Page 59 of Forgive Not Forget
Anna insisted she take over control over Harry’s wheelchair, so Mabel led the way with Abigail at her heel.
The craft and hobby studio, as it was duly named on the door, was a large room that reminded Anna of her art room at school. Large windows let in natural light and overlooked a small allotment, which some of the more able residents were busy tending.
Anna leaned down to Harry’s ear. “You sure you wouldn’t prefer to be in your room watching television, Dad?”
“Oh no, I like to watch Mabel paint. It’s therapeutic.”
Mabel led them to an empty table where Abigail and even Tom took a seat. Mabel then furnished them with several large pebbles to choose from.
“Anna, will you take part?” she asked.
She was about to automatically refuse when she realised it might be fun. “Okay, thank you.” She parked Harry across the table from them and took a seat next to Abigail.
Tom chose the largest pebble, Abigail a small, almost spherical one. Anna perused the pile and extracted one that was heart-shaped. As the children and Mabel were busy with the paints and brushes, Anna picked up a nearby box of acrylic paint pens and outlined the heart shape with white dots, filling the centre with a flood of red. It was nice if a little on the bland side. She’d wait for it to dry and then add more.
Abigail had created a very rudimentary outline of the world and was colouring the ocean parts in blue.
“That’s nice, Abi,” Anna complimented her.
“It’s not really big enough for any detail.”
“I’ve been all around the world, Abi,” Mabel said.
Abigail twitched in response to this news, as if she were full of so many questions she didn’t know where to start.
Mabel stepped in. “I was a singer on a cruise ship for thirty years. I’ve been everywhere.”
Well, that explained her appearance. She would have needed to look after herself if she had a career in the spotlight. Age wasn’t going to defy her.
“You should hear her sing, Anna,” Harry said. “She’s a belter.”
“Thirty years on a cruise ship. Did you not get sick?” Abigail asked.
“I did a little to start. My body soon got over to it.”
“Did your husband go with you?”
“No, I’ve never married. I couldn’t tie myself down to a life like that; I’ve always been a free spirit. Until I checked myself in here, that is.” Mabel smiled thoughtfully and shrugged. “I had to stop at some point.”
“Do you not have any children or grandchildren?”
Mabel shook her head. “Which makes it even more delightful when youngsters like you visit us.”
The corner of Abigail’s mouth lifted. “Do you miss being at sea?”
Mabel contemplated the question for a moment. “No, I don’t actually. Obviously, I enjoyed it at the time. The problem with cruise ships is you never stop anywhere long enough to make friends, and the people on the boat always change, even the staff. Don’t get me wrong, I made a few lifetime friends. Most of them have dropped off the earth now, so it was time for me to stop and find a new family. Which I have here.” She smiled and winked at Harry.
“What is your favourite place in the world?”
“Now that’s a tough one. When you’ve sailed through the Fjords of Norway and along the Nile; illuminated yourself with the bright lights of New York City; walked the Great Wall of China and then the Inca Trail, how can one choose? If I had to…”
Abigail was wide-eyed in awe, her bottom on the edge of her seat.
“I’d choose Cairo.”
“Good choice,” Abigail agreed with a firm nod. “Have you really been to all those other places?”
“And more. I don’t think there is anywhere I haven’t been.”
