‘Oh, my God, Gran. I am so sorry. I was in the bloody theatre for three hours and did not get the message. I’m so sorry. Nick’s sister just dropped me off.’
To my astonishment, my sister burst into tears.
‘Oh, Kate. Shh. There now. Gran’s fine, aren’t you, Gran?’
‘Yes, dear. Completely fine. Very silly, really. Come now, Kate – don’t be feeble.’
‘You … need … to … use … your … buzzer, Gran,’ Kate sobbed.
‘Gran also turned down Lionel last night. He proposed, and she’s a bit upset,’ I said to Kate.
‘You shouldn’t worry about that, Gran. He asked. You declined.’
‘That’s my girl.’
‘Gran, they are worried about your heart. It is racing. The specialist is coming tomorrow,’ Kate said, a little calmer now. ‘You need to keep settled, so no more stressing or getting up to make tea.’
‘It’s all a lot of fuss over nothing. They’re acting like I am going to die. But if I am to be treated like a prisoner and kept in bed, you’ll have to top up my Kindle and audiobooks dearest.’
‘No steamy romances,’ Kate said with authority.
Gran looked at me, rolling her eyes, and I laughed. We sat and chatted together for about fifteen minutes when Nick came around the corner with Lionel.
Lionel walked slowly to Iris’s bed and Kate and I cleared off to give him room. He extended a slow hand to her, gave Gran a radiant smile, and held out a single pink rose. She took it, holding it to her nose and inhaling, squeezing his hand. She then went to swing her legs out of the bed, making us all jump forward to stop her.
‘Good lord, stop fussing. It makes me thinkyouall think I’m going to die.’
‘Gran, it is serious. You cannot get out of bed.’ Kate was red in the face and had her hand over her chest.
‘So what? If I die, I have had a good life. My gorgeous Harry gave me your father and your father gave me nothing but grief, but then eventually, he gave me you two. The greatest gifts of my life. Cavendish women. I don’t want any nonsense grieving from the two of you. No funeral. You will have a party and play lots of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. I expect dancing and cake, lipstick and heels. Is that understood? You will invite gorgeous men to serve cocktail food. No tears. Kate will, of course, not cry, but Abbey, you are far too soft. Nick, she’ll need help that day.’
Nick nodded solemnly.
‘You are a good boy. I can tell. Do you know I have been married several times? I fall in love with the idea of falling in love. Remember, girls, there is not just one great love in your life. You should love wherever your heart leads you. You must. Otherwise, what is the point of it all? I do not regret a single husband of mine. The love is worth the pain.’ Iris patted Lionel’s hand. ‘Lionel, if we had more time, but not right now, dear, not right now.’ She closed her eyes, exhausted.
We stood there and looked at her for a few minutes. Sensing us watching her, she opened one eye.
‘Well, get out, dears,’ she said.
There was an amount of mumbling as we all started collecting ourselves and our belongings to give the old folks some privacy.
‘I’ll be down in a sec,’ I said to Nick, and he placed a supportive arm around Kate, who was silently sobbing again, leading her from the room.
I walked back to Iris’s bed, bending to hug her. ‘I love you, Gran.’
‘I love you too, Abigail. You look very thin by the way, I do not approve. I’ve always been exceedingly jealous of your curves.’
‘I did not know that!’
‘Boobs … you either have them or you don’t,’ she said, holding her flat chest.
‘Love you, Gran. Stay in bed, please?’
‘Yes, dear.’
***
In the foyer, Nick was consoling my sobbing sister, his arms around her, her head tucked under his chin. He spotted me and a sad smile appeared. He flung out an arm for me to come and join them and I went happily, wrapping one arm around Kate and one around Nick.
