‘How wonderful,’ said Alice, thinking once again how everyone ought to be entitled to a good education regardless of your postcode. Thank goodness for teachers like Liam.
‘And, Callum? Your job is going well, I take it?’ she said as she perused the food menu.
Callum was the UK head of sales for a global flooring company.
Surely it must be, she thought to herself, taking in his expensive clothes and wristwatch. Not to mention his car. She was sure he had a different model when he had visited last time.
‘Pretty good,’ he said as their drinks arrived. ‘Although there is always room for improvement. Or should I say more profits.’ He rubbed his hands together and smiled.
The sideways glance Liam gave his brother did not go unnoticed by Alice.
‘If we get the arena refit, I am looking at a great bonus,’ he said hopefully.
They talked of their families and Alice smiled at a stack of photos her nephews brought up on their phones. She was pleased to learn that Liam had recently paid off his mortgage, having paid extra over the past decade.
She beamed at photos of her great-nieces and great-nephews, in their late teens and twenties now, and she supposed it would not be too long before they started having families of their own.
There was a time when Alice had considered having a social media account herself, but she preferred to have her occasional calls over a telephone, or via a tablet where she could talk to someone face to face. No wonder people chatted less to each other these days when there were so many alternative ways to communicate, she thought to herself.
Talk turned to Callum’s meeting tomorrow, as well as Alice’s new life in the apartment block.
‘I feel truly blessed to have met so many wonderful people.’ She could not help but smile when she thought of how the group had become such firm friends.
A waitress arrived then and took their orders for steaks.
Callum ordered a selection of sides that seemed a little excessive to Alice, but maybe he had a large appetite. She was eating much less herself these days, which she supposed was normal at her age.
‘I’m glad you have made some new friends,’ said Liam. ‘Mum worried about you a bit after Uncle George died, living in that big house alone.’
‘I know she did, but I am perfectly fine,’ she assured him. ‘But I must admit I feel much safer in the apartment, as well as more connected to people. And I love the easy access to the city on the train.’
‘There is that, I suppose,’ said Liam. ‘You should be careful out there, though; there are some not so nice people around these days,’ he cautioned her.
‘Oh, don’t worry, I don’t go out with anything valuable. If a mugger grabs my bag they can have it.’ She shrugged. ‘They would find some mint imperials, a packet of tissues and a lipstick. I always keep my phone and bank card in an inside coat pocket,’ she revealed, tapping the side of her nose, much to the amusement of her nephews. They could imagine the look on the face of a mugger going through the contents of the bag. Hopefully she would never find herself in that situation, though.
When the food arrived they eyed the delicious-looking steaks and huge bowls of side dishes that included mashed potato, Tenderstem broccoli, Latin mac and cheese, as well as a huge mixed salad.
Alice and Liam opted for a peppercorn sauce with their steaks, whilst Callum opted for the chimichurri.
He piled his plate high with a generous serving of mashed potato, and a wedge of mac and cheese. He was still quite slender, although her sister had once mentioned that he was a member of a gym that charged extortionate fees. Apparently, the gym provided everything from ice baths to 3D body scans.
‘It is so wonderful spending time with you both today,’ said a delighted Alice. ‘At my age I just never know if and when I will see someone again,’ she said as she cut into her butter-soft steak.
‘Don’t say that,’ said Liam. ‘I am pretty sure you will get a telegram from the king on your hundredth birthday.’
‘Hmm, maybe. Although I am not sure living to be a hundred is something desirable, unless you are still able to enjoy life.’
‘That’s true enough,’ agreed Liam.
‘And I will be back up this way soon. At least, hopefully,’ said Callum. ‘So you needn’t worry about not seeing me for a while.’
‘I shall look forward to it.’ Alice smiled.
She thought about her house near the sea, the proceeds in the bank for her nephews’ future.
She could also not help thinking that if she had not sold up, her friends at Wisteria House would have somewhere to stay, at least temporarily. It had got her mind working overtime.
As their conversation continued, Callum talked of all the things he had recently acquired, including a new kitchen with granite worktops.
