Page 52 of Teacakes & Tangos
All sorts of questions were firing off inside my head...
But Minnie was embracing me, so for now, I had to smile and hug her back.
‘I wassodelighted to hear that your lovely father had come out of his coma.’ She gave me an extra delighted squeeze and smiled at me through happy tears. ‘I can’t tell you how happy and relieved I felt when I got your text. Would it be all right if I visited him in hospital, Anika? To thank him, you know? For throwing himself into that road and probably saving my life?’
‘Of course.’ I nodded eagerly. Dad was starting to remember more about the day of the accident and he’d asked me about Minnie. I’d seen the relief in his face when I’d told him she was fine. ‘He’d love to see you. I’ll let you know just as soon as he’s well enough to receive visitors.’
Minnie took my hand and squeezed it in both of hers. ‘I’d like that very much, dear.’ She shook her head in wonder. ‘I had no idea when I came to see you that day that you actually knew my gorgeous grandson!’
‘Yes, how strange life is,’ I said lightly. ‘Full of odd coincidences.’
I flashed a brief look at Xander.
He was standing rather stiffly, not looking at me, his lips pressed uncomfortably together.
‘Actually, Minnie, I’ve been trying to track you down because I really need to return your generous gift.’
Minnie’s eyes opened wide. ‘Gift, dear?’
My heart lurched. It sounded as if she’d forgotten all about posting the envelope of cash through my door. But she needed to have it back...
But Xander was now breaking his awkward silence and looking at me urgently. ‘Anika, no,’ he murmured, as he slipped a protective arm around his grandmother. ‘Let’s talk about this later?’
Minnie smiled up at him and patted his cheek gently. ‘Do you know, I haven’t the faintest idea what you two are talking about. But you make a lovely couple! Are you happy, Xander?’
He cast a guilty look in my direction. ‘Er... yes. Yes, of course.’
Minnie turned to me. ‘And are you happy, Anika?’
‘Yes!’ I smiled at her. ‘Very happy.’
She nodded, apparently satisfied. ‘Then so am I. I always thought that other girl wasn’t right for you, Xander, although I didn’t want to interfere. What was her name?’ She frowned, trying to remember. ‘Diana, was it?’
‘Dana,’ said Xander shortly.
‘That’s right. Dana. She could be very nice and charming, but she sometimes gave me the impression she thought herself superior... that our family wasn’t good enough for her, which of course was ridiculous.’
Xander smiled at her. ‘Not that you’re biased in any way at all, Gran.’
She chuckled at that. ‘You’re the best of them, my darling. You always have been.’ She looked around. ‘Now, where’s Betty got to? We’ve been treating ourselves to tea and cake and a lovely gossip in the Little Duckling Café, and I’m giving her a lift home. Ah, there she is. So I’ll love you and leave you.’ She smiled from Xander to me and back to her grandson. ‘Such a lovely surprise bumping into you both. See you soon, I hope!’
We waved her off to join her friend. Then, false smiles vanishing, we walked silently over to Xander’s car.
*****
In the car, Xander glanced across at me. He had the look of a defeated man. ‘I’ll explain when we get back to yours, okay?’ he said gently.
I nodded. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing it,’ I replied a little sharply.
He sighed heavily and started the car, and we drove along in silence. The atmosphere between us was suddenly so tense, my head had already started to throb by the time we drove into the close and parked outside the house.
I got out and went inside without waiting for him, leaving the door open behind me.
He followed me into the kitchen, where I was occupying myself filling the kettle for a cup of tea I didn’t even want. I heard a chair scrape as Xander sat down at the table.
‘So.’ I sat down opposite him. ‘I can’t wait to hear why you chose not to tell me... that not only do you know Minnie, while making out that you didn’t, but that you’re actually hergrandson?’
‘I know. It’s . . . complicated.’ He shrugged helplessly.
