Back then, she’d gladly given up her dreams for him. She’d just been offered a role on the touring production ofThe Rocky Horror Showwhen she’d discovered that she was pregnant after a holiday romance. Her only reaction had been to quit the theatre life, abandon her dreams and settle for a career as a singer in local Glasgow pubs and clubs so that she could tuck him in every night before she went to work. One of the things he’d discovered that he had in common with Ginny, was that his dad had never been in the picture, but his late grandparents had stepped up and helped his mum out. He owed a lifetime of gratitude to them all. Aunt Jacinta too. When he was sixteen, he’d lived with her when his mum had taken a job on the cruise ships to earn enough money to send him to drama school. It had taken a village, and his had been a special one.
Now, watching her wait for more details on the problem he was wrangling, Ollie had second thoughts.
His mum had already let go of one dream for him. Now she’d said the Academy was the highlight of her career. How could he tell her that his decision might risk her happiness for a second time?
10
NETTA
Netta wasn’t sure how long she’d been sitting there, but she was glad of the shade of the oak tree behind her because the sun was high in the sky now. She’d thought about heading home straight after Blair had left, but instead, she’d stayed, choosing the peace and tranquillity of the cemetery over going home to rattle around in an empty house until it was time to go into work. She tried Mandy’s phone again, anxious to check that she was okay, but still no reply. So still, she sat.
She tried to cast her mind back to the previous year and her visit to Fergus’s grave on the same date. The three of them had come together. Blair had organised that, saying that it was the first year without Fergus, so they should make an effort. Mandy had stayed for ten minutes, then left, declaring that she had a busy day at work. Netta had accepted it, giving Mandy the space to deal with her grief and her mixed feelings towards her dad. Now she wondered if that was a mistake.
After Fergus had died, and Mandy no longer had a reason to be frustrated with what she perceived as Netta’s tolerance of his domineering ways, Netta had hoped that she and Mandy could get closer again, but that hadn’t happened. With every month that had passed since then, Mandy had remained distant, and now it was almost impossible to reach her. That’s why Netta had brought along something she hoped would help. An invitation that she hoped Mandy would accept. Just a shame she wasn’t here for Netta to give it to her.
‘Would you mind if I sat here for a moment?’
Netta opened her eyes to see a slight, grey-haired lady around the same age as her, with a kind face that was a bit pink around the edges.
The woman responded to Netta’s pleasant, ‘Of course not – please go ahead,’ by plonking herself down on the bench and pulling a tissue out from the arm of her fine-knit yellow cardigan and blowing her nose.
‘Thank you. This heat is a killer. Honestly, the only place to be on a day like this is on a sun lounger in Tenerife.’
Now that she was closer, Netta could see that the lady’s eyes were red and guessed that she’d been shedding a few tears. Her heart went out to her.
‘Sorry – please ignore me if you don’t want to talk, but are you okay?’
That made the stranger smile. ‘I can honestly say that anyone who knows me would tell you that there’s never been a time in my life when I didn’t want to talk. My Peter used to say that people like me were what gave the genius that invented the remote control the idea for a mute button.’
Netta smiled at the thought. ‘Sounds like your Peter liked to make you laugh.’
The woman nodded. ‘He did, aye. Sorry, I forgot my manners. I’m Nancy. Nancy Jenkins.’
‘Netta McGonigle.’
‘Well, clearly our parents both got stuck on the N page of the baby names book,’ Nancy joked, then Netta watched as Nancy’s gaze went to the headstone they were sitting in front of.
Here lies Fergus McGonigle,
beloved husband of Netta…
And then her gaze went lower, to the date, and she caught the significance.
‘Och, I’m sorry, love – it’s your husband’s anniversary? I can leave you in peace…’
Netta shook her head. ‘No, no, not at all. I’ve been here a while, and I’ve said all the things I came to say.’
It wasn’t really true. The truth was, she’d run out of conversation with Fergus a long time ago. Today had been more about doing what was right. Honouring his memory. Acknowledging his life. Not trying to come to terms with her grief. She’d done that a long time ago. But, of course, she’d never admit that aloud and definitely not to a stranger.
There was a companionable silence before Nancy answered Netta’s unspoken question. ‘I’m here for a word with my Peter too. Four years he’s been gone now. That’s him just behind us.’
Netta swivelled her head around to see Peter Jenkins’ headstone.
‘I’m sorry.’
Nancy let out a sad, rueful chuckle. ‘I am too. I was hoping for another twenty years with him. But, och, life just bites you on the arse when you least expect it, doesn’t it?’
Netta nodded. ‘It does.’
