‘Do you like it down here?’
She shrugs. ‘The girls all live up north now with their respective partners. Lilly is in Manchester, Sarah is in Burnley, and Ailsa has just moved to Newcastle. It’s a trek to visit them. I’m not sure I want to be down here any more.’
‘Where’s Mike?’ I ask.
She rolls her eyes. ‘He moved away.’
‘Nelly, how are you?’ Hilary asks.
‘I’m okay. I never grew out of those visions.’
Hilary gives me a sympathetic nod. ‘That must be tough.’
‘She’s going to take over the TV psychic medium world – aren’t you, Nelly?’ Aunt Polly says. ‘So she can make lots of money and pay for me to go on luxurious holidays.’
‘Can I come with you?’ Hilary giggles.
I roll my eyes. ‘I’m not doing that.’
Hilary gestures to my aunt. ‘Did you ever see anything about us two?’
I nod. ‘I saw your bracelet with the silver padlock on it.’ She lifts up her wrist and there it is.
‘Your aunt has always had the key to my heart, Nelly.’
They both hold up their hands and cast each other goofy smiles.
We talk about the days when Hilary and my aunt were friends, and I was growing up. Hearing them laugh and talk about the times Hilary would show up to fix a life problem brings back that wonderful, warm feeling inside me.
‘You were my fourth emergency service,’ says my aunt to Hilary. ‘I have missed being able to call you and?—’
I interrupt her. ‘And six minutes later, hear a screech of tyres, the slam of a car door, and Hilary’s heels on the path.’
Hilary laughs. ‘I did time myself door to door and it was six minutes.’
Aunt Polly nods. ‘The sight of you coming into the kitchen would be enough to put me at ease. You solved a wide range of problems back then.’
Hilary nods and squeezes my aunt’s hand. ‘I’ll always be your fourth emergency service, Polly.’
They look at each other with such tenderness and adoration that I can feel emotion rising inside of me. Hilary leans closer to my aunt and gently kisses her on the lips.
It hits me. I made this moment happen. I brought them together.
Once we’ve finished our tea, I think about heading home.
‘Nelly,’ says Aunt Polly, ‘I’m going to stay here for a few days. Hilary is going to drive me back on Tuesday.’
Hilary beams at my aunt. ‘We have a lot of catching up to do.’
‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’
‘Trust me, she’ll be more than fine,’ says Hilary. ‘Your aunt has agreed to let me nurse her.’
‘God help me,’ says my aunt, jokingly. ‘Nelly, take Nigella back to your place and drive over on Wednesday.’
‘Are you sure?’
She smiles. ‘Have some fun with her.’
