‘I do.’ Peg nodded. ‘It’s something I very much enjoy but…it’s been my saviour, too. I feel different when I’m out here.’ She dipped her head. ‘The dust of snow from a hemlock tree, has given my heart a change of mood, and saved some part of a day I had rued. So you see why I’ve always loved that poem. What you did…I didn’t get a chance to say much about it the other day. You were asleep, and then Mim arrived home and there was dinner to make, and…it got a bit lost in all of that, but it was beautiful, truly beautiful. And a beautiful thing to do.’ The sun was turning the grey strands in Henry’s hair into silver threads.
‘If I’d got my act together I’d have written some words of my own, but…’ He tapped his head gently. ‘The old bonce isn’t quite what it was just yet. And besides, Robert said it far better than I could.’
Peg smiled at his deflection of her compliment. ‘I didn’t know you wrote poetry.’
‘I don’t. Or rather, I haven’t, not for a long while. But I’m hoping it’s something I might find my way back into. Now that I’m going to have a lot more time on my hands.’
‘Have you heard back from your dean?’ she asked. ‘Will they let you go, do you think?’
‘I don’t see that they have any choice, but yes, I’m to go with their blessing, which means a lot. The dean is a very articulate man, so it’s no surprise that his reply to my email was everything I could have hoped for but, even so, he didn’t have to write it that way.’
‘No, I’m sure.’
‘There are some administrative procedures to put into place, but I shall officially retire at Easter. I’m on sick leave until then anyway, so the reality is that I have given my last lecture.’
Peg hoped her expression was sympathetic. ‘That must be hard.’
Henry thought for a moment. ‘You know, I thought it would be. But surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to feel that way. I’m taking that to mean the timing is right.’
‘Things happen for a reason. Isn’t that what they say?’
‘It’s something I’ve always believed in, certainly.’ Henry was studying her face. ‘And recent events have definitely given me a great deal to think about.’ He smiled. ‘How about you? Are you a mistress of fate? Or a proponent of free will?’
Peg glanced away. The conversation was edging into territory she was keen to avoid. ‘The latter,’ she said, looking down at the pile of leaves at her feet. ‘We make our own fortune. Whichbrings me neatly around to what we were discussing earlier. Are you really thinking of moving?’
Henry ran a hand through his hair, frowning when he encountered the dressing that was still there.
‘I don’t know what I’m doing, not really. But I guess I’m exploring all the possibilities,’ he said. ‘I’m not used to having all this time on my hands for thinking about stuff, and one topic which is sorely in need of it is my relationship with Adam. It hasn’t been good for a while, and there’s nothing like looking death square in the face to make you consider what’s important in your life. I don’t want to go through whatever time I have left being alienated from my son, or from Sofia, for that matter. He told me some things the other day and…’ He broke off and stared into the distance for a moment, as if thinking. ‘Anyway, one of the things he said is that I know nothing about their lives, and he’s right. The truth hurts, but I can see that I’ve used the rift in our relationship as an excuse to further withdraw from it, when what I should have done is the opposite. I need to be a much bigger part of their lives going forward, and it’s going to be an awful lot easier if I’m based here, rather than nearly three hours away.’
Peg had to admit that made considerable sense. ‘Don’t say anything, because I don’t want Mim to fret, and she will if she finds out, but I’m having the same discussions with myself,’ she said. ‘I’ve been thinking about how Mim’s future is going to look, and in order to ensure it stays as it is, I think I’ll need to move closer toher. So I can keep my watchful eye.’
Henry looked horrified. ‘But this house?’ His head swivelled, taking in all the areas of the garden. ‘All this…? You wouldn’t want to give this up, would you?’
Peg eyed the kitchen window, making absolutely sure that there would be no way for Mim to hear her. ‘It’ll break my heart,’ she said. ‘But I don’t know what else I can do.’
‘No…But you’ve a while yet to think about things.’
‘I haven’t, not really. Mim’s wrist isn’t causing her much pain now, and although the cast is hampering her ability to do things, knowing Mim, I think she’d much rather struggle than have me wait on her hand and foot. If anything, having you here is helping, because otherwise I think she’d be clamouring to go home. I’m amazed she’s stayed as long as she has.’
Henry dipped his head. ‘And there was me thinking my being here was a right pain in the arse. I’m glad I’m useful for something.’
Peg met his look. He didn’t seem to be fishing for compliments, so was his expression something else? She glanced away, embarrassed. Henry being here was rapidly beginning to feel timeless, as if it had always been.
‘Is everything okay?’ She was wondering what had brought him into the garden.
‘Yes, fine. I was thinking about what you said – about the fact that I haven’t been out of the house yet. So I thought I’d come and take a look at your garden and test the water, so to speak.’
‘And how’s the water feeling?’
Henry faltered. ‘Like jelly,’ he admitted. ‘But I’ve got to start somewhere and arrangements have been made now. I’ll be okay. I’m sure I can manage to get out of the car and walk to Blanche’s flat. We don’t have to go on a tour of the place. I’ll think of it as more of a fact-finding mission than a field exercise.’
Peg smiled. ‘Make sure you do.’
Henry had turned to go when a sudden thought came to her.
‘Actually, Henry? I’ve been meaning to ask you something for ages. About Mim.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh…?’
