‘No.’ Kath made a noise of complete despair.
‘Was the back door open?’
‘Yes, but they can’t get round there. Albie told me to keep the back gate locked at all times, and I always do.’
Vic went to the front room to see the van pulling off the drive. As soon as it was out of sight she marched around to Joti and banged on her front door. So much for all the love thy neighbour, happy Christmas bollocks, the pretty new neighbour was showing her true colours now, wasn’t she? Joti opened her door wearing a nurse’s uniform, with a splodge of mud on her face and what looked like a twig sticking out of her hair.
‘I knew you were trouble. All this pretence of?—’
Joti put her hand up to stop Victoria’s tirade of abuse and said calmly, ‘Get in here, Vicki. Don’t give those bastards opposite the satisfaction of another show.’
Victoria frowned in confusion but did as she was told. Walking through the house and through the double doors into Joti’s garden, her face broke into a huge grin, for there was Chandler contentedly chewing on one of his favourite bone snacks, with not a care in the world.
‘I don’t understand.’ Vic was now full of both joy and bewilderment. ‘I thought that?—’
‘Vicki, you need to trust me. I’m the last person who’d want to see your mum even sadder than she already is.’
‘So what happened, then?’
‘Well, someone clearly wanted to make trouble and report your mum. Luckily, I’d just come off shift and saw the van pull up. I launched myself under the back hedge, snuck in your mum’s back door, grabbed Chandler and his food and water bowl, then ran to stop them in front of your mum’s front door before she had a chance to open it.’ Joti took an exaggerated breath. ‘I explained that Kath had had some health problems and that I had now taken charge of Chandler’s care until she got back on her feet.’
‘Oh, Joti.’ Vic burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry I’m such a bitch. Look at you. You really are a real-life angel.’
‘And a tired one at that. I work in A&E and this time of year is always madness.’
‘Bless you. I wondered where you were heading off at all hours. I paint things; it’s hardly lifesaving – or life-changing for that matter.’
‘I disagree. Creativity takes courage. So few people stick at doing what they love.’
There was a loud bark from the garden. ‘Chandler?’ Kath Sharpe screamed and ran out into her back garden. ‘Chandler? Is that you, my precious boy?’
Vic gasped. ‘Shit. Poor Mum. We forgot about her.’
As soon as he saw Vic, Chandler’s tail started wagging furiously, and he jumped up and barked even more loudly.
‘Chandler? Chandler!’ Kath shouted.
‘We’re coming, Mum.’ Vic grinned at Joti.
‘Here. Quick.’ The nurse handed Vic a carrier bag containing the dog bowls. ‘Take this little fella to where he rightly belongs.’
‘I’d love to talk some more,’ Vic said, without thought.
‘Me too.’ Joti put an arm on Victoria’s. ‘And I need to start getting my life back on track in the new year, which includes exercise, so I’ll make sure I get some walks in with this little fella, if that’s OK.’
Vic suddenly felt an unexplained closeness around this clearly kind-hearted woman, and began to well up again. ‘Of course. That’s amazing. Thank you so much. Oh, and thanks for getting a bed downstairs for Mum, and the Christmas food. I take it that was your intervention, too?’
‘I’d love to take the credit, but no, not me. Although I did hear an almighty crash through the wall the other afternoon.’
‘Oh, Jesus.’ Vic put her hand to her head.
‘I couldn’t get an answer round the front, so I shimmied through the hedge and luckily the back door was open, as it usually is, so I let myself in.’
Vic tutted. ‘Thank you, thank you so much.’
‘Your mum was anaesthetised with vodka by the look of her. I checked her over; she was lucky. Just bruised, nothing broken. I had to get off to work so I was relieved to see your brother arrive a while later.’
‘I’m sorry for you having to get involved. How about we share numbers and then you can just call me if you need me? If that’s OK, of course.’
