Page 76 of The Winter We Met
‘I can’t thank you three enough,’ said Lynn before going into the office to fill in an incident form and ring Betty’s daughter who would have been waiting for the video call.
‘What a mess,’ I said, the adrenaline wearing off and every limb suddenly feeling heavier. I stared at a blank space on the wall near the reception area, where a favourite picture had been removed. ‘Perhaps Glenda was right – maybe this party is a bad idea. It’s a distraction amongst unavoidable chaos and that could be dangerous.’
Oliver took my hand and led me into the lounge. ‘You really think so? Just look around. I don’t think Alice would forgive you if you cancelled it…’
I listened to the chatter, above which rose the voice of…Gran?She was walking out from behind the hatch, with Pan, holding court whilst reading from my clipboard. I pulled off my hat. We took off our coats and placed them on the chair where I’d left my chocolates. Most of the residents were sipping small glasses of sherry. Carers sat helping to make angel, bell and snowflake cardboard cut-outs. Nancy waved at us, silver glitter down her top. Gran and Pan stood wiping their hands on tea towels.
‘That’s the dough kneaded,’ said Gran. She gave a thumbs-up to a couple of women who’d been waiting to go into the kitchenette. They got up. ‘Now it’s someone else’s turn to roll it out and cut into suitable shapes.’
‘I can’t wait to try them,’ said Nik. ‘It’s just as well we decided to leave the stone painting until Sunday – you all look very industrious as it is.’
‘They aren’t for eating and would taste right disgusting without sugar in,’ she said.
‘Beggars can’t be choosers, I’m a poor, lonesome traveller making do with scraps,’ he said and grinned. He clicked his fingers in time to the music, for a few seconds, and then placed an arm on Pan’s shoulder, one around her waist, and started dancing with her as Bing Crosby picked up the beat. Her face lost the frown lines that had characterised it in the last week or two and she beamed as other residents began to join in. Fred stood behind Nancy and moved her wheelchair from side to side. My shoulders started to relax.
‘Such a lovely bunch of people,’ I murmured.
Gran hesitated. ‘That’s why I’ve told them there are places at Darkthorn House.’
We looked at each other. I helped her over to her favourite chair, with a straight upholstered back, and sat down nearby. Buddy rested his chin on her lap. She leant over and gently stroked my hair. ‘I’m sorry, love, that I walked out on Monday – it’s been a difficult few weeks and hearing about that email was the last straw. I appreciate that you thought about whether to tell me or not – I know you only had my best interests at heart. ‘
‘I didn’t mean it to come across as patronising,’ I whispered, voice wavering.
‘I know. And I love you very much. It’s me and me alone who should apologise.’
Sorry wasn’t a word I ever heard growing up with Mum – not in a healthy way. It was new for me when I moved in with Gran, an adult properly apologising, like for snapping when she was tired. I learnt to follow her example. Mum’s way of saying sorry was to give me a big bar of chocolate from the pound shop. Yet even if I ate the lot it never seemed to fill an emptiness I felt.
‘In fact, sweetheart…’ She waved the clipboard in her hand. ‘You did me a favour by delaying telling me about Karen’s email… it made me realise how I’ve allowed myself to drown in a pity party since I heard this place was closing down, when the only party I should be focusing on is this Christmas one and making sure it’s the best bloomin’ one ever. In fact, I’d like to discuss a few pointers with you later. The buffet menu details aren’t detailed enough for my liking, most us residents are a little particular – and we need to write an exact timetable of the big day, thirty minutes by thirty minutes, I’d say, so we know exactly what’s going to be happening…’
I couldn’t help grinning.
She caught my eye. ‘It’s time I took control of my life again. Darkthorn House is the next best thing to Willow Court and I’ll accept the place there. I’d love fellow residents to move with me so I had a chat with everyone last night. Fred, Nancy, Glenda and a couple of the others are interested in taking a look. Glenda’s going to ask Nik if he’d mind accompanying her.’
My eyes pricked. Gran was back, taking charge.
‘I’ve just got to get on with it,’ she said. ‘I’ve nursed my wounds for a while – and no shame in that, I wouldn’t be human if I hadn’t got upset… but now’s the time to find that stiff upper lip Fred likes to talk about.’ Gran fiddled with the cuff of her coral fleece. ‘I chatted with Pan. It’s hard knowing Darkthorn House isn’t suitable for her – or won’t be once her… her problem grows bigger. But I hope everything I said showed her that she just struck unlucky with the home she visited – and she really cheered up when I passed on what you said about us visiting each other.’ She rolled her lips together. ‘I can’t help feeling disloyal – accepting a place when Pan’s got no plans. She’s my best friend. But I can’t get sentimental about this. We’ve got to move out in three weeks.’
‘No, you can’t,’ I said. ‘But that doesn’t mean you are letting her down. It’s obvious how much you care.’
She nodded. ‘So instead I’m going to do my best to help her find somewhere. We’re going to go through the list in detail tomorrow. If my slow pace doesn’t hold them back too much, I’m going to suggest I go on the next viewing with her and her son, if she wants – and if Adam doesn’t mind. Pan deserves the best.’
‘She does indeed,’ said Alf, who’d just eased himself into a chair near us, notebook on his lap, a smear of glitter across his bald head. ‘My Maisie would have loved listening to her talk about movies. She used to have a crush on Kojak. We used to joke it was just as well I lost my hair.’
‘Did I just hear my name?’ asked a breathless Pan as the dancing couple came to a halt in front of us. She looked ten years younger with her eyes sparkling and cheeks blushed.
‘We were just saying what a wonderful person you are,’ I said.
‘And how we are going to find you a five-star place to live,’ added Gran.
‘You couldn’t help me too, could you?’ asked Alf and he groaned. ‘Looks like I’m moving in with my daughter, for the time being anyway.’
Nik pulled a chair around to face us and pointed to Pan to sit in it, before he collapsed onto the arm.
‘Your daughter?’ asked Pan. ‘Holly?’
‘Polly,’ he said and smiled.
‘But I thought you and Maisie made some sort of pact about never…’
