‘Just that my neighbour told me that on the day I got the call about Mim breaking her wrist, someone came here to see me while I was away. That was you, wasn’t it?’
For a moment, Henry looked completely blank, but then his face lifted. ‘That feels like it was years ago,’ he said. ‘But yes, I did. I just popped over to say hello.’
Peg nodded. ‘I thought as much. But what was odd is that when you first came to stay you seemed very surprised to see Mim, and Blanche even told me she thought Mim haddied.’
‘Died?’
‘Yes. She came up to me after the carol service and told me how sorry she was. It seemed a really odd thing to say, so I asked her later what she’d meant by it. And her reply was that she’d been sorry to hear about my aunt.’
‘Okay…’
‘Yes, I knowthat’snot odd. But when I went on to say how Mim was as tough as old boots and nothing much gets her down, Blanche looked most surprised. Which was when she admitted thinking that Mim had passed away. That’s what’s odd. Why would she think that?’
Henry’s brow wrinkled. ‘Yes, that is odd…’ he said slowly. ‘Have you asked her why?’
‘Yes, she just said that because she was old she usually assumed the worst. But that’s an awfully big leap – to go from someone having a broken wrist, to them dying. And I thought Judith told you what had happened.’
‘Yes, she did…so, I’m not sure why the confusion, but…perhaps I didn’t tell Blanche the details…’ He rubbed at his head. ‘I’m sorry, Peg, I can’t remember what I did or didn’t say. Like I said, it feels as if that happened ages ago.’
‘Okay,’ said Peg lightly. ‘Probably just a misunderstanding then.’
‘Mmm…and thankfully Mimisokay. That’s the main thing.’ Henry smiled, pulling his coat a little tighter around him.
Peg nodded, suddenly ashamed not to have noticed how uncomfortable Henry was becoming. ‘Sorry, go on back inside oryou won’t be in a fit state to go anywhere. I’ll just finish this up and then I’ll be in myself.’
Henry nodded and headed back up the path, but it was some moments before Peg felt able to return to her task. Her head was such a jumble of thoughts.
Dishcloth in hand, Peg sighed as she looked around the kitchen. The last of the crumbs from underneath the toaster had been wiped away, and the plates from breakfast had been dried and returned to their home on the dresser. There was nothing else she needed to do. Yet the prospect of a quiet day wasn’t quite as welcome as she had thought it would be. In fact, it had come at completely the wrong time. What she needed was activity, not a long stretch of hours to fill with nothing to do but wrestle with her thoughts, and as it was both Mim and Henry who were occupying those thoughts, their very absence ensured they wereallshe would think about. Perhaps if she did some drawing, lost herself in its colour and form; but she shook her head. She wasn’t in the mood, and the activity would become irritating, not soothing.
She was still dithering over what to do when a knock at the back door sounded, and she rushed to open it. Any kind of distraction would be welcome, especially if it was Judith; they could talk about nothing for hours. But she already knew it wouldn’t be her neighbour. Judith never waited for the door to be answered, simply marched right in with a jolly, ‘Only me!’
‘Oh, hello…’ Finding Henry’s daughter-in-law on her doorstep was a surprise. Seeing she was on her own, an even greater one. ‘It’s lovely to see you, come on in.’
‘I’m not interrupting, am I? I’ve just been to drop off an order and was passing, so…’
Peg smiled. ‘Not at all. I was feeling a bit at a loose end, actually.’ She peered past Sofia’s shoulder, just to make sure. ‘Are you on your own? Adam not with you?’
‘No, he’s…gone into school. He had a few things to sort out.’
‘I bet it’s nice and quiet at the moment without the children there. When does term start?’
Sofia fiddled with a button on her coat. ‘I’m not sure…it’s usually a couple of days into the new year, but there are training days sometimes.’ She smiled, a little awkwardly it seemed.
Peg held out her arms, wrapping her best welcoming smile across her face. ‘Let me take your coat.’ Judging by the look of it, it was cashmere – an elegant long length in a traditional camel colour. It would make Peg’s pink anorak look even more vibrant than usual.
‘How’s Henry?’ asked Sofia, sliding her arms out of her sleeves.
‘He’s getting there,’ replied Peg, taking the coat from her. ‘The headaches are lessening, and he’s beginning to feel stronger, but I think it’ll be a while until he’s back to his old self. That’s if it happens at all.’
Sofia nodded. ‘I hope it does.’ She glanced towards the living room door, leaning slightly closer to Peg and lowering her voice. ‘It’s been horrible thinking he might not be around. And Adam’s been really upset. I have too, but…I don’t think I’ve ever told Henry how I feel, let alone shown it. I find it difficult…I’m not sure he likes me very much.’
‘I don’t think that’s true at all,’ said Peg. ‘But he perhaps doesn’t know you as well as he’d like,’ she added gently. ‘I’m afraid he isn’t here, though.’ She wasn’t sure how much she should say about where he had gone,orthe reason for his visit.
‘Blanche invited Mim and Henry over for afternoon tea. I think she thought the change of scene might do him good – he hasn’t been out of the house yet, and a gentle excursion mightbe just what he needs.’ She folded Sofia’s coat over her arm, running her hand across the smooth fabric. ‘But you’re welcome to stay. Would you like a drink?’
‘No, I probably…’ She trailed off, looking suddenly anxious, and Peg realised belatedly how tired she looked. Her usually flawless complexion was blotchy and puffy. Peg studied her a little more closely – had she beencrying?
‘I’ll put the kettle on anyway,’ she said, making the decision for her. ‘I’m going to have one, so if you change your mind…’ She hung up Sofia’s coat, turning her back on her for a moment. She desperately needed to think of something to make a conversation from. Sofia must have been nervous about coming here on her own, and she was clearly still reeling from the shock of everything that had happened over recent days. Peg couldn’t just let her leave, but she had no idea what they would talk about.
