Page 77 of The Winter We Met
‘Being a burden?’
‘Yes. Like me and my husband did.’
Alf adjusted his rimless glasses. ‘Things change, don’t they? No point being pigheaded. Christmas is a busy time of year and it’s more of a burden for my family to have to help me find somewhere to live at such short notice.’
Pan listened intently.
‘What’s more, I caught Polly crying when I went around for lunch yesterday. I managed to wheedle it out of her, just like I used to when she was a little girl and someone upset her at school. She said it was never a case of out of sight, out of mind with me – just the opposite. There wasn’t a day when she didn’t worry about me being in Willow Court, even though Lynn and the staff are brilliant.’
‘I’d never thought of it like that,’ said Pan.
‘It’s a huge decision to ask a relative to move in with you,’ said Nik. ‘I don’t think people do that unless it’s something they really want. My grandmother moved in with us eventually. Grams fought against it even though we knew she got lonely after Grandpa had died. Dad had a word in the end and told her how much Mum used to worry about her living on her own; how much happier she’d be if Grams moved in. He joked how much I’d love her cooking every day.’ Nik stared at Pan. ‘In my experience it’s not a one-way thing – your family want to help look after you and it doesn’t mean they won’t get anything back.’
‘They’ll get peace of mind for a start,’ said Alf and his eyes twinkled even though he pulled a face. ‘Once Polly got over her upset, she was back to being just like her mum and told me not to be an old, stubborn fool, that it was the best answer all round and we could just see how it went. The grandkids have already left home and Polly’s got a bedroom extension on the ground floor, that they built for their eldest.’
‘How is Adam’s house set up, Pan?’ asked Nik gently.
‘He lives in a sprawling bungalow. They have two teenage daughters but still have a spare room with its own ensuite – his wife’s dance business has done very well. And there is a wonderful garden with a vegetable patch at the bottom and summer house.’
‘Sounds very roomy,’ he said.
‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ came on and Nik stood up as Glenda came out from the hatch, brushing flour off her smart cardigan.
He strode over and bowed. ‘May I, Glennie?’ Before she had time to disagree, she was gently swaying in his arms. Pan and Gran were deep in a conversation about Adam’s bird feeders. Oliver came over and jerked his head towards Nik.
‘I can’t compete. The man’s got more charm in his little finger than I ever had in my whole body at my peak – which is nineteen for most men, according to Misty.’
‘Wish I could remember that far back,’ said Alf and he chuckled.
I got the feeling Alf talking about his daughter had really helped Pan. I mulled over what Nik had shared about his gran and the news that he’d be accompanying Glenda to look at Darkthorn House.
‘He’s an absolute saint,’ I muttered.
‘Funny you should say that,’ said Alf. He pushed himself up, his breathing slightly better than normal today. ‘It’s no good. I can’t keep this to myself any longer.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Oliver.
‘Let’s go and sit by the window.’ He patted the notebook.
Oliver and I accompanied him to the table where they normally played dominoes. The terracotta curtains had been drawn and gave the room an even cosier feel. I pulled up an extra chair and the two men sat opposite each other.
‘What’s this all about?’ I asked. ‘I’ve seen you jotting down notes about Nik.’
Alf rubbed his hands together. ‘I’ve been building a theory, day by day. The evidence has stacked up and now there’s no disputing it. I just have a few more things to find out before I’d say my case is concrete.’ He undid the top button of his striped shirt.
‘Case for what?’ asked Oliver.
Alf looked over the top of his glasses. ‘It’s going to sound damn crazy, but often the truth does… like… like a celebrity becoming president and talking to the world on that Twitter.’
‘Alf! Don’t digress!’ I said.
‘Not here,’ he said in a conspiratorial tone. ‘You’ll both be here Sunday, right? And I need time to collate my notes so that they make sense. Let’s meet at twelve o’clock in The Silver Swan on Sunday, before the next crafting session. Are you both off work?’
‘I’m doing a late shift, starting at five,’ said Oliver.
For once Seb had asked me to swap so I was just popping in for an hour to check up on things, late morning. ‘I should be finished at twelve, but—’
‘Okay, let’s say half past. So that’s Sunday the 29thNovember at twelve hundred hours and thirty minutes,’ he continued in the same low voice, sounding like a spy. ‘That still gives us an hour and a half before we have to be back here. Polly won’t be seeing me this weekend, she and her husband are working flat out to set up my room before I move in.’
