I wake to enticing smells coming from the kitchen. Alison must be preparing dinner. I ease myself up and reach for my phone. I’m disappointed when I notice a missed call from George. It would have cheered me up to speak to him, but I must have been out for the count. I immediately call him back but his phone rings out. Then I notice the time, gone six – goodness, I’ve slept for hours! George is probably on the way home, he never answers his phone when he’s driving. I slip my phone into my pocket and reach for my walker. Leaning on it I propel myself forward. I hate using it, it makes me feel like an old lady and is a bit awkward to manoeuvre, but at least I’m mobile.
‘Can I help?’ I ask as I shuffle into the kitchen.
‘It’s all under control, thanks,’ Alison says cheerfully. She looks over her shoulder at me. ‘How are you feeling now?’
‘The nausea has gone. I think I’m through the worst.’
‘That’s good. Why don’t you sit yourself down and I’ll make us both a drink. Dad will be home soon.’ She shakes the kettle to check how much water is in it then flicks it on. ‘Tea okay?’
‘Please. I noticed I missed a call from George. I can’t believe I slept through my phone ringing.’
Alison pulls out a chair and helps me into it. ‘That’s because I turned your volume down. I hope you don’t mind but you looked so tired, I wanted you to have some undisturbed rest.’
I’m a bit taken aback that she’s meddled with my phone. She’s a nurse, she’s used to making decisions to look after people, I remind myself. ‘Not a problem. I’ll turn it back up now.’
Alison makes the tea as I take out my phone and turn the volume back up, then she sits down beside me.
‘That smells delicious.’ I sniff at the aroma that is filling the kitchen. There’s no sign of any saucepans on the stove, so whatever she’s making is in the oven. ‘What are you cooking?’
‘Something very simple, a sausage casserole with roasted vegetables. It’s Dad’s favourite.’
I hadn’t realised that. But then, there’s a lot about George that I still don’t know. It was such a whirlwind romance.
‘I hope you like it too?’ she asks, suddenly looking worried.
‘I’m sure I will. And thank you, I appreciate you cooking dinner for us.’
We sit and chat as we drink our tea then George comes in. ‘Oh good, you’re up and about.’ He strides over, gives me a big hug and a wrapped gift. ‘I couldn’t resist getting you this. I hope it cheers you up a bit.’
I open it eagerly, it’s a black velvet jewellery box. I gasp when I open it up and see the gold locket inside. ‘It’s beautiful,’ I say.
‘Open the locket,’ he tells me with a smile.
So I do and tears well in my eyes when I see that it holds a photo of me and George on our wedding day. My hand flies to my mouth. ‘Oh George. What a wonderful present.’
He leans over and kisses me. ‘A wonderful present for a wonderful lady.’
I put my hand on his cheek and stroke it tenderly. ‘And you’re a wonderful husband.’
‘Has Sam sent the wedding photos over then?’ Alison asks, admiring the locket.
‘Only this one, because I asked him for one. He said the others will be ready in a couple of days.’
We all sit around the table eating our meal and chatting away. It feels so natural, as if the three of us have known each other for ages instead of only fairly recently. Then Alison goes upstairs to chat to a friend on FaceTime and me and George go into the lounge and watch TV.
George wraps his arm around my shoulder and I lean against him, loving the closeness of it. It’s so good to feel stronger now. Tomorrow I’ll see if I can make the stairs, I decide. I want to be able to snuggle up to George in bed, not sleep down here alone.
‘Shall we have some warm milk and honey then we’ll hit the sack,’ George says, yawning.
‘That sounds perfect.’
George returns a few minutes later with a couple of mugs on a tray and two slices of jam sponge. ‘Alison made this earlier and insists we have a slice for supper.’
‘That’s kind of her.’ I take the plate off him and dip my fork into the cake. It’s soft, and melts into my mouth. ‘This is luscious.’
‘She’s always been a good cook.’
Alison pops her head around the door just as we’ve finished our supper. ‘I’m off to bed now, do you want me to help you settle down, Mum?’
