Page 37 of Autumn at the Willow River Guesthouse
‘Well, not to worry. Perhaps he could consider getting a goat or something.’
‘I’ll mention it when I go back.’
Victoria was still leaning on Lily’s shoulder, looking uncomfortable. ‘Am I hurting you, dear? You said you’d pulled a muscle.’
‘Ah … other shoulder.’
‘Right.’
‘You’re going to need shoes.’
‘Oh. Of course.’
Victoria reached a foot behind the half-open door and pushed a pair of slip-on shoes into view. The accumulation of dust on their upper surface broke Lily’s heart. She watched as Victoria slid them on, dust bunnies falling away.
‘Oh, they barely fit anymore.’
‘It’s only a short way.’
‘Right.’
‘Are you ready?’
Victoria took a deep breath and gave a slow nod. ‘Yes.’
Lily stepped backwards. Victoria, still leaning on her, had no choice but to step forward into the corridor. Pausing after each step at first, Lily helped her along the corridor to the stairs, where Victoria paused again, her breath coming faster.
‘I’m not sure I can do it,’ she said. ‘It’s so dark.’
‘That’s only because the light bulb’s blown,’ Lily said. ‘Something else I’ll mention to Uncle Gus when I get back.’
She went first, holding on to Victoria’s arm, leading her slowly down. She felt like a nurse in a care home, bringing an elderly patient down to meet their family, even though Victoria’s ailments were purely psychological. Even so, as Victoria’s movements began to get smoother—even briefly letting go of Lily to take hold of the narrow staircase’s banister—Lily sensed Victoria’s reclusiveness was more a reluctance to go outside and case of habit rather than any genuine psychological disorder. Once they were down the stairs and into the common area, Victoria began to take more interest in her surroundings than in where she put her feet.
‘Oh, is that how it used to look? I remember that little train. I used to take Michael up to Exeter to look around the shops. The view was quite delightful….’
As they reached the back door, Lily let out a little gasp. Immediately Victoria tensed, but Lily grabbed hold of her arm before she could think to flee.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, staring at the table outside, the hamper sat on top. ‘That little sod….’
A squirrel was fussing around on top of the hamper, making occasional attempts to find a way inside. Lily stared as it nibbled at the wicker, then tried to lift the lid, getting one paw inside before it slipped shut again.
‘I’ll shoo it off,’ she said, starting to move forward, but it was Victoria this time who grabbed her arm.
‘No, don’t. He’s so … pretty.’
They watched for a couple of minutes as the little squirrel continued his explorations. Then, suddenly figuring it out, he pushed his nose into the gap between the lid and the basket, and disappeared inside.
‘Okay, now you can stop him,’ Victoria said, squeezing Lily’s shoulder.
Lily darted forward, flapping her hands at the squirrel, which reappeared from the hamper and scampered down off the table, running to the safety of a nearby tree. Lily lifted the lid, and to her relief, found the cling film covering the food remained intact. She looked up to beckon Victoria outside, but at the sight of the empty doorway, her heart dropped.
Victoria was gone.
Lily dropped the hamper lid, gave the tree with its hiding squirrel a warning glare, then dashed back to the annexe’s rear door and went inside.
‘Victoria? Victoria!’
‘Oh, Penelope, I’m right here.’
