You and Lucy have your flowers. It’s a gift, Mum. You make someone’s special day even more special.
Compared to what you did, flowers seemed trivial, inconsequential. But I’ve learned since that life is shades of every colour, in the same way that darkness is balanced by the brilliance of light.
I glance around the churchyard, pulling my jacket more tightly around me as the wind picks up. The January sky is grey, quilted. As I gaze up at it, rain starts to fall.
When I get back to Mary’s, she’s alone. ‘I’m glad I’ve caught you,’ she says, as though it’s her who’s just come back. ‘There’s something I want to talk to you about.’
‘Yes?’ I’m intrigued. ‘Shall I make us some tea?’
‘Would you?’ She sits down at her kitchen table. ‘I am so grateful you’re here, Edie.’
‘I love being here,’ I say honestly.
‘You’ve been to the churchyard, haven’t you?’ she asks gently.
I’m taken aback. But I should know by now, Mary misses little. I nod. ‘I hadn’t been for a while.’ I take our mugs over to the table and pass one to her. ‘What is it you want to talk about?’
‘You, dear,’ she says. ‘Well, you being here.’
‘Isn’t it working?’ Suddenly I’m anxious. ‘You must tell me if there’s something you’re not happy about.’
‘Oh, no. It isn’t that at all,’ she says. ‘Quite the opposite, in fact. But we need to talk about what happens after. When I’m not here any more.’
I open my mouth to say, You’re not going anywhere. But we both know it would be a cliché; our conversations are more honest than that. ‘Is there something you haven’t told me?’
She sighs. ‘I have a little problem with my heart,’ she says quietly. ‘Now, before you say anything, I don’t want Joe to know.’
‘He would want to know,’ I say. ‘What has your doctor told you?’
‘I have something called congestive heart failure. Goodness knows why – I’ve always looked after myself. I told the doctor that. He said it happens sometimes to older people. Older.’ She shakes her head. ‘He’s always so diplomatic,’ she murmurs. ‘He’s prescribed some pills – I was going to ask you if you’d be a dear and pick them up from the chemist for me.’
‘Of course.’ I was still taking it in. ‘You’re going to have to take it easy, Mary.’ I pause. ‘And I know you don’t want to, but you really must talk to Joe.’
She looks troubled. ‘There’s nothing he can do. And at the moment, I really think he has enough on his plate.’ She pauses. ‘Between you and me, I think his marriage is in trouble.’
‘Whether it is or not, you should still tell him,’ I say more firmly.
‘You think so?’ Her eyes hold mine for a moment. ‘Oh dear. I’ve forgotten, haven’t I? It wasn’t me I wanted to talk to you about. It was you. You see, at some point, I’m not going to be here, Edie. Obviously the house will be left to Joe. But I’ve been thinking about this and I want to leave the stable to you.’
I gaze at her, shocked. ‘You can’t do that, Mary.’
‘It’s my house,’ she says. ‘I think it’s up to me what I do with it. Now before you say anything, I’ve already spoken to my solicitor. Because the stable is on the edge of the property, it should be straightforward. She’s arranging for someone to come over and measure it all up so that the deeds can be changed.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’ I can’t take it in, can’t believe she’s doing this. ‘I think you should talk to Joe about this, too.’
‘I already have,’ she says. ‘He’s quite happy with my plan.’
‘Really?’ I look at her, astonished. ‘But why?’ I frown. ‘Why would you do this for me?’
‘You’re doing a fine job of looking after me. And you’ve transformed that overgrown garden of mine. I know we’ve both been through such sadness, my dear.’ Her eyes are misty as she reaches out and touches one of my hands.
‘I can give you some money.’ My mind is racing. ‘I have the proceeds from the sale of my house. It isn’t enough, but…’
‘No,’ she says softly. ‘Thank you, but I think most of your life you’ve looked out for other people. Now, it’s your turn. You are more deserving than anyone else I know of a little kindness.’
Her words touch my heart and, for a moment, I can’t speak. Gazing at her, my eyes are filled with tears. ‘Thank you,’ I whisper.
‘Mary said what?’ Lucy looks flabbergasted when I tell her.
