When we get home I give the kids a snack then they sit at the kitchen table and make a Get Well card for Mum while I prepare the dinner. I’m doing cottage pie with extra carrots and peas to go with it, they’re the only vegetables that the kids will eat. Nick messaged earlier to say he would be late so I’m guessing a problem has come up at work.
Nick finally arrives home when I’m draining the vegetables, he looks a bit flustered.
‘Everything okay? Trouble at work?’ I ask.
He gives me a big hug and kisses me slowly, and I feel my own tension fade away. Nick’s love keeps me safe, and sane. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
‘Ally texted and asked me to drop in on the way home to help her move some furniture around for Judith, to make the backroom more comfortable for her. It’s going to be a while before she can manage the stairs.’
‘That’s a good idea. Though, she should have mentioned it when I was there this morning, I could have helped.’ I frown at him. ‘Why didn’t you say you were going to Mum’s?’
‘I was on a call to a client so I texted you in a hurry.’ He sniffs appreciatively. ‘That smells good. Anything I can do to help?’
I push away the niggle that Alison messaged him again when she could have told me. It feels like she’s deliberately excluding me.It was for Mum, to make her more comfortable, I remind myself. ‘It’s cottage pie. You can lay the table and call the kids down, please. They’re playing upstairs.’
‘I’m on it.’ Nick takes the plates out of the cupboard and places them on the table, then fetches the cutlery. ‘How’s your day been?’ he asks as he lays out knives, forks and spoons.
I want to tell him about the one-star rating but I know he’ll shrug it off and tell me to focus on all the four and five stars I get. Which I guess I should but it’s niggling me. ‘Okay, I took Alison some flowers this morning to thank her for looking after Mum. And a box of chocolates for Mum to cheer her up. Did they tell you?’
‘No, there wasn’t time for chit chat, I wanted to get home as quickly as I could.’ He looks over at me. ‘That was nice of you. I’m glad you’re cutting Ally a bit of slack. She’s only trying to look after your mum.’
I nod. ‘I know.’
‘I’ll go and call the kids.’
I chew my lip as he walks out the kitchen, and I hear him shout up the stairs to Isaac and Grace. Nick’s probably right and Alison is only trying to help, but I’m concerned with how quickly she’s integrated herself with my family. And how chummy she is with Nick. And how he still calls her Ally, as if they were reallyclose. I can’t help wondering if there’s more to their history than he’s told me.
TUESDAY
19
JUDITH
‘Good morning, darling, how are you feeling?’
George’s cheery voice wakes me up out of deep sleep. I blink open my eyes as he kisses me. ‘I’ve brought you a cup of tea. I thought we could spend a few minutes together before I go to work.’
He sits on the end of my bed. ‘Or would you prefer to sleep a little longer?’
‘No, I want to sit up and talk to you.’ I try to get myself up and George immediately helps me, propping the pillow behind me. ‘Bad night?’ he asks sympathetically.
‘I’ve been disturbed in the night with a terribly upset stomach but it’s passed now,’ I tell him. ‘I feel so tired but I’m sure I’ll soon liven up.’ I grimace. ‘What a way to spend a honeymoon.’
He reaches out for my hand and gently strokes it. ‘Don’t even think about that. The main thing is that you get well again. We can go on honeymoon later.’
‘You’re right. I’ll soon be on my feet again.’ I’ve got to stop being such a grouch. It could have been a lot worse.
We chat for a while as we drink our tea, then George has to leave for work. ‘Take it easy today, don’t push yourself too much,’ he tells me as he kisses me goodbye.
‘I won’t,’ I promise. I’m determined to get up, have a shower and put a bit of makeup on, it will make me feel and look a lot better. Lizzie will pop in again today and I don’t want her worrying about me.
But when I try to get out of bed I feel dizzy and nauseous. I’m sitting on the side of the bed, holding the headboard for support, when Alison comes in.
‘Mum, you should have called me!’ She rushes to my side.
‘I went giddy, I’ll be okay in a few minutes,’ I say weakly. ‘I had a bit of an upset stomach last night and it’s left me feeling a bit shaky.’
‘Falls can really knock you about at your age, Mum. Your body takes longer to heal, you need to take it easy.’
