Page 16 of The Forever Cottage

‘Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I do hope they can fix her up quickly. Send her my love, won’t you?’

‘I will!’ Tess said, climbing into the car and turning on the ignition, slowly manoeuvring around the drive as Dilly waved her off.

‘Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. Drive carefully!’

Tess was grateful for Dilly’s words of positivity and encouragement. In Charles’s absence, Dilly had become a familiar and constant presence around at Hollyhocks Cottage, calling in regularly bringing home-baked goods, her latest book recommendations for Tess to read and popping in just to check how Tess was doing, leaving her wondering if she hadn’t previously been too harsh on Dilly. As she turned on to the winding road that weaved its way through Lower Leaping, she vowed to be friendlier to her neighbour and would invite her round for some lunch and a proper catch-up just as soon as life settled down again.

Observing the speed limits, she drove as quickly as she could to the hospital, arriving fifteen minutes later, giving a silent prayer of thanks to the parking gods for offering up a place near to the front entrance. She quickly bought a ticket on her phone and rushed through the double doors, following the signs to the medical ward.

‘Mum!’ Tess’s heart squeezed seeing her mum reclined on a hospital bed, looking pale and weak, hooked up to a drip. ‘What happened?’

‘Darling, how lovely of you to come. I hope you’ve not been worrying. It came on very quickly. One minute, I was happily playing in the whist drive; the next morning, I couldn’t get out of bed. Luckily, the girls at the home are very good. They realised something was wrong immediately and called the doctor out. And, well, here I am! A UTI, apparently. Oh the joys of growing older!’

‘How are you feeling?’

Marjorie gave a smile, her grey eyes watery. ‘Just weary. I’m sure, given a few days, I’ll be as right as rain again.’

Tess swallowed down a sense of dread. With her can-do attitude and joie de vivre, it was easy to imagine that Marjorie would go on forever, but here in a clinical hospital environment, in her cotton nightie, Tess could sense her vulnerability and fragility. She couldn’t bear to imagine a time when she wouldn’t have her mum at her side.

‘Mum, you have to get better. You can’t leave me, not now when Charles has deserted me too. I don’t know what I’d do without you.’ She hadn’t intended to voice her thoughts aloud but she hadn’t been able to stop herself.

Marjorie gave a low chuckle that set her off coughing and Tess looked on alarmed as she wheezed and spluttered.

‘Have some water, Mum,’ she said, passing her the filled glass from the bedside cabinet.

‘Listen,’ she said, pointing a finger in Tess’s direction once she’d gathered herself. ‘Don’t write me off yet. I’m not going anywhere. This is a minor setback. Very inconvenient, but one of those things. You mark my words, I’ll be zipping around on my Zimmer frame within days.’

Tess shook her head indulgently.

‘You haven’t got a Zimmer frame, Mum.’

‘Well maybe I should get one then!’ she said, laughing. ‘Anyway, tell me your news. What’s happening at Hollyhocks Cottage? Are you spending lots of time in your new garden room?’

‘I have been,’ she said immediately, deciding now was not the time to mention she had a guest making use of the facilities. Rob had moved into the annexe earlier in the week, bringing with him his tent and all his worldly belongings fitted into that huge backpack. Tess had shown him around, introduced him to Barney and then left him to his own devices, hoping he would settle in quickly. There was no point in worrying her mum unnecessarily with the news when the only thing she should be concentrating on was getting better. ‘It’s such a wonderful space. You can get out there and imagine you’re on a spiritual retreat somewhere. In fact, I had the very idea that I could let out the place for short breaks to people who are searching for some peace and quiet, away from the demands and busyness of their usual routine. It would be perfect for a yoga or writing retreat, or for anyone wanting a quiet time away from it all. I’d also be happy to provide home-cooked meals if that was something of interest.’

‘That sounds very entrepreneurial, darling, although you would need to be careful. You can’t go inviting any old Tom, Dick or Harry into your home. You hear about these terrible stories where people let out a room to someone and then they have a dreadful job getting rid of them.’

‘Don’t worry,’ said Tess, with only the slightest sense of alarm. ‘I’d obviously do my research, but I think it might be a fun thing to do; I’d meet lots of new people and the extra funds would be welcome. Although I probably won’t start until next year. It’s definitely something to think about.’ She had no idea how long Rob might be staying, but she imagined it would only be a few months at the most.

‘Well, I will look forward to coming to see you again when I get out of this place, although how long that will be, I don’t know.’

‘Once those antibiotics kick in, I’m sure you’ll be feeling much better. Is there anything you need me to bring in for you, Mum?’

‘Maybe some of my nighties and perhaps some magazines too. The hours stretch out forever here. Now, don’t go telling Hannah about this little episode, will you? I don’t want her worrying all those miles away. I know what she’s like. She’d be on the next plane home.’

‘Okay, I won’t, but only if you promise to get well and back home as soon as possible. Obviously, I would have to tell her if you were really poorly or else she would never forgive me.’

Tess took hold of Marjorie’s hand and squeezed it tight.

‘Well, I shall have to do my very best then to make sure I hang around for a while!’

14

‘Hello, darling!’

Tess’s whole body tensed as she opened the front door to the unexpected visitor.

‘I am not your darling.’ Even if the familiar, warm timbre of Charles’s voice recalled an intimacy that no longer existed between them. ‘And now is not a great time. I’m busy. What exactly is it that you want?’

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