I was glad for the festive buzz, the bustle, the red and green tinsel Lynn had already hung across window frames, because despite continued protests Willow Court’s owners had removed more things that made the place feel like home, albeit the smaller ones like the paintings of vintage scenes.
‘How was your haunted pub tour?’ I asked Nik.
‘Fantastic! I never knew so many ghosts roamed London’s streets.’
‘You believe in them, then?’ I poked him gently in the ribs.
‘Just because you can’t prove something, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.’
‘Scientists might disagree.’
‘I don’t know about that. In 1974 Stephen Hawkings theorised that black holes eventually evaporate away. Yet this wasn’t finally proved until 2019.’ He pulled a sheepish face. ‘Sorry. I’m a bit of a cosmic physics nerd. Don’t you just find the sky and its contents fascinating?’
I thought about Alf and his theory.
‘Hello, Jess. Lovely to see you.’ Glenda didn’t give me the usual suspicious peer over the top of her cat-eye glasses.
‘You too… how did you find Darkthorn House?’
‘Loved it, didn’t you, Glennie?’ said Nik.
Gran came over at that moment and I kissed her on the cheek. She held the clipboard with a pen attached to it. In the last couple of days, she’d started to draw up a final check list for the party and read it to me over the phone making sure she’d covered all the people who’d emailed me with offers of help. I’d been relieved that, as each day passed, her low mood over the home’s closure continued to disappear.
‘Did you mention Darkthorn House?’ she said. ‘Glenda has accepted a place there, so has Fred and I think Nancy will too after my recommendation. She’s going to visit it tomorrow.’
‘That’s fantastic news!’ I said.
‘The staff seemed very efficient and everywhere was clean,’ said Glenda. ‘The other residents looked happy and Alice and I have been looking at the activities… there is a great choice but no book club. We thought we might set one up. It was Nik’s idea.’
‘I think Glenda is a little put out she doesn’t have a goldfish though,’ said Gran, eyes twinkling.
I waited for Glenda’s offhand superior expression – a comment about animals not being hygienic.
‘Maybe in time I’ll buy one.’
‘Really?’ I raised my eyebrows. ‘You’ve never struck me as pet person, Glenda.’
‘Tell them about Gabby,’ said Nik. I remembered him mentioning that name when I said she’d never talked fondly about a loved one.
Glenda took her hands out of her navy cardigan pockets. ‘Gabby was such a good companion – although you are right, Jess… there was a time I never thought I’d own a pet. Especially a cat or dog that might shed hair or make a mess… However, Gabby chose me.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She followed me home from the local newsagent’s one night. It was soon after I’d retired. I would have ignored her but she was missing her back right leg. An old injury by the looks of it but…’ She shrugged. ‘I guess her following me brought back my happy life on the farm growing up and my favourite cow, Nettie, who would trail after me in the fields.’
‘Did this Gabby belong to someone?’
‘Yes, although you wouldn’t have thought so. She was practically feral at the start and I had to handle her with gardening gloves. The Cats Protection League tracked down her owners who were only too happy to get rid. Such a pretty little jewel she was – a tabby with fern-green eyes and a white bib. Eventually I put a cat flap into my cottage’s back door and after a couple of months she accepted I would never hurt her – that she would always be loved and fed. She was excellent company and used to talk back to me.’ Glenda blushed. ‘I suppose that sounds silly.’
‘No,’ said Gran. ‘I had a nice chat with Silver when I visited. He came right up to his glass wall to say hello.’
The two women smiled at each other. I looked at Nik, admiring how he’d seen through the black and white outer image of Glenda that none of us could ever get past, revealing the more approachable shades of grey that were in all of us. Nik put an arm around her and they headed to a table covered in the photos she’d been collating. He stopped on the way to talk to Betty who, to everyone’s relief, was no worse for wear following her trip to the video shop.
‘It’s all coming together, isn’t it, Gran?’ I said as she sunk into a nearby chair. ‘I can’t believe this party is actually going to happen.’ I sat down too.
‘Yes, and slowly but surely everyone has come to terms with the move afterwards. Even Pan.’ She smiled. ‘Even me.’
‘Did I hear my name, darling?’ said a voice. A wave of pungent perfume wafted over me. Pan sat down on one of the leaf-patterned armchairs, wearing a magnificent flowing tie dye top over pink leggings.
‘We’re just talking about where everyone’s going to live,’ I said.
Pan wiped crumbs away from her mouth.
‘Been sampling the cookies?’ I asked.
‘A very important job,’ she said, beaming.
‘So you’ve decided where you are living?’
‘I’m moving in with Adam. I thought about what Alf said and his daughter getting upset. It changed my perspective a little, although the deciding factor was everything Nik told me.’
I glanced over at Alf who honestly believed Nik had magical powers of kindness that could only be attributed to someone like Saint Niklaus.
‘He brought Glenda back after they visited Darkthorn House and came in for a coffee. I was eating dinner in the dining room. Glenda went to her room to get changed.’ She flashed me a mischievous smile. ‘I think she wanted to check her hair was all right, what with Nik being around. Anyway, he asked if I was leaning towards a decision. I said Alf had made me feel more positive, but it was different for him because there were no grandchildren. You see, my main concern, apart from being a burden to Adam and… and… Sus… I mean… Sar… his wife, has been that his teenage daughters would find it dreary having their gran around – even though we get on well. At that age you don’t want to be talking medicines and nurses – you want to walk around singing to music, raving about pop stars, you want the world to be vibrant and… and romantic.’
‘I don’t see for one minute how you would detract from that, Pan,’ I said.
‘What did our Nik say to change your mind?’ asked Gran.
‘I didn’t know that he’d been a teen when his grandma moved in. He said it was great – and not just because she was usually on his side if he got into trouble with his parents. He loved listening to her stories from when she was younger. Plus both working full-time, he noticed his parents used to get stressed with each other and having his grandmother there… it sort of created a new dynamic.’ She shrugged. ‘He was honest – said there were very difficult times, especially towards the end, but that his mum and dad had talked to him about it, before she moved in. They all agreed it would have been much harder if she’d been in a home and they were always having to to and fro and worry from afar.’
‘So it’s sorted and you’re happy?’ asked Gran
‘Yes – although it’s on the condition that if things get too… difficult, well, then they don’t hesitate to put me into full-time care. I’ve made them promise me that. Taking in an older relative, it wouldn’t work for everyone – but they have the room and I feel happier we now have this agreement that if things get tough, I won’t be a burden.’
I took her hand. ‘Well done, Pan. It can’t have been an easy decision to make.’
Gran’s stomach rumbled and we all laughed as Buddy pricked up his ears. ‘I need a cookie,’ she said.
I started to get up but Pan waved her hand. ‘No. Allow me. Then I think you and I should paint our stones, Alice. I’m going to paint a willow tree. What about you?’
‘A canal boat, if I can manage it.’
Gran watched Pan leave with a sad look on her
face, then she turned to me. ‘Just to let you know, Jess, your mum hasn’t got in touch.’
‘What a surprise.’
‘Now, now… doesn’t mean she won’t. It must be daunting, the thought of facing us both. I was thinking, she might find it easier meeting us in a more relaxed environment, such as a party…’ Her eyes shone with hope.
‘You want to invite her on Sunday?’ I thought for a moment. ‘I guess there’s nothing to lose. Okay. Whatever you think is best.’
Please don’t let Gran down. I don’t care about me. I’ve accepted the way things are but Gran’s older and wants a sense of closure.
A commotion near reception revealed that the tree had arrived. The scouts jumped to their feet. Nik hurried over. The pine tree was even taller than him and had already been planted in a big red bucket. Nik helped them position it near the window. Lynn got out the stack of decorations the residents had made, all glittery and white, in the shape of bells, angels and snowflakes. Pan came over to us with a plate of warm cookies. Nancy followed in her wheelchair with a tray of what looked like cranberry vol-au-vents balanced on her lap.
I picked one up. ‘Mmm. Delicious.’
Nancy offered me another. ‘We used readymade puff pastry.’
‘Really Christmassy. Now I could just do with a slice of turkey,’ said Gran.
We all headed over to where Oliver was standing. The chairs around the painting table were empty now. He’d been helping residents with the trickier parts of their designs. My chest glowed as I observed his easy manner with the residents. Pan and Gran sat down and chose their stones and the acrylic pens they thought would suit their designs. I passed Buddy’s lead to Gran.
‘How was last night?’ I asked Oliver as we stood watching, feeling oddly shy at the proximity. The urge I sometimes had to run my hand across his broad shoulders, just for a second felt overpowering.
‘Good,’ he said. ‘We actually talked a lot about work and an idea Misty and I are considering, to bring in more income. I was going to ring but—’
‘It’s none of my business,’ I said and forced a laugh. That didn’t mean I wasn’t keen to hear every single detail. Like what had she worn? Did they laugh much? How was the sex?
I pushed away that last thought.
‘Are you seeing her again?’
‘I’ve kind of invited her to the party. Lynn said it was okay. I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Gosh. Things are moving quickly.’ I kept my tone jolly. ‘In fact, it’s quite inspired me to go on Tinder. It’s about time I tried it – with a little help from Seb. Perhaps we’ll soon be able to double date.’
‘Sure,’ he said, not sounding enthusiastic.
I couldn’t blame him. We’d only ever been on one double date before and our partners decided they liked each other more than me and Oliver.
‘It’ll be great to meet Krish,’ I said breezily.
‘I only asked her because her granddad is reaching the point where he needs to go into a care home and I suggested her coming as it would give her an inside view. She said the family’s really worried he’ll feel lonely – I reckon this place, and the strong friendships everyone has made, and the amazing staff… the spirit of Willow Court will make her and her family feel much better.’
‘Good idea. Right – I think I’ll go and help decorate that tree. I can spot one of the scouts about to sink his teeth into one of Gran’s decorative dough biscuits.’
Without looking at Oliver, I hurried away. I’d been so looking forward to the party with the good ole James Stewart vibe, the music and food, the fake snow outside and the residents forgetting their worries just for a few hours.
But now it would be an emotional event where Mum might turn up and where I’d be effectively saying goodbye to Nik – chuckle as I may about Alf’s theory, a tiny part of me considered that he could be right. True saint or not, Nik was a one-off. Call it the pixie dust factor. And then there was Krish turning up, and the possibility of Oliver moving in with her brother – at this rate the party might herald the beginning of me also having to say goodbye to my flatmate.
38
Gran stood at the front of the lounge by the hatch with Lynn. The room was packed. It was Wednesday, the 2nd of December. The final preparations had been done and Nik, Oliver and I were about to head up to Pebble Rock to drop off everyone’s painted stones. There wouldn’t be another chance before Sunday. None of us felt goodhearted Nik should do it on his own, as he offered, and Oliver and I were both working until the weekend. We had torches and would take photos to show everyone. We stood in our anoraks and each had a rucksack. The collection of stones was quite heavy as the staff had painted one each, as well, and Alf insisted on decorating an extra one representing Buddy. However, the main reason for dividing them up was because if they’d all been bundled into one bag the paint might have chipped off.
‘Right, everyone,’ said Gran. ‘Tell me if I’ve got any of this wrong.’ She coughed and leant against the hatch’s counter before squinting at her clipboard. ‘The crackers are now finished – enough for one between two.’
We’d all agreed making nearly one hundred, what with thirty residents and two guests each, would have taken its toll on poor eyesight and arthritic hands! Foil had been twisted and wrapped and then – the most fun part – jokes made and one of the carers typed them up at home and printed them out. The gifts inside were individually wrapped chocolate bonbons.
‘The decorations are done, too, and the scouts did a grand job of putting them on the tree. Glenda’s twig frame is finished. How are you getting on with putting the photos onto it?’
‘I’m doing a row every day,’ she said. ‘It’s quite tricky using the clips Nik ordered for me online but I’ll definitely be finished by Sunday.’
Gran wrote another tick on her list. ‘Excellent. Right, Lynn, has your brother got his playlist together? The party kicks off at two – what time will he arrive?’
‘Yes, everyone was really helpful on Sunday. Geoff will arrive before three and play for an hour – Nancy’s Duke Ellington records can play until he gets here, along with the Big Band Christmas CD I bought especially.’
‘Rose, Walter, Celia and… Nancy – you’re going to bake the cookies on Saturday? And those little vol-au-vents, along with peppermint creams to have with coffee?’
‘Yes,’ replied Nancy. ‘And at the end of this week the red and white candy canes we ordered should arrive.’
‘The Springhaye Snacking Company that offered us finger foods at a discount price – and they do sound delicious – will set up their buffet at around one o’clock in the dining room, that’s right, isn’t it, Lynn?’ Gran continued.
‘Yes. Partygoers eating in the dining room will mean there is plenty of space in there and here in the lounge, for people to chat. And, if Geoff’s playing gets too loud people can move. Oh, and the party organisers that offered to decorate the lounge with snowflake helium balloons and foil icicle chains will get here early too.’
‘What about those American desserts we were promised?’ asked Fred, rapping his walking stick on the floor. ‘Damned delicious they sounded.’
Gran smiled. ‘The American woman who emailed in? Cynthia will be dropping off her eggnog pie and spiced rum fruitcake on Saturday. Very generously she’s made several of each. I can’t wait to try them. I’m so glad she won the American cookie hamper that the Amblemarsh Gazette offered, for those emailing in with offers of help and tips.’
‘We should write and thank the editor, again. I’ll email him tomorrow, if you all like,’ I said.
‘I’ll set up Misty’s Minibar at the hatch, in here, right?’ asked Oliver.
‘Love the name,’ I said.
He beamed. ‘I’ll make the eggnog cocktails and the Snowflake Martinis everyone liked, along with alcohol-free versions and a couple of Martini cocktails seeing as that’s what most of you suggested. I’m working on a menu that will list all the choices. Misty’s been great about donating
ingredients and I’ll bring along some of our most popular bar snacks.’
‘Why don’t we serve soft drinks and coffees from there too,’ said Pan. ‘That way both the dining room and lounge will feel really sociable all afternoon.’
With slow writing, Gran noted that down.
‘The choir will turn up at five to sing carols,’ said Lynn. They will perform in the corridor so that people can hear in both areas.’
‘And things are winding up at half past five?’ asked Nik.
Lynn nodded. ‘The choir will make a nice finale. Our cooks will just put on a small Sunday lunch for residents, at twelve – perhaps soup and rolls. That way everyone will have an appetite to enjoy the buffet.’ She looked around. ‘Two until five-thirty is a long time and if anyone feels they need to retire to their room for a break, or bit of quiet, there’s no shame in that.’
‘Not likely,’ said Alf. ‘I don’t think I’ve been to a party since last year’s bash.’
‘We don’t mind if you need to take a break though, Lynn,’ said Fred. ‘We all know you youngsters can’t keep up. There’s no stamina these days.’
Everyone laughed, Lynn included, then her face turned serious. ‘This might be the last time I can speak to you, all gathered together like this, just us…’ She looked past Nik, Oliver and me standing near the corridor, and beckoned. Several of the carers came in and stood at the front with her. ‘We just wanted to say… the closing of Willow Court, it’s the last thing any of us wanted. You’ve all become our extended family.’ She glanced at her colleagues who nodded. ‘We’re really going to miss every single one of you – Pan’s stylish dress sense, Alf’s skills with dominoes. We’ve loved hearing Fred’s firefighting stories and Glenda’s tales of travel…’ On she went, mentioning people’s names, demonstrating how her job was much more than just a way of paying the bills. ‘You’ve given us all perspective…’ Her voice wavered. ‘About what really matters in life. You’ve taught us so much, sharing your life experiences. We wish you all well.’
The Winter We Met Page 26
