Page 64 of The Winter We Met
He and I, along with Lynn, manned the crafting tables although most of the residents were very capable. Another care worker had set up an area to start making the crackers, whilst supervising a resident at the table next to her, Bill, who was fiddling with a mini dementia wooden workbench that had hammers, screws and nails, even a vice. His face was totally relaxed as he busied himself with it. When we took a break after an hour for tea and Lamingtons, Nik sat down and helped him eat some of the chocolate cake before, between them, they hammered in a nail.
Alf kept looking at Nik and writing notes like he had on Friday.
‘Another conspiracy theory?’ I asked.
He put his fingers to his lips. ‘I’ll tell you when I’ve gathered enough evidence.’
I went to the front, near the hatch and yawned. Gran should have been by my side, calling the shots, but she just sat quietly, wearing no particular expression. ‘If I could have everyone’s attention,’ I said. ‘I’d just like to fill you all in on the amazing emails I’ve received, following the article in theGazette.’ I’d gone through them in the early hours, as I couldn’t sleep. ‘I’m really excited about the local mum I’ve already mentioned to some of you who’s American and has offered to make us spiced rum fruitcake and – I’m curious about this one – eggnog pie!’
‘It sounds just wonderful,’ said Glenda and several people looked at her, eyebrows raised.
I explained about the catering company and scouts and the Christmas tree company that had offered us a spruce for free, and the other emails that had come in this morning – a local choir was going carol singing throughout December and would make sure they called here on the 6th. ‘But most exciting of all…’ I smiled. ‘A snow machine business has offered to create falling snow in the front garden, so that Willow Court really looks like a winter wonderland.’
Pan clapped her hands. She wore bright orange nail varnish that wasn’t applied as neatly as usual. The usually smooth foundation appeared blotchy, and deeply set in her wrinkles. That had happened a few times recently. I waited for Glenda to give her usual moans about snow – how it was slippery and mushy and altogether unpleasant, as well as a threat to any pensioner’s health if they went out for a walk in it. However, her face looked radiant as she spoke to Nik.
‘That must be exciting for you. I remember visiting Adelaide with work, one winter, and getting to know a young woman who’d never seen snow. The following year she visited our offices. The look of wonder on her face when we had a blizzard – I’ve never forgotten it. She went outside and the snowflakes ruined her styled hair and her mascara ran, but she didn’t care one jot.’
‘It snows a lot where my family originally comes from in Finland,’ said Nik. ‘When I was a child Mum and Dad would take me to visit. Much as I love the sun, I never feel more at home than when I’m sitting outside on a porch, in thermals, drinking steaming coffee and looking out onto a white landscape.’
Alf cocked his head, his eyes widened and he wrote something down.
‘So I’ll see you tomorrow morning, ten o’clock sharp,’ I said to Gran as Nik and I prepared to leave.
‘Fine,’ she mumbled.
‘Are we going now?’ said Betty to Nik. ‘We need to get home. The children will be waiting.’
Nik pulled up the arm of her raincoat that had started to fall down. Over recent months Betty had lost weight.
‘They are tucked up in bed, having an early night,’ he said softly. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, Betty.’
She stared at him, her frown lines disappearing for a second.
I sat down next to Gran. ‘How do you really feel about visiting Darkthorn House tomorrow?’
‘I’ve just got to make the best of a bad situation.’
‘No, you don’t. We’re not signing up to anywhere you aren’t one hundred per cent happy with. I know there’s only three weeks to moving out but I promise we’ll find you the right long-term fit.’
‘Sorry for not being much help lately,’ she said. ‘I’m just not in the mood for this party. What’s the point? And it shouldn’t be you worrying about all of this. I should have your mum here to help. You should be out dancing in clubs and partying – not stuck inside with a bunch of old fogies.’
‘When did I ever party?’ I said, smiling, but my conscience niggled about not having mentioned the email. ‘Surely you wouldn’t still want Mum around – not after she’s kept away for so many years?’
‘I don’t expect you to understand, sweetheart. You might one day, if you have kids. Karen… she’ll always be my little girl. She’s made mistakes – flippin’ big ones at that. I can’t say I don’t feel hurt, really hurt—’ she thumped her chest ‘—by her silence but… blood bonds us. She’s part of me. Without her around I don’t feel complete. She’s not been the best mum to you and I can’t forgive her for that… but I love her.’ She glanced down at the invitation cards Alf had handed out. ‘I took these but haven’t got anyone to send them to. When did my world become so small?’
Whilst Nik escorted Glenda back to her room I vacuumed the floor and packed away the crackers that had been made, into a box, admiring the ties and brightly coloured foil. I wouldn’t think about Mum. I wouldn’t let her ruin my evening.
Buddy made everyone laugh by chasing a green curl of ribbon. Alf persuaded Nancy to play dominoes. Lynn left the woodland sprigs and cones, now sprayed and covered in glitter, to dry on their table. They looked so pretty. Betty wandered in and out, clutching her doll. I hoped she found a new home that gave her the freedom to roam and that Bill moved to a place that had special activity toys. Nancy caught my eye and gave the relaxed smile of someone who’d sorted her future – a home near her granddaughter. Apparently, she’d applied there before coming to Willow Court but, at the time, it was full. I told Gran that proved that second choices could turn out well like Willow Court had for Nancy. I wondered what Glenda would do. Money gave her a few extra options and with the degree of her osteoporosis she didn’t quite need as much help as say Fred, with his failing eyesight, or Alf with his heart problems that meant some days he hardly had the energy to get out of bed.
Nik and I waved to everyone before heading off. Sleet started to fall as soon as we stepped out, into the darkness. He held out his hand and licked off a sliver of ice. Buddy yapped as he stepped into an icy puddle.
‘I will give you a drink when we get to my flat, you know.’
He chuckled. ‘When I went to Finland as a kid, we stayed with Dad’s parents who’d stayed there, and the boy next door and I would go into the woods to see if we could spot any Arctic hares. We’d see who was brave enough to eat the biggest snowball. Mum never could work out why I used to get stomach ache after playing out.’
We came to my apartment block, having passed a few houses that had sparkling fairy lights up. Nik stood behind me as I opened the door, his hand protectively resting on my back. Buddy charged ahead, pulling on the lead, as we went upstairs. My hands were almost blue. Worrying about Gran’s continued low mood, I hadn’t been focusing when we came out of Willow Court and must have left my gloves there. Nik took the key as my numb hand struggled to open my front door. I hurried to the central heating thermostat and turned it up, still feeling emotional and walking in reminded me that soon Oliver might be gone.
I spun around, having not turned on the lights yet. The orange glow from the streetlamp outside lit up the room. Nik stood there looking gorgeous, red anorak unzipped. Everything in my life at the moment felt strange and uncertain except for this. I strode over, pulled off my woolly hat and let it drop on the floor. Standing on tiptoe, I shut my eyes and pressed my lips firmly against his.
