I have to stop letting this eat me up. I should be more tolerant with Alison, I was the one who did wrong, not her. I’m lucky that she clearly doesn’t realise who I am or what I did. I should support her and show my appreciation that she’s looking after my mum.
‘I’m happy now,’ Grace says so I put her down and she runs off to play.
I go back down to help Nick with the dinner but everything is cooking nicely so I lay the table. ‘You’re right, maybe I am overreacting a bit. I’ll go around to Mum’s tomorrow when I’ve taken the kids to school and take a bunch of flowers for Alison, to show her that I’m grateful for her help. Then we can have a cup of tea and a chat. I’ll let her know that I’m willing to share the load.’
‘That sounds a good idea. I’m sure Alison will appreciate that,’ Nick says approvingly.
Tension now eased we all chat away as we eat dinner, then I take Isaac and Grace up for their showers while Nick clears away and loads the dishwasher.
A little later Nick calls up the stairs. ‘Alison’s asked me to pop around and help her move the spare bed downstairs for your mum. I won’t be long.’
I hear the front door close behind him before I can ask him how Alison contacted him. She hasn’t got his number. Has she?
Mum probably gave it to her so she could phone. But why didn’t she phone me and ask if Nick could pop around, that would be the normal thing to do. My mind is working overtime. Alison turning up has really rattled me. She hasn’t messaged me at all. Not even to give me an update on my mum. Yet she has my husband’s number and seems very friendly with him.
I remember the sparkle in Nick’s eyes when he was talking to her at the wedding yesterday, how they both got on so well, and a snake of unease slithers through me.
Exactly how friendly were they all those years ago?
13
JUDITH
Alison and George are being really kind but I feel useless. My foot is so painful I can’t put any weight on it, I’m having to use a walker to get around, like an eighty-year-old. I really wanted to go up to bed last night, our wedding night, but after the fall I couldn’t manage it. The pain was so excruciating. I slept downstairs on the sofa, and George slept in the armchair because he refused to leave me downstairs on my own, but it was so late by the time we got home from the hospital that we overslept this morning. And now here they are, both running around after me while I sit on the sofa with my foot up on a pouffe. I want to be the one to look after them. I feel so stupid for falling down the stairs like that and putting myself in this position.
‘I’m so sorry, I’ve ruined everything.’ A sob catches in my throat. We should be on our honeymoon in Prague, but now, thanks to my fall, we can’t even cuddle up in bed together. I feel so helpless and miserable.
George sits down beside me and hugs me tight. ‘It isn’t your fault you fell. And I’m just grateful that you weren’t seriously injured. Or killed.’
I know he’s right, it could have been a lot worse, but I don’t want to be hobbling about like this. I want to be able to move around. I want us to go to Prague as we planned.
Oh stop having a pity party and be grateful that you didn’t break your neck, I tell myself.Your ankle will be a lot better in a few days.
‘Are you sure you’ll be all right if I go into the shop tomorrow?’ George asks when we all sit around the table eating the roast beef dinner Alison cooked – with George’s help I managed to manoeuvre my walker into the kitchen. ‘It does seem daft to pay someone else to come in, and there’s not much I can do here. I know Alison will look after you.’ He squeezes my hand. ‘It won’t be long before you’re back on your feet again.’
‘Of course. And you must go up to bed tonight, you can’t get a decent night’s sleep in that chair. I’ll be fine down here on the sofa. I can get myself to the loo and into the kitchen for a drink.’
‘Are you sure?’ he asks. ‘I hate to leave you down here alone.’
‘Nonsense. I’m a big girl, I’ll be perfectly okay. And I can phone you in the unlikely event I need anything.’
‘I think she’s right, Dad, you need your rest and that chair is no good for your back,’ Alison pipes up.
George finally agrees. ‘But I’m not having you sleeping on the sofa until your ankle is better enough for you to climb the stairs. We can bring the spare bed down from the office room and put it into the back room for you. At least then you’ll have some privacy and can sleep in a decent bed.’
‘That’s a lot of bother for everyone. I’m sure I’ll be able to make the stairs in a couple of days, even if I have to crawl up!’ I don’t want me and George separated like this. And I certainly don’t want him and Alison dragging that bed down, it’s heavy.
‘Dad’s right. It could be a week or so before you’re ready for the stairs, Mum. It’s not just going up, it’s coming down too.We don’t want you falling again. You might not be so lucky next time. I’ll ask Nick to come over and help us.’
I protest that I don’t want to trouble him, but Alison waves my concerns away. ‘I’m sure he won’t mind.’
I know he won’t. Nick will always do anything to help, but I feel such a nuisance putting everyone out like this.
Nick comes around straight away, and he and Alison bring the bed down between them, laughing as they quibble who is going to take which end, but Nick insists on going down first. Then they push the sofa over a little in the back room to make space for it. I have to admit that it’s much comfier to sleep in the bed than on the sofa. Alison sees Nick out and they stand chatting on the doorstep for a while, they seem to have quite a connection considering as they only worked together for a short time years ago. But then Nick is always friendly.
George brings me a cup of hot chocolate and we sit together in my make-shift bedroom, chatting. A little later I hear the front door close then Alison pops her head around the door.
‘I think I’ll turn in, I’m tired. Is there anything you want before I go up, Mum?’
