‘You’re not to worry, Peg. I’m going to be perfectly all right. We’re just waiting for Dot next door to get me some things together – you know, in case I have to stay in. I’m not having anyone I don’t know rifling through my underwear.’
‘Good, I’m glad she’s with you, but listen, tell Dot not to worry about packing stuff for you.’ She had visions of Mim’s neighbour filling a bag for her as if she were going on holiday. ‘I’m not sure theywillkeep you in, and if you do need anything from home, I can sort that out later. The most important thing is that you do what the paramedic says and get off to hospital, okay? I’ll see you soon.’
‘No, Peg. That’s why I’m ringing. You’re not to come up, because it’s Christmas and you’re too far away. I shall be perfectly all right and?—’
‘And you’re my only aunt. There’s no way I’m letting you go back to your house on your own. You need someone with you, and don’t argue because I know Dot is going away tomorrow to stay with relatives until after Christmas. Can you put Joel back on, please?’ There was a momentary pause. ‘Joel, hi, yes, you’ll have to be firm with her, she can be quite stubborn when she wants to be. And tell her neighbour not to worry about what she might need, I can sort all that out later if necessary. I’m going to leave now, but I’m over two hours away. Can you just give my aunt my love and tell her I’ll see her soon. No, I won’t speak to her, you’ll never get going if I do…thanks so much. Bye then.’
By the time the call ended, Peg was already mentally running through what she might need to take with her. And fifteen minutes later, she was ready to go. She’d even checked her route to see if there were any hold-ups – she didn’t want a repeat of the day before, but it was also Christmas Eve tomorrow, and the roads would be mayhem. She snatched up the tin of mince pies from the side, permitting herself a small smile as she remembered sharing them with her miracle man. She tutted. She must stop calling him that. Leaving the greenery from the woods still heaped on the table, she closed the back door behind her.
Judith’s car was thankfully still in her drive, and Peg’s knock at her door was answered almost immediately. She threw the door wide and stepped back to let Peg in.
‘Sorry, Judith, I’m not stopping…’ She held up a box of Heroes. ‘I’m really sorry…These are to say thank you for looking after Rolo while I was up at Mim’s…’ She pulled a face. ‘And also in down payment…I’ve just had a call to say that she’s had a fall and they think she’s broken her wrist. I’ve got to go back.’
Judith pushed the box of chocolates away and then pulled her friend into a hug. ‘Don’t be silly, I don’t need these and of course you must go. Don’t worry about Rolo, or the house, I’ll sort them.’ She pulled back, searching Peg’s face for clues as to how she was feeling. ‘You okay?’
Peg nodded. ‘You know Mim, she’s as stubborn as they come, but this is the second fall she’s had now, and that’s a worry…’ She held up her hands helplessly. Judith knew how anxious she would be.
‘I know, but you can worry about that later. For now, just take it easy. You’ve a long drive ahead of you, but there’s no need to hurtle up there, she’ll be looked after until you arrive.’
‘I know.’ Peg nodded again. ‘Thank you, Judith, so much. I don’t know what I’d do?—’
‘We both know you’d do the same for me if ever it was needed, so go on, go, and drive carefully.’
Relief washed over Peg. Judith had been a good friend for so many years. She didn’t know what she’d do without her. She pushed the box of chocolates back into her hands.
‘I will, thank you. Oh, and Happy Christmas, Judith.’
Perversely, when it was driving on the motorway which Peg was worried about, it was only when she turned off it that her anxiety levels rose. Once Peg was back on a single carriageway,with traffic moving both ways, she felt as if she was swimming upstream, fighting against the tide of traffic. The road wasn’t even that busy, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was struggling to get to a destination that would forever be just out of reach.
She knew that Mim was in relative good health for her age, and that a broken wrist wasn’t all that serious, even for someone in their eighties, but she was only too aware of the date. If anything happened to Mim, she wasn’t sure she would be able to bear it.
And what made it worse was that, when she finally arrived at the hospital, Mim hadn’t even been seen and was sitting in A&E, hunched and clearly in pain. The nurse was sympathetic and resolute that the doctor would get to Mim as soon as possible, but there was nothing more she could do. AllPegcould do was nod and smile; there were clearly a lot of other people unlucky enough to be in the same situation.
She made her way back to the waiting room and tried not to think about Christmas four years ago. Tired posters were pinned to the walls and lacklustre decorations swayed gently against the heating ducts. It was totally devoid of charm, and even though understandable, it made the poignancy of the date even harder to bear. With a sigh, Peg sat down, took hold of Mim’s good hand and resigned herself to being patient.
6
All hope of a quiet cup of tea went out of the window as soon as Henry entered the kitchen. He’d deliberately risen earlier than usual, thinking that Adam and Sofia’s sunny conservatory would make for a peaceful spot to start the day, but a camera tripod of all things stood in the centre of the room, and Sofia was bustling – something which experience had taught him he needed to avoid at all costs. He was about to slink back upstairs when Sofia hailed him from across the room.
‘Morning, Henry. I’m going to need you to stay out of here, I’m afraid. I’m a bit busy doing some photo shoots. But I’ve put some coffee in the living room. And some cereal. I hope that’s okay?’
Photo shoot? Henry stared at his daughter-in-law, utterly bemused. But, being Henry, he smiled, and turned on his heel. The living room might not be sunny, but it might at least be quiet.
The long, low coffee table had been pressed into service as a breakfast buffet bar, and Henry felt bizarrely as if he’d wandered into a B&B by mistake. A jug held orange juice, another, milk, and an assortment of plastic containers had been filled withmuesli, cornflakes and Weetabix. A pot of coffee, two mugs and a small tray holding cutlery made up the collection. He perched on the sofa and thought unaccountably of Peg.
She was only fifteen minutes away; he could see her if he wanted, even if he didn’t quite know why. Perhaps it was simply the fact that her Christmas sounded so idyllic compared with his. He glanced around the room – at the towering Christmas tree, one of three in the house, already lit with what seemed like hundreds of tiny, star-shaped white lights; at the fireplace, with an extravagant arrangement of candles and bows and foliage draped along the mantel; and at the bay window, which was festooned with even more lights, hung with decorations and playing host to what he could only describe as a winter tableau. He sighed. Everything seemed socomplicated…
His breakfast was interrupted by the arrival of Adam, who had found some toast from somewhere and was still munching his way through a slice. Henry eyed it enviously. Cereal never sat quite right with him of a morning. For lunch, yes, or even as a snack at night, but too much milk this early always made his stomach feel a little queasy.
‘Morning, Dad,’ said Adam, taking another bite of his toast. Henry wondered if Sofia knew he was eating it without a plate. ‘I’m going to pick up Blanche in a few minutes, if you fancy a trip out? Sofia’s a bit busy this morning, and it will give us a chance to catch up. We didn’t get much opportunity to talk yesterday, did we?’
Henry swallowed the last of his coffee and nodded. It would appear Sofia wanted them both out of the house, or at least for the hour’s round trip to where Blanche lived. He returned his mug to the coffee table.
‘Should I wash these things up first?’ he asked.
Adam frowned, and shook his head, throwing the last of his breakfast into his mouth. ‘Best not,’ he said. ‘We can do it later.’
‘Good news about the promotion then,’ said Henry, as soon as Adam had navigated his way through the gated development where they lived and turned onto the main road. ‘I didn’t realise there was one in the offing.’
