‘I phoned Mum this morning and told her I’d pop in and see her before I picked the kids up from school,’ I reply.
‘Good idea not to bring the kids with you, Mum’s ankle is still swollen and if they knock it, it will be really painful for her. Now, can I get anyone a drink? I’ve got some homemade lemonade.’
‘Yes, please, dear,’ Sheila says. Mum agrees and I add, ‘That’s good for me too.’ But Kenny says he has to be off.
I watch Alison go back into the house, hoping Sheila will leave with Kenny so I can talk to Mum in private, I’ve only got an hour before I pick up the kids, but to my disappointment Kenny leaves alone, telling Sheila he’ll pick her up in a couple of hours.
‘He’s got a meeting, he only popped in to check if we needed anything,’ Sheila says.
Well, it looks like I’m not going to get a chance to speak to Mum alone. I never seem to get the chance to do that nowadays. Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe I shouldn’t tell her what I did. Mum might feel that she has to tell George and then everyone will know, and I’ve no idea how they will take it. They might all blame me, hate me. It could make things difficult for Mum too.
‘How are you doing with your walker? Are you managing to get around?’ I ask her.
‘I can a bit, but it’s rather tiring. When I feel a bit stronger Alison is going to take me to the shops in a wheelchair. She saidshe can borrow one from the hospital. It would be nice to get out a bit.’
‘That would be great. I can fit a wheelchair in my car, you can come over for an hour and see the kids.’
‘I look forward to that. Will you bring them to see me from school tomorrow?’ she asks. ‘I do miss them.’
‘I think it’s a bit soon…’ Alison has returned with our cold drinks on a tray.
I’m determined not to let her keep overruling me. ‘Nonsense, it will be good for Mum to see them. They’ve always been very close.’ I take the glasses from the tray and hand one to Mum.
‘You’ll have to excuse me if I seem to be overprotective, Lizzie.’ Alison swallows, her eyes holding mine. ‘But when you lose your mum young, like Kenny and I did, I guess it makes you that way. I’d hate anything to happen to your mum.’
27
LIZZIE
‘I know you’ve only got my best interests at heart, Alison, but I really want to see the children, so please bring them after school tomorrow, Lizzie. Just for a little time,’ Mum says.
‘I will,’ I promise. I don’t look at Alison. I can’t. My mind is in turmoil. It sounded an innocent enough remark, but the way Alison said it, her eyes piercing into mine…it sounded like a threat. And it’s not the first time she’s mentioned ‘something happening to Mum’, I recall.
When I do look up, Sheila and Alison are walking back to the house together, deep in conversation.
Mum is sipping her drink slowly and the colour starts to return to her face. ‘Ah, this is just what I needed. And to see you,’ she says happily.
‘I’m glad to see you too.’ I put my arm around her shoulder. ‘Are you sure you’re all right, Mum? You look a bit troubled. You know you can tell me anything.’
She sighs and rests her head against me. ‘Oh Lizzie, I’m in a bit of a tizz because everything’s gone wrong since the wedding. We should have gone to Prague for a honeymoon, and instead I’m stuck in here, feeling helpless. I can’t even go upstairs to bed.’
A sob catches in her throat, and my heart goes out to her. Is it all a coincidence that everything has gone wrong since Alison arrived? And it all started with Mum having that dizzy spell.
‘Can you remember much about your fall, Mum? How long did you feel dizzy?’ I ask as I move out of the hug to give Mum space to finish her drink.
‘It was so sudden. I’d been feeling a bit tired all evening, probably the excitement of the wedding. Alison made me a hot drink, and I went to bed. I shouldn’t have gone up the stairs really, my head was swimming. I tried to hang on to the rail to stop myself falling but it was too late, I hit the floor. I must have passed out. I don’t know anything else until I woke up in hospital. George said Alison called an ambulance, dealt with everything. I don’t know what we’d have done if Alison wasn’t here. Thank goodness she didn’t go back to stay with Kenny as she planned.’
Lucky or planned?Alison makes Mum a warm drink. A few hours later Mum is dizzy, falls and fractures her ankle. Is that simply a coincidence?
Stop it, Lizzie, you’re being paranoid.
The door opens and Alison comes out again. ‘Oh, you’re looking a lot perkier, Mum. I think a chat with Lizzie has done you good.’
‘It certainly has.’ Mum pats my hand. ‘It’s lovely to have so many people drop by to see how I am.’
I’m so pleased that she’s perked up. It worries me to see Mum weak and upset. She’s always been so positive and strong. I wish I could stay longer but I have to go and pick Isaac and Grace up now. ‘I’ll message you later, Mum,’ I promise.
‘I look forward to it. And seeing you tomorrow.’ Mum’s eyes meet mine. I feel like she’s holding something back. That she wants to talk to me but can’t because of Alison and Sheila.
