’t know me, but I live next door to your Dad.’
‘Actually, I do feel as if I know you,’ he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice, ‘you must be Evie. My Dad talks about you all the time, he seems to be very fond of you.’
‘And I am of him, but...’
‘Is something wrong?’ his voice sharpened.
‘Arthur has had an accident.’ I heard the intake of his breath and hurried to say, ‘He’s fine, really. Well, he is in hospital and his hip is broken, but he will be fine. He slipped in the snow on Christmas night.’
I gave him the details of the hospital and then did my best to assure him that I was quite happy to take care of Arthur when he came home with his new hip. Eventually, I put the phone back on its stand and went back into the sitting room and collapsed on the couch.
‘I think I’ll have that glass of wine now, ‘ I told Connor, ‘if there’s any left.’
‘Was he cross about it being our fault he fell?’ Connor asked as he poured it.
‘On the contrary, he doesn’t blame us in the slightest and is grateful or everything we’ve done for Arthur.’
‘Oh, only you looked a bit shocked when you came in, and I thought he might have had a go at you – at us.’ The two girls nodded in agreement and they all looked at me anxiously.
‘If I look shocked it’s because Ron – Arthur’s son – has said that he’ll be over with his family just as soon as they can get a flight. He said this has made him realise his father’s age and that at times like this Skype just isn’t enough.’
What I didn’t mention was that his words had brought uncomfortable and very unwelcome thoughts of my own parents and their advancing years - and though I pushed those thoughts away with grim determination, they came back again and again throughout a very long and sleepless night.
I had no trouble keeping busy the next day. I was up at first light and in the park with Gizmo before any of my guests had so much as raised an eyelid. When I got back I delivered cups of tea to their bedsides and along with the reminder that dirty washing needed to find its way into the laundry now if it was to be washed, dried and ironed by the weekend it.
While they were still groaning, I made my way round to Arthur’s and viewed the bungalow with a critical eye before stripping Arthur’s bed and making it up with fresh bedding found in the airing cupboard. I wondered how his Australian family were going to manage about sleeping arrangements because there was only the one bed, before reminding myself that it was none of my business and setting to with the duster, polish and vacuum. Dust had barely had time to settle but I felt I should be doing something.
I took the bedding home with me, along with a few bits and pieces discovered in the laundry basket tucked into the corner of the bathroom, and was more than ready for the bacon sandwiches I found waiting for me.
I had my sleeves rolled up and piles of dirty laundry scattered everywhere when the doorbell rang, making me tut under my breath at the unwelcome interruption.
It was Ruth, one half of the posh couple from the bungalow on the other side of me to Arthur’s, looking immaculate as ever in black trousers and a black top with a tiny bit of sparkle evident, probably as a nod to the festive season.
‘My word, you do look busy, Evelyn,’ she said, but she had dropped the haughty tone since the pre-Christmas get-together, I noticed. ‘I won’t keep you, but I just thought I would
call to ask if you have any news of Arthur?’
I pushed my untidy hair self-consciously back from my face and hoped I didn’t have grease down my top from the bacon sandwich. ‘Excuse the mess, but the children are going back to their various universities this weekend and they seem to have discovered that every garment they brought with them needs washing. Arthur, ‘I said, getting back to the point of her visit, ‘should be having his operation this morning and I’m to ring about midday. I’ve been in touch with his son and he’s going to get a flight over here from Australia as soon as he can.’
‘Oh, I am pleased. He’ll need family at a time like this – not that you haven’t been wonderful. You put us all to shame. Your party has resulted in Giles and I realising how very antisocial we’ve always been with our neighbours and we’d like to throw one of our own – on New Year’s Eve. I hope you’re free.’
‘Oh, that would be great,’ I said and meant it.
‘And bring that lovely man of yours,’ she encouraged. ‘Owen, wasn’t it?’
‘I’ll be sure to let Owen know that he’s invited when I see him,’ I said, thereby making it abundantly clear that he didn’t live with me. I wasn’t sure how I could also make it clear that he wasn’t ‘that lovely man’ of mine, without appearing rude.
Connor came down the stairs at that moment with yet another armful of washing, and Ruth gave me a sympathetic look and said, ‘I’ll leave you to get on. Please do give Arthur our very best and wish him well soon. I’ll pass on the news of him to save you being inundated with visitors.’
Within a very short time the house looked like a Chinese laundry, with washing draped over radiators and doors throughout. We gave the washing line a go as well, because even though it was still December the stiff breeze might just do its stuff. For the first time I thought regretfully of the big house with its utility room and dryer and wondered if life really had been much simpler then.
Chapter Seventeen
After breaking off only to visit Arthur at the hospital during the afternoon, I was still ironing long after the children had gone out, at my urging, to meet their Brankstone friends at the local pub. To be fair, the two girls had done more than their fair share and we had been in agreement that to have Connor wielding a hot iron wasn’t a good idea at all. Instead he had kept us constantly supplied with teas, coffees, soft drinks, snacks and even meals throughout the day.
