‘Hello, Kenny.’
‘Well, it’s good to see you getting around.’ He’s holding a bunch of flowers and a bag from the supermarket bakery. ‘Bought something to cheer you up.’
‘Is that a custard slice in there?’ I ask. Kenny always brings me a custard slice, he knows it’s my favourite. Funny as it’s George’s favourite too. It’s one of the things we quicky discovered that we have in common.
‘You’ve guessed it.’ He puts everything down on the table then walks over and gives me a kiss on the cheek, wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads me to the table. ‘Shall we have a cuppa and tuck into our cakes? There’s one for you too, sis. And for Dad,’ he tells Alison.
She picks up the bunch of flowers. ‘Thanks, I’ll have mine later. Stick the kettle on, will you, it’s full. I’ll just put these in water.’
Something occurs to me. ‘Alison, don’t the flowers aggravate your hay fever?’
‘Certain types do, like daisies and sunflowers, but not all.’
Kenny helps me sit down then flicks the kettle on. ‘How are you doing, my lovely?’ he asks as he takes mugs and two plates out of the cupboard and lays them on the worktop. He looks over his shoulder at me. ‘You are looking much better.’
‘I feel it, thank goodness. I was worried that I was going to be laid up forever.’
‘Not you. You’re too much of a fighter.’ He turns back, grabs two cake forks out of the drawer then brings them and the plates over to the table. Opening the bag he takes out a custard slice and places it on a plate then hands it to me with a cake fork. ‘Tuck into this, that will soon cheer you up.’ He puts a Belgian bun on the second plate, leaving the remaining cakes in the bag.
‘You’re miles away,’ Kenny observes as he sits down opposite me. ‘Everything all right?’ He taps the side of his nose and winks.‘I’m very good at keeping confidences if you need to offload about anything.’
I smile at him. He has such a relaxed, easy manner that I imagine lots of people do confide in him and I’m tempted to but I think I should speak to George first.
‘I was thinking how much has happened this last week and how glad I am to be back on my feet, even if it is with the help of crutches,’ I tell him.
‘I know it’s been hard for you, but you’ve done really well. You could have broken your neck, falling down the stairs like that. You could have died.’ He shudders and a shudder runs through me too. He’s right, I’m lucky to be alive.
‘Don’t push things. Rest and let yourself heal. There’s plenty of time to go to Prague. Another few weeks and you’ll be running around again.’
‘I’m not sure that I ever actually ran around,’ I say with a grin. I’m so glad he’s popped in. He’s cheered me up no end.
Alison comes in with the vase of flowers. ‘Shall we leave them in here, Judith? They make the place look cheerful.’
Kenny raises an eyebrow. ‘Have you two had a fall out?’
‘Goodness no, why would you say that?’ Alison asks.
‘Well, you were calling Judith “Mum” last time I was here.’
Alison looks a bit awkward. ‘I know and I shouldn’t have. It’s a bit too soon and upsets Lizzie.’
‘I’m sure she wasn’t upset about that,’ I butt in, although I know she was.
Kenny looks from one to the other of us. ‘Am I missing something? Has something happened since I last visited?’ He puts his head in his hands and feigns an excited expression. ‘Come on, spill. I’m all ears.’ He zips his finger across his mouth. ‘And I promise not to tell.’
Alison picks up the magazine and playfully swipes at him. ‘Nothing’s happened, you idiot. But Lizzie is an only childand it’s only natural that she feels it’s a bit strange when an overfriendly newcomer to the family starts calling her mother Mum.’
‘Well I have to admit I thought it was a bit too much too soon.’ Kenny cuts a slice out of his Belgian bun. ‘That’s our Alison though. She’s used to putting her patients at ease and I guess that’s what she was trying to do with you.’
‘I was. No offence meant.’
‘And none taken,’ I reply. I feel so comfortable with them both, as if I’ve known them for ages.
We chat for a while then Kenny has to go. ‘I’ve a shift soon but I’ll come and see you again.’ He kisses me on the forehead. ‘Take it easy.’
‘I will,’ I promise.
George will be home soon. What a day it’s been, I think. But at least now everything is out in the open and we can all move forward, a united family.
