The walk was challenging, tiring, but the ever-changing landscape was nourishing and rejuvenating. By the time they’d completed their seven miles with sore feet and aching limbs, they were ravenously hungry. After an early tea of fish and chips, bread and butter, and endless mugs of tea, they decided to head back to the lodge, weary but incredibly happy. Suzy placed candles on the shop-bought birthday cake and they all sang a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ to Gina.
‘Honestly, this has been the best birthday ever. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it in any other place or with any other people.’ She popped the remaining crumbs of her slice of cake into her mouth, before announcing, ‘Right, there’s to be no excuses; we all need to get in the hot tub to soak our weary legs. It’ll be fun,’ she added, seeing Tess’s doubtful expression.
Tess wasn’t so sure, worried that it might be too cold, reluctant to struggle into her swimsuit when the temperature outside was bracing, but there was never going to be any getting out of it. Not with Gina and Dilly egging her on. She needn’t have worried though because as soon as she stepped down the steps into the bubbling bath, immersing her shoulders beneath the hot water, she realised it was every bit as delightful as Gina had promised it to be, especially with the sound of the sea’s movements soothing her ears.
‘There, what did I tell you? You need to start living dangerously, Tess. And you too, Suzy.’
‘Now, you’re sounding like my mother,’ said Tess with a frown. ‘Although I think I’ve probably done my fair share of stepping out of my comfort zone this year, don’t you? It’s been scary, stressful and liberating, but do you know something, it’s been an absolute blast too, and I’m confident there’s even more surprises to come.’
‘You’re an inspiration to us all,’ said Suzy, ‘and I’m going to follow your lead. Take a few more chances, step out of my lane and embrace the world in the way that Martin would have wanted me to.’
‘Go you!’ said Dilly, splashing the water in Suzy’s direction, which was probably a bad idea because then Suzy took that as an invitation to splash her back. Gina, never one to be outdone, joined in the game, only scooping the water with much more force, leaving Tess with no other option but to join in too. They sounded like a group of school kids, whooping and laughing, their faces gleaming with water.
‘Stop, stop, stop,’ said Gina finally, unable to stop laughing. ‘I think that deserves a toast, don’t you?’ They picked up their glasses of Prosecco that Dilly had poured for them, which she’d placed carefully on the edge of the tub. ‘Here’s to good friends, happy days and helping each other to be the best versions of ourselves that we could ever possibly be!’
26
‘What do you mean, you’re not coming for lunch? Are you feeling poorly?’
The telephone call came unexpectedly. Tess had only spoken to her mother yesterday confirming the time she’d be collecting her for Sunday lunch and Marjorie had commented on how much she was looking forward to it. There had to be something wrong for her to be cancelling at this late hour.
‘No, I’m absolutely fine, darling. It’s just that I have rather a lot to be getting on with here. It’s not a problem, is it?’
Tess had already spent a couple of hours pottering about the kitchen, preparing vegetables, making a cauliflower cheese, putting the leg of lamb in a roasting tin ready for cooking and making an apple and blackberry crumble, all to the background of the soothing voices of Radio 4. It was a ritual she had participated in far too many times to remember over the years, but one she would never grow tired of. It was relaxing and replenishing in equal measure, and was the perfect way to reset in preparation for the upcoming week. Having her friends and family gathered around the table, enjoying good food, wine, and conversation was nourishing to her soul, so she couldn’t help feeling disappointed that her mum wouldn’t be coming after all.
‘No, it’s fine, as long as you’re absolutely sure. Is there something going on at the home today then?’
‘I expect so. There’s always something going on around here, but we can do lunch some other time, can’t we? Anyway, darling, I ought to be getting on. I’ll catch up with you soon.’
With that, Marjorie ended the call and Tess was left staring at her phone accusingly as though it might hold the answers to Marjorie’s out-of-character behaviour. She had sounded chipper enough but what on earth could be so pressing, on a Sunday, that she would refuse a roast dinner for? Her mum hadn’t been known to miss one of those lunches before, except perhaps on those occasions when she’d been too poorly to attend.
‘Oh well,’ she said aloud, looking around at the efforts of all her hard work around the kitchen. She was about to make herself another coffee when she heard some movement from the hallway.
‘Morning!’ Hannah padded down the stairs, still in her pyjamas and with her long, fair hair falling messily on her shoulders. ‘Ooh, coffee, lovely thank you! How are you?’
‘Good, I’ve had a very productive morning, as you can see, although I’ve just had your grandmother on the phone and sadly, she won’t be joining us for lunch today.’
‘Oh no, is she ill?’ It was a natural assumption to make, the same one that Tess had made.
‘I don’t know. If she is, she’s not telling me. I hope she’s not depressed. I’ve never known her like this: distracted and secretive, even. I’ve tried asking her what’s going on, but she simply dismisses my concerns and tells me not to fuss.’
‘At least we know that the home will be keeping a close eye on her and she’s seemed well enough when we’ve visited her recently. Maybe a little stressed?’
‘But what can she possibly be stressed about? She has her every need catered for at the home. It’s ringing alarm bells with me the more I think about it.’
‘Perhaps she has something on her mind. I’ll pop in to see her again in the week and see if I can prise it out of her. More pressingly, Mum, what on earth are we going to do with all that food?’ Hannah was eyeing the large joint. ‘I mean, I’ll do my best, but I’ll never be able to finish that lot off.’ She gave a chuckle. ‘It’s a shame Billy’s not around as he would definitely help to make a dent in it.’
Talking it over with Hannah helped in a small way to allay Tess’s worries. It was true; if there was anything terribly wrong, then the carers at the home would alert them. Although Tess hated the idea that Marjorie might be feeling isolated or depressed, so she would definitely see if she could get to the bottom of her change in behaviour.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee emanated from the machine and Tess handed a mug over to Hannah, before taking one of her own and sitting down next to her at the table.
‘You know you can always invite Billy here for lunch one weekend if you’d like to.’
‘Oh thanks, Mum. I wish I could call him today to say come along, but he’s visiting his parents this weekend. He wants me to go over to Cork soon to meet them.’
‘Well, that’s good. It must be going well between you then?’
‘Yes, it really is.’ Hannah placed her palm on her mum’s hand. ‘I didn’t expect this at all. When we went our separate ways in Australia, I thought I’d never see him again. That image of him walking away along the beach with his long, blond hair blowing in the breeze and with his great big bag on his back, stayed with me. Not in a hundred years could I have expected him to turn up here in Lower Leaping with that ridiculous grin on his face. There was a part of me that thought we wouldn’t be able to rediscover the spark that we’d shared, but as soon as I saw him again, I knew I was in trouble. It wasn’t just a holiday romance, Mum. It’s so much more than that. We’re in love.’
