Page 34 of A Christmas Celebration
I hoped he wasn’t the type who needed time to get used to an idea because waiting even just a couple more weeks was really not an option and I knew I had no hope of talking him into coming to town.
Mr Wilson typed Albert’s name into the system and said that both Albert, and his sister, had been customers before. Apparently, numerous reminders had been sent out when they were last due for tests, but none had been responded to.
‘Well,’ I said, ‘Albert can’t carry on as he is. The glasses he’s currently wearing are no longer fit for purpose. In fact,’ I added, ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised to discover that they aren’t even his.’
‘Oh, dear,’ said Mr Wilson, sounding concerned. ‘That’s not good. Is his sister in the same boat?’
‘No,’ I said, ‘it’s just Albert now. I’ve only recently met him, but I do know that his sister has died.’
‘Oh, that’s terribly sad,’ Mr Wilson said. ‘Is he struggling on his own?’
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘he is a bit.’
I didn’t say anything further. It wasn’t my place to talk about Albert’s current predicament even if Mr Wilson’s question was kindly expressed.
‘You should mention him to Kathleen who organizes the dances,’ he said, perking up. ‘She’d have him sorted in a jiffy. She’s got everyone on their toes and she’d get him organized in a heartbeat.’
I knew he was right about what Kathleen could do, and even though getting her onboard had been the sole focus of my original plan, I realized I had changed my mind now. I might not have known Albert long, but I’d established that he was a proud man and one who certainly wouldn’t want a fuss. Kathleen bustling in and fixing everything at breakneck speed would be too much for him to cope with.
‘Do you know Kathleen?’ Mr Wilson asked. ‘I can give you her number, if you like.’
‘I do know her,’ I quickly said. ‘I’m working with her, infact. I’ve taken on the volunteering that Anna, who lives at Wynthorpe Hall, usually does, for the next few weeks.’
‘Problem solved then.’ He beamed.
‘Hopefully,’ I said, ‘but I’m going to keep Albert off Kathleen’s radar for the time being. I think he would be…’ I faltered to find the right word.
‘Overwhelmed,’ Mr Wilson supplied, with a cheeky smile.
‘Yes,’ I agreed, thinking of her exuberance. ‘She’s a wonderful woman, but I think Albert needs to work his way up to a visit from Kathleen.’
‘I quite understand,’ said Mr Wilson, handing over an appointment card. ‘I’ll see Mr Price tomorrow and I won’t breathe a word about him to Kathleen.’
Once I’d stowed the bags in the Land Rover footwell, I let Bran out for a stetch and a drink and we took a quick walk around the market square, before driving out of town to Albert’s. I was amused to note that the drove roads, which had been an unfathomable maze just a few days before, were already becoming more familiar. Whereas previously I hadn’t been able to spot any differentiating features, I could now pick out wind tortured trees, different dykes and ditches and I even recognized a few of the farm names.
‘I thought you were going to call,’ said Albert, when he eventually opened the door after peeping around the curtain to see who it was.
I was delighted to see he wasn’t wearing his overcoat.
‘I was,’ I said, shifting the bags from one hand to another, ‘but then I thought I might as well see how the boiler wasfaring. I can feel from the warm air wafting out that it’s still running and I picked up a few bits to tide you over too.’
Albert looked at the bags and scowled.
‘I don’t want charity,’ he bristled. ‘I don’t need charity.’
‘It’s not charity,’ I said firmly. ‘The receipts are in the bags and besides, I’m sure Bella wouldn’t object to trying out the box of pouches I’ve picked up for her, would she?’
I knew Albert had a soft spot where the little cat was concerned.
‘Well,’ he sniffed, ‘you can leave the cat food, but I don’t want the rest.’
‘Albert,’ I said, putting the bags down because they were heavy, ‘I haven’t got time to sort through it all. Take the lot for now and I’ll have back what you don’t want tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow?’ he snapped. ‘Why will you be back again tomorrow?’
‘Because,’ I told him, ‘in the afternoon the optician is going to come and give your eyes a once over.’
‘So soon?’ he tutted. ‘You don’t hang about once you’ve got your feet under the table, do you?’
