Page 74 of Lost in Love
Lucy smiled and continued. “There’s a small shop if they need anything. We can get anything in for them if they have special requirements. Let me show you to your room now, Harry; it’s along here.”
She led them back out of the atrium and around a glass-walled corridor that surrounded it. Lucy stopped at a door not far down the corridor.
“And here’s you.” Lucy held the door open as Anna wheeled her dad through.
It was larger than Anna had expected, with a big window to the front. A single bed was central to the room along with a set of drawers and a wardrobe. A sitting area was set out by the window, including a television, chair, and table.
“All our rooms come with their own en-suite.” Lucy gestured with her hand to the door in the corner of the room. “Shall we get you out of there and into your chair, Harry?”
Harry nodded his agreement, and Anna left Lucy to deal with Harry. She wasn’t sure of his capabilities or strength since his hip operation, though the hospital had him walking down the corridor within a few days. He walked slowly to his chair, guided by Lucy, and sat down.
He shuffled about a bit to get comfortable. “It’s not like my chair at home, but I’m sure it will do.”
“I’ll leave you to it for a bit, let you unpack and find your way around. If you need anything, just press the buzzer.” Lucy pointed to a white box with a red button beside the bed. She approached Harry. “It’s lunch soon; perhaps we can introduce you to some of the other residents.”
“All right, love,” Harry replied, eyes glued to the television even though it wasn’t on.
It didn’t go unnoticed by Anna that Harry’s usual response was now directed at someone else rather than her. There was a pang of relief mixed with guilt in her stomach.
Lucy smiled and left.
“Pass me the remote, will you, love?” Harry gesticulated at the table in front of him as soon as the door closed.
Anna passed it to him with a grin, glad to see that after the last week of emotion, at least he was the same old Harry.
“Anna, it’s got Sky Television!”
“I doubt it, Dad.”
“This is a Sky remote, look.” Harry held it up, grinning from ear to ear.
She was pleased to see him so happy but felt the disappointment that would come once he returned home. She began to unpack his clothes into a chest of drawers and inspected the en-suite. A large glass panel ran down one side with a seat and a shower head above. It was much nicer than their pokey bathroom at home.
She placed his toothbrush and toothpaste on the shelf in front of a large mirror, catching sight of herself in it. She rarely had time to look in the mirror beyond removing a few unwanted white eyebrow hairs. The large mirror reflected an image she barely recognised. She looked tired, more worn around the edges than ever before; she certainly wasn’t the same Anna from even six months ago.
She’d always paid so much attention to her appearance when she was in the city. Although as a researcher she would dress smart-casual, she’d always taken the time to keep her appearance in check. She counted herself lucky now if she had time to brush her hair before leaving the house in her usual green Abbey jumper and light brown chinos. It was hardly the look she had envisaged for herself in her late thirties.
At least it was all for a good cause; if her dad was happy that was what mattered, and he needed all the love and care she could give him whilst he was still with her. She breathed deeply, trying to calm her thoughts about all the things that would need doing to get the house sorted. She’d spent the last few days clearing out unwanted clutter and cleaning, trying to make the place feel a bit fresher before the social services visit. All it had told her was how much more work needed doing than she had realised.
Some of the window frames were rotten. Although they were the council’s problem, to deal with it would still cause disruption, and she’d have to be the one to hound them to get it done. She’d taken down all the curtains and net curtains in the house and soaked them in the garden. She had vowed not to return the net curtains, but she remembered her mum making them and couldn’t bring herself to throw them away, so back up they went.
She was grateful that the garden was small and easily maintainable. It took a quick mow and a few weeds to be teased from the patio for it to look reasonably tidy, not that she was sure they would even look outside.
Even a hoovering of the carpets had led to a realisation that they would have to go. That would be their cost to bear, or more likely hers; she didn’t feel she could ask her dad for money. She had some money put aside for a rainy day, though she had hoped she could use it for a holiday that summer. That was before everything had changed. She hadn’t even thought about a holiday since moving home. The best she could hope for was a sit-down whilst she drank a coffee she knew she shouldn’t be drinking.
There was a knock at the door and the sound of it opening. Anna walked back into the bedroom to see Lucy placing some towels on the bed.
“I presume you’ll need towels, Harry, as you’ve come straight from the hospital. You can bring your own from home if you like, but you’re welcome to use ours.”
“Thanks,” Anna replied. Her dad was too engrossed in the television to have heard. “He’s just discovered you have Sky Television, so good luck moving him from his chair. Ever.”
Lucy grinned. “Oh, that reminds me.” She knelt beside Harry. “It’s voice-activated. What films do you like, Harry?”
“War films.”
She held a button on the side. “War films,” she said, a list of war films popped up on the screen.
Harry’s eyebrows shot up; he looked at Anna in disbelief.
