‘I can’t wait for you to meet Alice. She’s quite remarkable, especially for her age,’ said Jess, keen to take her mum’s mind off things, and really hoping she would enjoy herself.
‘She sounds it. I’m looking forward to meeting her too. And the others,’ Carol replied with a genuine smile.
‘Can we go to the shop now, Nanny?’ asked Maisie, clutching her little Minnie Mouse handbag.
‘Of course we can,’ said Carol, standing up. ‘We’ll talk later, I promise,’ she said to her daughter, before kissing her on the cheek.
Jess hated the thought of her mum regretting her move with Pete. She still loved her dad but was alarmed by how selfishly he had behaved. One thing was for sure, though, her mum deserved to be happy. And if there was anything Jess could do to help her she would do it in a heartbeat. Even if it meant putting her own hopes for dating on hold for a while.
TWENTY-EIGHT
MARK
With a sinking feeling Mark wondered how many more meetings with his friends there would be at Wisteria House, even though there had been no viewings of the building. At least not yet. He supposed he still had enough money for a deposit on something else, but property was snapped up really quickly around these parts. Still, he would enjoy today and the opportunity to further foster his new friendships that had taken him completely by surprise.
‘Welcome. It’s lovely to meet you.’
Mark, dressed in jeans and a pale-green polo shirt, shook hands with Carol, as Maisie and her friend raced to the corner of the garden to look at the fairy water feature.
‘Thanks, and it’s nice to meet you too.’ Carol smiled and blushed a little.
Jess introduced her mum to Declan, but Alice was nowhere to be found.
‘Is Alice making a late entrance?’ asked Jess as Mark passed bottles of beers to his guests. He was pleased the weather had turned out well as predicted, the afternoon sunny and bright.
‘Yes, I called her. She said she will be here in ten minutes. She was running a bit late today; she said something about havingan appointment somewhere,’ said Mark, just as the sound of the doorbell drifted through to the garden and he went to answer it.
‘There you are.’ Mark beamed as he answered the door and led Alice outside. She looked smart in a stylish cream linen shirt dress, accessorised with a necklace of coloured glass beads.
When introductions were made, Mark saw Carol’s mouth fall open.
‘You can’t be Alice. Is it true you’re ninety years old?’ She was unable to help herself as the straight-backed woman standing in front of her looked at least a decade younger.
‘I am. Ninety-one actually, and that’s very kind of you to say.’ Alice smiled. ‘Although don’t be fooled by the exterior. These old bones are feeling it a bit these days.’ She rubbed her back.
‘Nonsense,’ said Mark, gratefully accepting a bottle of whisky from her and whispering, ‘Maybe just the one later.’ He didn’t want the repeat of a hangover after the last time he had overindulged. ‘Alice here was steering the boat out on the river last week,’ he informed his guests, and they all marvelled at her spirit.
‘Ah, but you don’t see how long it takes me to get out of bed in the morning,’ said Alice. ‘Or how I have to grip onto the handrail whilst walking down the steps outside. That does make me feel old. Anyway, I am not here to talk about my aging problems.’ She laughed. ‘This is meant to be a party.’
‘Alice.’ Maisie came running over and gave Alice a hug, as her friend stood watching.
‘Maisie, who is your little friend?’ Alice smiled warmly at the little girls.
‘I’m Libby,’ said the little blonde girl with the face of an angel.
‘Well, I am pleased to meet you, Libby,’ said Alice.
‘I have something for you,’ said Maisie, running into the kitchen to retrieve her little pink handbag. She opened it up and pulled out a square of fudge wrapped in cellophane. ‘I saved onefor you,’ she said, handing it to Alice, whose eyes were welling up.
The kindness of children never failed to astonish.
‘Thank you so much. Do you mind if I save it for later after some food? And I have something for you and your friend too.’ She handed them the gingerbread men she had bought. ‘Although maybe you should eat a little food first too.’ She winked.
‘Thank you,’ said Maisie, before racing off with her friend once more.
Alice glanced at them across the garden, sitting on the grass playing a game that involved patting their hands together and singing. The sound of their laughter dancing across the garden was music to her ears.
A table alongside the BBQ was soon piled with spicy chicken wings, burgers, and good quality sausages. A huge salad and buns sat alongside them, and Carol had bought a potato salad and a cheesecake.
