Page 83 of The Winter We Met
‘No,’ said Gran. ‘I had a nice chat with Silver when I visited. He came right up to his glass wall to say hello.’
The two women smiled at each other. I looked at Nik, admiring how he’d seen through the black and white outer image of Glenda that none of us could ever get past, revealing the more approachable shades of grey that were in all of us. Nik put an arm around her and they headed to a table covered in the photos she’d been collating. He stopped on the way to talk to Betty who, to everyone’s relief, was no worse for wear following her trip to the video shop.
‘It’s all coming together, isn’t it, Gran?’ I said as she sunk into a nearby chair. ‘I can’t believe this party is actually going to happen.’ I sat down too.
‘Yes, and slowly but surely everyone has come to terms with the move afterwards. Even Pan.’ She smiled. ‘Even me.’
‘Did I hear my name, darling?’ said a voice. A wave of pungent perfume wafted over me. Pan sat down on one of the leaf-patterned armchairs, wearing a magnificent flowing tie dye top over pink leggings.
‘We’re just talking about where everyone’s going to live,’ I said.
Pan wiped crumbs away from her mouth.
‘Been sampling the cookies?’ I asked.
‘A very important job,’ she said, beaming.
‘So you’ve decided where you are living?’
‘I’m moving in with Adam. I thought about what Alf said and his daughter getting upset. It changed my perspective a little, although the deciding factor was everything Nik told me.’
I glanced over at Alf who honestly believed Nik had magical powers of kindness that could only be attributed to someone like Saint Niklaus.
‘He brought Glenda back after they visited Darkthorn House and came in for a coffee. I was eating dinner in the dining room. Glenda went to her room to get changed.’ She flashed me a mischievous smile. ‘I think she wanted to check her hair was all right, what with Nik being around. Anyway, he asked if I was leaning towards a decision. I said Alf had made me feel more positive, but it was different for him because there were no grandchildren. You see, my main concern, apart from being a burden to Adam and… and… Sus… I mean… Sar… his wife, has been that his teenage daughters would find it dreary having their gran around – even though we get on well. At that age you don’t want to be talking medicines and nurses – you want to walk around singing to music, raving about pop stars, you want the world to be vibrant and… and romantic.’
‘I don’t see for one minute how you would detract from that, Pan,’ I said.
‘What did our Nik say to change your mind?’ asked Gran.
‘I didn’t know that he’d been a teen when his grandma moved in. He said it was great – and not just because she was usually on his side if he got into trouble with his parents. He loved listening to her stories from when she was younger. Plus both working full-time, he noticed his parents used to get stressed with each other and having his grandmother there… it sort of created a new dynamic.’ She shrugged. ‘He was honest – said there were very difficult times, especially towards the end, but that his mum and dad had talked to him about it, before she moved in. They all agreed it would have been much harder if she’d been in a home and they were always having to to and fro and worry from afar.’
‘So it’s sorted and you’re happy?’ asked Gran
‘Yes – although it’s on the condition that if things get too… difficult, well, then they don’t hesitate to put me into full-time care. I’ve made them promise me that. Taking in an older relative, it wouldn’t work for everyone – but they have the room and I feel happier we now have this agreement that if things get tough, I won’t be a burden.’
I took her hand. ‘Well done, Pan. It can’t have been an easy decision to make.’
Gran’s stomach rumbled and we all laughed as Buddy pricked up his ears. ‘I need a cookie,’ she said.
I started to get up but Pan waved her hand. ‘No. Allow me. Then I think you and I should paint our stones, Alice. I’m going to paint a willow tree. What about you?’
‘A canal boat, if I can manage it.’
Gran watched Pan leave with a sad look on her face, then she turned to me. ‘Just to let you know, Jess, your mum hasn’t got in touch.’
‘What a surprise.’
‘Now, now… doesn’t mean she won’t. It must be daunting, the thought of facing us both. I was thinking, she might find it easier meeting us in a more relaxed environment, such as a party…’ Her eyes shone with hope.
‘You want to invite her on Sunday?’ I thought for a moment. ‘I guess there’s nothing to lose. Okay. Whatever you think is best.’
Please don’t let Gran down. I don’t care about me. I’ve accepted the way things are but Gran’s older and wants a sense of closure.
A commotion near reception revealed that the tree had arrived. The scouts jumped to their feet. Nik hurried over. The pine tree was even taller than him and had already been planted in a big red bucket. Nik helped them position it near the window. Lynn got out the stack of decorations the residents had made, all glittery and white, in the shape of bells, angels and snowflakes. Pan came over to us with a plate of warm cookies. Nancy followed in her wheelchair with a tray of what looked like cranberry vol-au-vents balanced on her lap.
I picked one up. ‘Mmm. Delicious.’
Nancy offered me another. ‘We used readymade puff pastry.’
