To see their happy, emotional faces makes that wonderful warm feeling reappear and engulf my body.
Once we have calmed down, Hilary takes Aunt Polly’s hand and leads us inside.
Hilary’s hallway is adorned with photos of her and my aunt. For a few moments, I stare at the pictures from their holidays, their shopping trips to London, and their road trip. It’s as if I am back in Tide-Leigh, standing in my aunt’s hallway. Hilary smiles and points at the wall. ‘I couldn’t forget about you, Polly.’
My aunt rests her head on Hilary’s arm. ‘Nelly always asked me why your photos were up on my walls. I couldn’t forget about you either.’
We’re sitting in Hilary’s living room. I’m in an armchair while my aunt and Hilary are on the sofa, holding hands and gazing at each other. I hadn’t factored feeling like a third wheel into my plan.
When we first came in, Hilary made us all a cup of tea and some sandwiches, which mainly I polished off as I was starving. There were a lot of hushed whispers in the kitchen as Aunt Polly went to see if Hilary wanted any help. It took a while for my cup of tea to arrive, but I didn’t mind. I sensed they had a lot of catching up to do.
‘Thank you, Nelly,’ says Hilary. ‘I know I’ve said this a hundred times since you arrived, but I was starting to lose hope.’
Aunt Polly leans her head against Hilary’s shoulder. ‘I was going to wait until my hair grew back.’
Hilary laughs. ‘Polly, the rate your hair grows at, I would have been in my nursing home and getting ready to see the pearly gates by the time you would have called.’
Aunt Polly chuckles. ‘Nelly got bossy with me.’
Hilary smiles. ‘I’m glad she did, Polly.’
I survey the sitting room, the cream fabric sofa and chairs, the photos of all Hilary’s girls, and the ornaments on her pine dresser. On the wall beside me is a constellation of pictures of my aunt and Hilary. Like my aunt’s photo collection, Hilary has visually documented their holidays together, shopping trips, and there are even a few from when they were teenagers. When we came in earlier, Hilary pointed out the photos and said, ‘That’s my Polly wall.’ It made my aunt get tearful.
‘This is a nice house, Hilary.’ I admire the French windows at the far end of the room which lead out onto a patio garden filled with pots of colourful shrubs.
She nods. ‘It’s rented.’
‘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?—’
