‘You’ll still be able to pick the twins up, though?’ Jenna had said quickly. ‘After school, I mean.’
Alison sighed. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Great. See you tomorrow then.’
The phone had gone dead, and Alison had held it away from her for a moment, staring at her contacts list and trying very hard not to feel angry with her daughter. Jenna knew the situation around shifts and covering for absent colleagues. Alison had made it very clear to her, and Jenna had promised she had backup in place. So why did she always make her feel guilty as hell whenever Alison put her job ahead of Jenna’s demands? Would she prefer it if her mother got the sack?
Well, probably, because that way Alison wouldalwaysbe on hand to take the girls to schoolandpick them up, and probably have them at weekends, too. She wondered what would happen when she retired in five years’ time. The twins would be twelve by then. Maybe she’d put off retirement for a couple more years. Working at the petrol station was a lot less hassle than rushing here, there and everywhere with Hallie and Ada.
In clear traffic, the petrol station was a twenty- or twenty-five-minute drive from her home. However, her granddaughters’ school was ten minutes in the opposite direction.
The plan today was for her to collect the twins and take them back to their house, cook their tea – or dinner, as Jenna insisted on calling it these days – and get them settled before Jenna got home from work. Joel, apparently, was at a conference that weekend and would be heading south directly after finishing work.
At least it meant Alison would be home by seven. Quick shower, something to eat, and an evening in her PJs watching an old episode ofLewisorEndeavour, she decided, then an early night after her early start that morning. She was looking forward to it.
As her phone rang, she pressed the button on her steering wheel to accept the call. It was Jenna, sounding stressed.
‘Sorry, Mum, change of plan. Would you be able to pick the kids up and take them back to yours for the night, please? Something’s come up at work.’
Alison groaned inwardly. ‘You want me to have them all night? Again?’
‘It’s my fault,’ Jenna said hurriedly. ‘I wouldn’t ask but…’
‘So what’s come up?’
‘I have a meeting I’d completely forgotten about. Like I said, my fault. And then a few of us are going to grab something to eat and do some brainstorming, so I won’t be home until late. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. But look, I promise I’ll pick them up from school tomorrow afternoon and have them on Saturday.’
She said it as if she was offering a favour, and not like it was something she should be doing anyway.
‘You’ve got spare stuff at your house already, haven’t you?’ she continued. ‘Pyjamas, toothbrushes, clean socks and underwear for tomorrow. That sort of thing.’
‘Well, yes, but don’t forget I’ve got work tomorrow and?—’
‘You’re not on the early bakery shift again, are you?’
‘No…’ Alison sighed. She’d have time to drop them at school first, but it was bloody annoying. Even so, she could hear the desperation in Jenna’s voice and knew she had no choice.
‘Fine,’ she said heavily. ‘I’ll take them home with me today and drop them at school tomorrow.’
‘Oh, Mum, thank you! You’re a lifesaver,’ Jenna assured her. ‘Give them my love. I owe you big time.’
‘Yes, you do.’
The call ended and Alison tried to push aside her resentment. The last thing she wanted was for Ada and Hallie to feel they were a burden to her. None of this was their fault, and she did love them. It was just getting to be such a nuisance, and it was time Jenna and Joel got their acts together.
It was no good, she thought, as she headed down the road where the twins’ school was located. She was going to have to be brave and have a talk to her daughter and son-in-law. They’d have to reach some sort of compromise. She didn’t mind helping in emergencies, but she’d had enough of being at their beck and call every day.
Apart from anything else, she needed to get back to Kelsea Sands more often. Despite her mother’s insistence that she was managing just fine, Alison knew how undomesticated her dad was and that he wouldn’t have a clue about keeping the bungalow clean or cooking decent meals for the two of them while her mum’s arm was mending.
Of course, she knew she could rely on her aunt and uncle and Rosie to make sure her parents were okay but she shouldn’t have to. She wanted to be there for them herself and it should be fairly easy to work her visits around her job if only she didn’t have to factor in babysitting duties every sodding day.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done any baking or cooking. It had never been her strong point, and she was just as likely to have a Pot Noodle for tea as put anything in the oven. She’d meant to learn after she left teaching, but events had overtaken her. Her small garden was hardly inspiring, even making allowances for the fact that it was January. And other than slumping in front of the television when she got the chance, she had nothing else going on in her life. When had she last gone to the park? Or for a walk? No wonder she was gaining weight and her blood pressure was going up.
And that was another thing. Yesterday she’d had two missed calls from the surgery and today she’d received a text message asking her to make an appointment as soon as possible. Obviously, they’d seen the readings she’d submitted and had decided they needed to increase her medication after all. She simply hadn’t had time to contact them and knew she couldn’t put it off much longer.
Hallie and Ada came rushing out of the classroom, greeting her with joy as always. She swept them both into a big hug and nodded at the teacher, who knew her quite well by now.
‘Right then,’ Alison said, ushering them across the playground towards the school gates, ‘change of plan. You’re staying the night at my house tonight. Is that all right with you?’
