Page 13 of Not Exactly Mr. Darcy
“Oh, it’s so good to see you, Mum,” Liv’s own mother said.
“It’s certainly much better to see you all like this, much better than a phone call.” Gran frowned. “But why is your hair blue, Elinor?”
Liv bit back a smile as her artistic sister tried to explain about creative expression, something Gran clearly wasn’t buying as she only sniffed. “I think it’s a shame. You had such lovely hair, and now you look like one of those troll dolls.”
Elinor’s mouth fell open, and Liv had to cough to smother her amusement. Apparently EJ’s directness was a trait Gran shared too.
Time zone differences meant it was nine in the evening there, and despite a few yawns, they all seemed happy to talk, until EJ had said she had an early start the next day and needed to go.
“It’s so good to see you, Olivia,” Liv’s mother said. “We’re glad you’ve settled in well.”
She nodded and smiled, even though “settled in well” seemed ambitious. Yes, she’d settled in at Gran’s house, and most of the village seemed to be kind. But that run-in with Hartbury Hall’s gardener after church had left her feeling quite unsettled.
The conversation veered to Gran’s predicted departure from hospital—two days’ time, or so Gran reported the doctor had said. She half listened as remembrances from earlier tipped up, swirling her emotions, like the rain churned the streams.
What had she been thinking, clasping his arm like he was a friend, not a stranger? No wonder he’d looked at her askance, like she had cooties or something. Although why a gardener, who presumably was used to mud and dirt, might be afraid of her contaminating him, she didn’t know.
The man remained a mystery. What kind of gardener drove a silver MG? She didn’t know much about cars, and it didn’t seem the latest model, but still, it seemed about a thousand times more modern—and more expensive—than what she drove at home. And seemed completely incongruous with his gruff, no-nonsense manner.
She’d tried to ask Marge about him, but Marge had only looked at Tobias and then offered a slight shrug, clamming up. Clearly Gran wasn’t the only one keeping mum on the subject.
“Well, it’s getting late, so we really should go. We’re praying for you both,” Mum said.
“Thanks, Mum,” Liv said. “Miss you.”
“Love you, sweetheart. Love you, Mother.”
Gran mumbled something that might’ve been an “I love you” in return. Whatever it was, it seemed to appease Liv’s parents and sisters, who all smiled, blew kisses, and then exited the call.
“That was good to see them, wasn’t it?” Liv said, closing the laptop.
“It certainly makes a difference to see them, not just hear them. I can’t hear half of what’s said on the phone these days. But I really don’t think Elinor should dye her hair like that. She’s such a pretty girl normally.”
“But it is her own hair, and she likes it.”
“Young people these days.” Her grandmother sniffed.
“Older people these days,” Liv teased, leaning down to kiss Gran’s forehead.
Her grandmother sighed. “I suppose I deserve that.”
“I don’t think Ellie appreciated you telling her she looked like a troll doll.”
“Well, she shouldn’t have her hair like that, then, should she? I didn’t get to this age, Olivia, without earning the right to have my own opinions.”
Fair enough. Liv’s stomach protested the fact she hadn’t had lunch. “Have you had lunch yet?”
“I think they’re already supposed to have come by now,” Gran grumbled.
“Would you like me to check?”
“No, no. Don’t trouble yourself. If you’re hungry, you can always have one of my biscuits.” Gran pointed to a plastic-wrapped duo of shortbread sitting on the rolling bed table next to an abandoned cup of tea. “I don’t want any.”
Liv eyed the packaged snack dubiously. She didn’t blame her. Who knew how long it had been packaged for? Still, free food meant she could save a pound or two. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure.”
She retrieved it, just as an attendant pushed a trolley of prepared meals into the room. Good thing she’d snagged those bickies while she could, as the attendant cleared away the teacup. She helped her grandmother sit up to eat and wondered how long she should stay.
