Page 86 of Lessons in Life

‘She is.’ Mum smiled. ‘I’m keeping an eye on her. Miscarriage is a horrid experience for any woman to go through, but particularly a young girl. Don’t forget it’s her birthday next month. Sweet sixteen. Right, I’m away.’ Mum stood and then turned to back to Jess and me. ‘I want to find out more now, girls. I want to know everything. Everything!’

28

LISA

The following morning Lisa didn’t know what to do with herself. Sorrel had insisted she was fine and able to be back at school so, after dropping her off at the school gates, she decided she’d head to Hudson House. She knew there were jobs to do in both her own and Jess’s garden, but she wanted the company that Radio 4 wasn’t able to give her. She hoped getting stuck into little tasks at the care home might be an antidote to the myriad flashbacks Robyn and Jess’s visit to Sheffield had reignited.

The home was a carer down. Jess, unsure whether, in the light of the Sattars’ move on the place, she should be employing a permanent member of staff, had turned to an agency, who weren’t overly helpful. There’d be plenty of little jobs Lisa could assist with and, while she also packed the new gym kit she’d treated herself to, she was happy to be with people who needed her company and her help.

It was lovely when the staff – Bex, Stephie and Azir – greeted her, obviously pleased to see her and have her there. Lovelier still, when the residents made their way over to pat at her arm, hold her hand, call her over to their chair or even salute her, as Geoffrey always did.

‘Where’s Eloise?’ Lisa asked when Jess asked if she’d assist in the kitchen with morning coffee.

‘I don’t know.’ Jess turned to Stephie, who was emptying biscuits from a packet onto plates. ‘Stephie? Have you seen her?’

‘Couldn’t get her out of bed this morning,’ she replied. ‘She said she was tired and wanted a lie-in.’

‘We could do with getting her up and dressed,’ Jess said. ‘Her daughter’s just phoned to say she and Eloise’s husband are coming over shortly. Any chance they get to be critical of her care and they’ll be in there.’

‘Do you want me to go up to Eloise?’ Lisa asked. ‘See if I can persuade her to get herself dressed and her make-up on?’

‘Would you, Mum?’ Jess was harassed. ‘I’ve so much to do. That all right with you, Stephie?’

‘Sure.’ She grinned, stuffing another Garibaldi into her mouth. ‘I’m better down here.’

‘Yes,’ Jess sniffed. ‘But just leave something for the paying guests, if you don’t mind.’

* * *

Lisa made her way up to Daffodil floor where those with some dementia had their rooms, walking along the carpeted corridor until she came to Eloise’s room and knocked.

‘Can I come in, Eloise? It’s Lisa.’

‘Lisa? Oh, Lisa, yes, yes…’

‘You know who I am?’

‘Yes, of course, you’re Granny Maude’s gardener.’

‘That’s right.’ Lisa smiled, remembering Jess’s instructions to go along with what people with dementia believed to be the case. ‘Are you feeling tired this morning, Eloise?’ Lisa looked at her watch. ‘It’s nearly eleven. Did you have a bad night?’

‘I don’t want to go to Canada, Lisa,’ Eloise said, struggling to sit up.

‘Have to say, Eloise, it’s never really been on my wish list either.’ Lisa smiled, lying through her teeth – it was the one country she’d always aspired to visit. ‘I’m not keen on the cold and snow, although I believe it’s a very beautiful country.’

‘It’s a despicable place.’

‘Oh?’ Lisa moved to help Eloise as she swung her legs from the bed and headed to the shower.

‘Despicable. And, I really don’t need the gardener helping me to dress. I’m not going, you know.’

‘You don’t have to, if you don’t want to,’ Lisa called from the other side of the room’s en suite door. ‘Can I help you in there?’

‘Absolutely not.’ There was a minute’s silence and then: ‘Are you saying I can stay with you?’ Eloise’s hand and then her blonde head appeared back round the bathroom door.

‘Of course you can, if you want.’ Lisa hoped she was saying the right thing.

‘Well, don’t tell Granny. She’s booked the tickets.’

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