Page 20 of Teacakes & Tangos
Back in the kitchen, I slid open the first envelope as I was talking.
My face fell as I read the letter inside...
CHAPTER EIGHT
‘Is something wrong?’ asked Minnie.
I sighed, dropping the letter on the table. ‘It’s for Dad. I opened it without thinking. It’s from the mortgage company. They’re demanding a further £2,000 or they’ll repossess the house.’
‘Really? Oh, no, that’s the last thing you need while all this is going on with your father.’
I forced a smile. ‘The only thing that matters to me now is Dad getting well again. His accident has put everything into perspective.’ I shrugged. ‘Losing a house is nothing in the grand scheme of things. We’ll just... move somewhere else.’
‘No, but your home is important. Especially at a time like this.’ Minnie looked genuinely upset.
‘It’ll be fine. After my interview the other day, maybe I’ll be earning again soon.’ I crossed my fingers, looking more hopeful than I was feeling.
When I opened the second letter, which was addressed to me, I actually laughed out loud at the contents, although it really wasn’t funny at all. ‘Ah, well, scratch that! Apparently, the company thinks I don’t have enough experience. But they wish me well in my job hunt, which is nice.’ I dropped the letter next to the one from the bank and looked at Minnie with an amused shrug, although inside, I was feeling the weariness of yet another rejection.
‘Right, that’s it,’ said Minnie, tapping the table. ‘You must let me pay your mortgage arrears.’
‘What? No!’ I stared at her in amazement.
‘Look, it’s partly my fault your lovely father is in hospital fighting for his life and unable to go back to work as he’d planned. Really, it’s the very least I can do.’
‘Minnie, I could never let you do that.’
‘But why not? You can pay me back when you can. If you must. But I can’t let you lose your lovely house.’ She looked around her. ‘It just wouldn’t be right.’
I shook my head. ‘It’s so kind of you to offer, Minnie, but I couldn’t –’
‘It’s not kind at all. In fact, you’d be doing me a favour if you were to accept.’
I chuckled gently. ‘How do you make that out, then?’
‘Well, you’d be making an old lady feel much better. I’ve been feeling so bad about what happened. If you’d let me help you by relieving your financial worries a little, the guilt might not feel quite so sharp. You see?’
‘Nice try. But you have nothing at all to feel guilty about, Minnie,’ I said gently. ‘It’s the robbers and the driver of that speeding white van who should be losing sleep over this. Definitely not you.’
‘But I can afford it!’ insisted Minnie, looking quite distressed. ‘My husband, bless him, left me very well provided for. And at my age, I don’t need money for fancy holidays or new cars or the like. The money is just sitting there in the building society doing no good for anyone. When it could be helpingyou!’ She dug into her handbag and pulled out her purse. ‘I don’t think there are any rules aboutwhopays a mortgage, are there? Just use my card to clear the debt.’
She dropped the purse on the table and pushed the card towards me.
Smiling affectionately, I slid the card firmly back to her. ‘Minnie, no.’
She sighed, observing me with kindly frustration.
‘Ooh, who are they?’ To distract her, I pointed at the photo of two cute curly-headed little boys displayed in her purse.
She smiled fondly. ‘My twin grandsons. That was taken years ago when they were about eight. Family is so important. Even more so when you get to my age.’
‘You’re right there,’ I murmured.
‘Anyway, I’d better go and let you get to the hospital.’ Minnie stood up, slipped her purse in her handbag and hooked it over her arm. Her bank card was still lying on the table. ‘Will you let me know how things are... with your dad? I’ll be praying every day for him to wake up.’
‘Of course I will. And thank you for coming to see me. It was so lovely to meet you, Minnie.’ Smiling, I handed her the bank card.
‘Oh. Thank you, dear. Imagine if I’d walked away without that. Why did I get it out in the first place?’ She looked confused for a moment. Then she smiled and squeezed my forearm. ‘Oh, of course. I wanted to help you but you won’t let me. Dear me, my memory is terrible these days.’
