‘It’s hard, isn’t it?’
He nodded, felt his eyes begin to water.
‘You have your family around you,’ he said.
‘The Lord has blessed me. It is more than I deserve.’
‘Why would you say that, Rita? It is exactly what you deserve.’
‘I am a wicked woman, Andrew. I am breaking the tenth commandment.’
Andrew wracked his brains.
‘Thy shalt not covet your neighbour’s house…?’
‘I don’t covet anyone else’s property,’ she whispered, ‘but I covet this. It’s never really been mine. Like you, I’ve always been looking after it for the next generation, but I can’t seem to let it go. Are we foolish, Andrew, rattling around in our big old houses when we could be having an easier life somewhere smaller and more modern?’
He didn’t answer and was relieved when there was a tap on the door.
‘Are you ready for tea?’ Jules asked, balancing a tray with two Crown Derby cups and saucers, a silver teapot, two plates, some little napkins and cake forks.
Rita beckoned her in.
‘Jules is insisting I use my best china,’ Rita said.
She held out her wrist and fingered a gold bracelet interspersed with pearls.
‘In fact, she’s insisting I use the best of everything. George bought me this for our thirtieth wedding anniversary and I don’t wear it much because I’m worried about damaging it.’
She looked at Andrew.
‘But what are we saving all these things for, Andrew? If we don’t enjoy them now, when will we?’
The Major looked at Jules and smiled.
‘A wise girl,’ he said, affectionately. ‘I knew it as soon as I met her. A girl with strong opinions, too. Perhaps we ought to ask her about our housing dilemmas?’
He watched as Jules blushed charmingly at the flattery.
‘I think,’ she said, placing the tray in front of The Major, ‘that instead of putting me on the spot, you should be mother and I should go and get the cake.’
He chuckled and reached for the teapot. He’d been right to come after all. This little outing was doing him good.
TWENTY-THREE
‘What you need,’ Jules said after a couple of days, ‘is a social secretary and a florist, not a nurse.’
Rita chuckled.
‘I do seem to have a lot of people phoning and wanting to visit. I’m astonished.’
‘You shouldn’t be. You are a much-loved lady.’
‘Have you seen those cane toppers that Lance has made me?’ Rita asked.
Even the mere mention of his name made Jules’s heart jump.
She pointed to three ceramic flower shapes on the table in the corner.
