‘Wasn’t it?’ Alison said. ‘They also texted me to remind me to book a cervical smear.’
Rosie burst out laughing and handed her the carrier bag.
Alison decided she’d whinged enough and opened her cards. There was a lovely one from her parents, of course, and one from Uncle Christopher and Auntie Elaine, and one from Niall and his wife Kendra, plus a separate one from their children Ryan and Poppy, and one from Rosie.
‘Open your presents,’ Rosie urged. ‘Mind you, don’t get your hopes up.’
There was a necklace from her mam and dad, a beautiful, scented candle from Niall and Kendra, chocolates from Ryan and Poppy, and a gift box of soaps from Elaine and Christopher.
‘Old lady soaps,’ she said with a sigh.
‘I know! Told you not to get your hopes up. Mind you, youaresixty-two,’ Rosie said mischievously. ‘I didn’t get you a present as such, but I’ve written you a gift card. Look.’
She reached into the pocket of her jacket and handed Alison a note which read:
I owe you one trip to the cinema with nachos and dips thrown in, or a night out in the pub. Whichever’s cheapest.
Alison put her arms around her. ‘You’re a star,’ she told her.
‘I know.’ Rosie shrugged. ‘So, what are you going to do about your Jenna?’
‘WhatcanI do? She works hard. Joel works hard. They need help with the girls, and theyaremy granddaughters.’
‘Well, can’t they put some childcare in place? After-school clubs or something? It’s not fair dumping it all on you.’ Rosie’s eyes twinkled with mirth. ‘Not at your age.’
Alison nudged her. ‘Watch it! Oh, it doesn’t matter really, except that I wanted to go home at the weekend and I had to miss it to take the girls to a birthday party at some fun palace. I’d hoped I could just drop them off and make a getaway, but Jenna hadn’t warned me we were expected to stay to supervise.’ She pulled the band from her hair, freeing her ponytail and reflected how odd it was that, after all these years, she still thought of Kelsea Sands as home. ‘Mam and Dad were very understanding but I know they wanted me there, especially with it being my birthday week.’
Rosie looked suddenly awkward, and Alison’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
‘What is it?’
Rosie squirmed in her chair. ‘Sorry, Ali. Truth is, I didn’t just come to bring you the birthday cards. We were going to ring you, but your mam wanted me to tell you in person because she knew you’d worry, and she said you’d never believe anyone unless you could see their face.’
‘Worry about what?’ Alison asked, her nerves already kicking in.
Rosie gave her a pleading look. ‘Now, don’t get yourself all het up, but your mam’s had an accident. A fall. She’s all right,’ she added quickly as Alison gasped. ‘Well, mostly.’
‘What does, “mostly” mean?’
‘She’s broken her arm,’ Rosie admitted. ‘Quite a nasty fracture. But you know your mam. She’s staying cheerful.’
‘But – but she must have come to Hull to the hospital! Why didn’t someone tell me?’
‘Dad tried,’ Rosie said. ‘Mam stayed at the A&E department with your parents, and Dad drove here to put you in the picture and maybe take you to the hospital if you wanted to go, but you weren’t in. He didn’t know where to find you so…’
‘When was this?’ Alison asked.
‘Wednesday afternoon. Your mam said it was your afternoon off, but you must have been out.’
‘I was,’ Alison said grimly. ‘I had to take Hallie to the dentist. Emergency filling. Joel and Jenna couldn’t get away from work.’
‘Aw, well, there you go.’ Rosie looked sheepish suddenly. ‘I’m sorry you’re only just hearing about this. Truth is, I promised I’d come here to tell you yesterday, but I got an extra shift at the chippy last night and had to put off coming here. Your mam and dad are going to kill me when they find out. But look, don’t worry about your mam, okay?’
‘But how will she manage? You know how useless Dad is!’
‘I’ll pop in every day to make sure they have everything they need,’ Rosie promised. ‘And so will Mam and Dad. And Seb’s lad Sam has offered to pick up any shopping for them and take them to the hospital if needs be, or anything else they need doing. You know how kind he is.’
Alison stared at her then promptly burst into tears.
