Party poppers exploded and paper streamers were unfurled in my direction as Veronica led a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. There were sixtieth-birthday banners taped across the walls and a giant pink helium balloon with a silver ‘60’ in the middle. How on earth did they know about my birthday? I caught Saffy’s eye and she flashed me one of her wide smiles. Of course!
‘Thank you all so much,’ I said when they’d finished with three cheers. ‘That was a lovely surprise.’
‘There’s more,’ Paulette said.
The group parted, revealing a table on which there was a birthday cake and a stack of presents, some wrapped and others in gift bags. Tears pricked my eyes.
‘All for me?’ I whispered, struggling to force the words out over the lump in my throat. I’d never seen anything like it. Mum had always bought me gifts but, after she died, Dad never bothered. He didn’t even acknowledge the day but Mrs Kellerman and Cliff signed a card, gave me some new sheet music and a box of chocolates and got me to blow out the candles on a birthday cake. After we married, Cliff had spoiled me on every birthday and the first one without him had been especially hard – not because I had no gifts and cards but because there was nobody there to make me feel special and I’d feared there never would be again. Until now.
‘Can’t let a landmark birthday pass unnoticed,’ Veronica said. ‘Happy birthday, Yvonne.’
I smiled at her gratefully before addressing the group. ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this. It’s so kind of you all. I’m sure I’m going to love every single one of these gifts. Thank you.’
A little later, we’d all had a helping of birthday cake and were working on our individual crafts. I’d made some good progress on the cross stitch for Laughlin but I couldn’t bring it with me without giving the game away so I was working on a floral spring-coloured patchwork quilt kit which I’d found in my craft room. Saffy was sitting with Laughlin and he was showing her how to do pyrography so I went over to join them.
‘I can’t believe you did that for me, Saffy. I’m so touched.’
‘Birthdays are special and everyone’s should be celebrated. I couldn’t bear to think of you having no cards or pressies.’
‘I think it’s the kindest thing anyone’s ever done for me so thank you.’
Paulette joined us and asked if she could have a quick word with me. We slipped out into the lobby.
‘You look brighter than you did on Sunday,’ I said, giving her a weak smile. One look at her red eyes when she’d collected Saffy and I could have cried for her.
‘I’m not one for crying. I feel deeply but it’s rare it spills over into tears. Probably comes from my career choice. The last thing a grieving family needs is for the professionals running their funeral to be blubbering wrecks. But what Andrew and Joanne said to me on Saturday hurt me so very deeply that it was like someone had turned a tap on. That’s the real reason I had to pull over on the way home.’
‘What did they say?’ I asked.
Paulette glanced down the hall before steering me away from the door, which signalled to me that she hadn’t told Saffy what she was about to reveal to me.
‘You know I said Andrew’s my stepson – my second husband’s son? I’ve always treated him and his sister, Nicola, like they were my own. Their mum died when they were young and, bless their hearts, neither of them really remembered her. I never asked them to call me “Mum” and neither did Stephen, but they both wanted to and we’ve always been close. Joanne, on the other hand, is an acquired taste. She’s opinionated and controlling and…’ She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.
‘Apologies. I don’t want to speak ill of her. Andrew clearly loves her and doesn’t seem to be fazed by some of the concerning behaviours I see. She’d already told me to stop interfering several times but, on Saturday, she took it a step further – said I’m not allowed to get involved and I’m not entitled to have an opinion on the matter because I’m not Saffy’srealgrandma.’
I gasped. ‘She actually said that?’
‘Those exact words, followed up by me not being Andrew’srealmum.’
‘What did Andrew say?’
‘Absolutely nothing and that hurt me even more. I thought he’d tell her she’d gone too far but he just sat there nodding along to everything she said. Then she told me to leave and hestillsaid nothing. It broke my heart.’
‘Oh, Paulette. I’m so sorry.’
I drew her into a hug and could feel her shaking as she held me. How could anyone say something so cruel to such a lovely woman?
‘That would break anyone’s heart,’ I said when we parted. ‘Have you heard anything from them since?’
‘Not a word. Saffy hasn’t spoken to them either. She’s being remarkably strong about it, although she doesn’t know what I’ve just told you. She’d be disgusted and I don’t want to poison her against her parents. As for what happens next, the ball’s in their court. Saffy’s welcome to stay with me as long as she wants and, as she’s officially an adult, they can’t stop her. I’d just rather she was here with their blessing.’
‘I’m sure they’ll see reason eventually.’
‘I hope so. She’s their only daughter! I don’t understand why they’re behaving like this. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for everything you did last weekend. Saffy had a wonderful time with you, she’s completely in love with Trevor and she’s bursting with excitement about this pop-up shop idea which, incidentally, I think is brilliant. I’d love to be involved. Things have been a bit chaotic so far this year but I haven’t forgotten my promise about a raincheck on the Chinese. I was thinking that, as soon as Veronica has news about Willowdale Gifts, we should all get together round mine and do some planning.’
I smiled at her. ‘That would be great. But are you sure you’re all right?’
‘I’m a great believer in the power of time and space for resolving problems. Saffy’s the important person in all of this and I think she’s exactly where she needs to be to plan the next stage of her life. Andrew and Joanne will come round eventually and they’ll make their peace with her.’
