We hug tightly and her dark eyes well up. ‘Just had the urge to see you, you know? With it being Granddad’s birthday. Thought I’d surprise you.’
‘This is wonderful, love. But I still don’t understand how—’
‘I got the five o’clock train this morning.’ She grins as I wrap my arm around her shoulders. I can’t help wondering if that’s the real reason, or if London is still feeling a bit too much.
‘Up here again, Bella?’ Dad says with a wry smile. ‘You can’t stay away!’
‘Yes, Granddad, because it’s your birthday. Don’t mind, do you?’ she teases.
‘’Course not. Lovely to see you, Bel. But I don’t want any fuss, mind.’
‘Don’t worry, Granddad.’ She links her arm in his as we start to head back to the house. ‘There’ll be absolutelynofuss.’
It’s a lie of course because the party is happening later. And rather than having Dad hovering around, protesting that it’s all far too much, I enlist Frank and the girls to whisk him off on another walk, this time to town, on the pretence of Bella wanting to check out the new tea room. ‘Come on, Granddad,’ she says. ‘We’ll get ice creams.’
As soon as they’ve gone I start setting out Dad’s birthday tea, and Prish arrives, armed with home-made cakes and brownies. ‘This looks lovely,’ she announces. ‘He’ll be so pleased, won’t he?’
‘I hope so.’ I smile, relieved now that Dad seems to be enjoying his day so far. ‘Thanks for doing all that baking,’ I add. ‘You know it’s not my forte …’
‘It’s fun for me. And your dad deserves a party after everything that’s happened to him.’
I nod as we set out plates and glasses. ‘Yes, he does. He’s not the easiest but, after the other night—’
‘Oh, that sounded awful.’ She knows about Dad storming up to his room, threatening to move out. ‘It can’t be easy at the moment,’ she adds.
‘No, it’s not. I know Dad’s difficult, but when Frank starts on about him I just feel stuck in the middle. And what can I do anyway? If it’d been his mum or dad who’d needed to move in, we’d have dealt with it.’
‘But they had Frank’s brothers,’ she says. ‘And your dad only has you.’
‘The perils of being an only child.’ I smile.
‘Well, I think you’re brilliant with him,’ she says as we carry on setting everything out. Prish brought up her four kids with little help from her unfaithful husband. Her three sons and daughter all adore her. They never accuse her oftrundling.
Through the window now I see my family crossing the street towards our house. ‘I don’t blame Frank for getting grumpy,’ I add. ‘We thought we were all sorted when Eddie moved out. Remember how desperate I’d been, for me and Frank to have the place to ourselves?’
Prish chuckles and then the door opens and everyone tumbles in, greeting Prish fondly. Then Ian and Sandra arrive, hugging Dad as if there hasn’t been a blip in their friendship. ‘Looking well, Kenny!’ Sandra announces. ‘Getting the star treatment here?’ And then Myra arrives, laden with yet more home baking, and Frank goes off to do drinks.
And it’s lovely, considering that Dad didn’t want a fuss. There are fancy crackers and the posh cheeses he secretly loves, rather than a big block of cheap Cheddar with a reduced sticker on it. There are Prish’s cakes and browniesand Myra’s muffins, plus Dad’s favourite Battenburg, and plump strawberries and sparkling wine. He acts as if it’s a wild extravagance, as if we’re feasting on lobster and caviar. But he also loves it, and seeing him surrounded by friends and family lifts my heart.
We divide into two quiz teams with Dad pointing out that they are unevenly numbered, yet unwilling for anyone to opt out. ThenCash or Crashis switched on at a suitably eardrum-shattering volume and we all yell out the answers. When I go through to the kitchen during the ad break, Frank appears at my side. ‘This is nice, isn’t it?’ he says.
‘Yeah. I think Dad’s having a lovely time.’
He smiles then, and places his hands on my shoulders. ‘Well done, you.’
‘Oh, it’s not just me, is it?’ In fact I’m surprised and delighted by the compliment.
‘It pretty much is. Like everything around here.’ His gaze meets mine, and he kisses me gently on the lips.
I smile up at him, lost for words for a moment. ‘I think the two of us have done pretty well, Frank. If we’re allowed to say that—’
‘I think we are,’ he starts, and then Bella yells, ‘Mum!’
‘What is it, love?’ I call back.
‘It’s starting again. C’mon, we need you on our team!’
‘Hey, what about me?’ Frank says, following me back to the living room where everyone is squashed onto the sofa and chairs, and our daughters are installed on floor cushions. The house is feeling very full again, with the girls sharing what used to be Eddie’s childhood room.
