It was September and two weeks since the twins’ funeral. Grace drove into Jessie’s yard after another long day. She had just helped Sophia settle into her holiday cottage. Every day Grace lived in hope that Jessie would be her old self again. But she knew that was an impossible wish. All she could hope for was a glimmer of the old Jessie. As she parked, Geoff came over to her.
“I’m glad I caught you before you go in, Grace.”
“Is everything okay?”
“I just don’t know what to do. The house is constantly busy, the phone never stops … look I’m not complaining … but … she won’t leave the house.”
“Geoff, I don’t know what to say or do either but … I suppose we have to just give her time.”
“She hardly sleeps. Most nights she walks around the house. I found her kneeling beside Sam’s bed at three o’clock this morning checking his breathing,” said Geoff, rubbing the top of his head. “I just don’t know what to do …” His voice broke.
“It’s hard on all of you. Sam was so excited …”
“Look, I have to go. I didn’t mean to dump on you.” She watched him walk towards the yard with his shoulders slumped and head down. She opened the back door and could hear Nora, Monique’s grandmother who was a great friend and always had a few wise words.
“You timed that well,” said Nora, pouring tea for Grace.
“How is she?”
“Take a look.”
Grace looked over to the far end of the kitchen where Jessie sat in an armchair staring out the window. She hadn’t even noticed her coming in.
“She’s so disinterested. The only time she lightens up is when Sam is here.”
“What are we going to do, Nora?”
“Just be here, talk to her even if you’re getting nothing back.”
“Hey Jess,” said Grace, sitting down in the chair opposite her.
“Oh, sorry Grace, I didn’t hear you coming in.”
Grace could feel the tears coming and bit her lip to stop them. Jessie had lost so much weight and her face had a grey pallor to it. Her hair was dull and lifeless. “Do you fancy a walk? We could look around the yard.”
“Another day, maybe.”
“Okay …”
“Minnie Madden from across the road sent this over,” said Nora, offering Jessie a slice of carrot cake.
“That was kind. No thanks.”
“I’ll have a slice, thanks Nora,” said Grace, as Nora passed her a sympathetic look.
“I think I will too,” said Nora, pulling over a kitchen chair to join them. “I’m looking forward to the next cruise visit. I can’t wait to guide the group around The Vee and some of the gardens of West Waterford.” Grace sat back and listened as Nora waffled on and Jessie stared out the window. Thank God for Nora, she was a retired librarian and an avid gardener. She also loved her stint as a tour guide on the occasions the cruises came in.
On Thursday morning Sophia wandered around the farmers’ market in Bayrush’s busy square. The stalls offered a wonderful array of food from organic vegetables locally grown to cordials and chutneys in pretty little glass jars. There was a selection of cheeses to be had at another stall. Ooh, she thought, she’d definitely be back next week. Then she noticed a leaflet offering cookery courses in the evening time. Maybe she’d sign up for that. Why not? she thought as she walked towards the harbour. Earlier as she’d driven by she’d noticed a public library with a big window overlooking the bay. She’d go in to take a look around it on her way back to the car.
Strolling along the dockside Sophia could smell seaweed mingled with fresh fish. From the sound of the fishermen chatting they might have been speaking a different language. It was then that she realised they were. It sounded guttural to her ears. She sat on a bench and pretended to text as she listened intently. They most definitely were not speaking English, but yet they looked Irish. Curiosity got the better of her.
“Excuse me, are you speaking Gaelic?” she asked one of them. He wore a navy jumper and on close inspection had a handsome face. Sophia reckoned he was in his early sixties.
“Yes, are you looking for directions?”
Was she so obviously a tourist, she wondered. “Oh, you speak English.”
He threw his head back and laughed as one of the others said, “He likes to think he can speak Irish.”
“It sure sounded wonderful to me,” she remarked in his defence.
“The lads here are from the Gaeltacht, the Irish speaking area across the bay there.” He pointed to his left. “And sure I can only speak a little but I love trying it out. It gives them a good laugh. I get more wrong than right.”
The two men were smiling over at her and one said, “He’s not lying there. Sure isn’t he a Jackeen!”
“She’s American lads – that means nothing to her.”
She smiled and said, “It means you’re from Dublin.”
“Well now my apologies.” He even had the good grace to blush slightly as she stood up to leave.
“You’re forgiven,” she said, smiling as she continued walking along the dockside. Looking at the many boats reminded her of how much she missed sailing! She and Bill used to sail regularly when they went to the Hamptons for weekends and summer breaks. Already it seemed like another lifetime ago. Stop, she told herself, opening the glass door of the library. Browsing through books might help curb the loneliness that constantly flooded her.
“I’m proud of you,” said Dirk, taking her in his arms in public and kissing her. Grace could feel her face flushing. They were in Nutties where she had arranged to have a buffet for all the tour guides and people who had helped especially.
“I mean, two cruise ships docking here in little old Bayrush on the same day. That’s a fantastic achievement. I’ve never seen so many locals out taking photographs and video footage. It was brilliant. Well done.” He held his pint glass up in the air and shouted, “Here’s to Grace Fitzgerald for having the vision and courage to do what she did today.”
Jesus, she thought, how much had he had to drink? It was coming to the end of the season and seemed only fitting to celebrate today more than any. They were all on such a high; everybody had come straight to the pub from the dockside.
“Speech, speech!” cried a voice from the bar.
Grace was absolutely mortified, but had no choice. Laughing she said, “Thanks a million to everybody who has helped make today and every day that a cruise liner docks here possible. None of it would ever have happened if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to meet Mr Eoghan Forrester.”
A big cheer went up for Eoghan, who raised his pint of Guinness in her direction with a big beaming smile on his face. He said, “Enjoy the night and don’t forget we have another cruise liner on the 28th of September. And Nuttie we’ll have a round of drinks for everyone here.” Everyone cheered again.
“Are you okay?” asked Grace quietly. Dirk had been acting a little strange since the night she had met Sophia for dinner.
“Yeah, of course … this is a big day for you.”
Just then Paul and Anna arrived in to join them so the moment was lost. She watched him as he chatted with his best friend. Was she trying to find problems? Dirk was being hugely supportive and it was nice of his friends to come along too. Although having them here made her miss Jessie all the more – she was becoming increasingly withdrawn.
Grace looked towards Sophia who was sitting at the bar chatting with Eoghan and a group of locals. She seemed happy. Grace wondered often what was it that she was hiding besides the fact that she had lost her husband. Maybe someday she’d trust her enough to talk to her; for now Grace simply enjoyed her company.
“So Grace, you’ve had a great day.”
“Sorry, Anna, I was miles away … Yes.” She began to fill Anna in on the day.
“Isn’t that just a good one that we met at the harbour last week? What are the odds?” laughed Eoghan, twirling his creamy pint.
“It was a surprise. I presumed you were a fisherman,” Sophia smiled.
“Ah sure, I love the sea. I have a small boat that I take out every so often. But hey, thanks for taking the couple who missed their coach to Waterford’s Viking Triangle,” said Eoghan. “It was a hairy moment. Juan, the shore excursions manager, was so grateful to you because it was his fault he’d put them on the wrong tender.”
“Not a problem, I took the opportunity to join in the Walking Tour of the city. I didn’t know Waterford was Ireland’s oldest city. It’s steeped in wonderful history and the guide was such a character, the passengers loved him.”
“Although I’m just a blow-in, I love it here. And since the day I met young Grace, well let’s just say she has given me a new lease of life.”
“How did you meet?” asked Sophia.
“Over coffee and across two tables,” he chuckled. “I recognised her from the Tourist Office. Some friends of mine wanted me to arrange accommodation, a reliable coach company and to recommend some restaurants. I was new to the place and had no idea where to start. Grace offered to do it for me and it was such a success. Not long after Grace came to me with an idea and here we are. Now I work more than I ever did but I love it.”
“What did you work at?”
“I was a marine biologist.”
Just then the man beside her nudged her.
“Did you hear about the fella that fell off the horse in McGraths’ today?” Mossy, a regular in Nuttie’s, asked, coming dangerously close to falling off the bar stool himself. “That’s the thing about you Americans; ye never seem to realise how old ye are. He was in his seventies at least, so Kate said. One minute he was riding along and the next he was on the ground. A fella from Dallas and there was I thinking all those Texans were born cowboys.”
“So you reckon seventy is past it, Mossy?” Sophia said, with mischief in her eyes.
“Ah, you’re taking me up wrong now Sophia. There’s plenty of life left in this old dog.” He winked at her. And Sophia burst out laughing just as Kate came over to join them.
“How was Jessie today?” asked Eoghan, concerned.
Kate shook her head. “To be honest, she’s physically still very weak but I’m even more worried because she seems to have lost interest in everything except Sam. Mam looked after things while Monique and I brought the group trekking. And her home baking and jams with great big dollops of cream went down a treat.”
“Ah good, was the Texan all right?” asked Eoghan, nodding his head in the direction of Mossy.
“The only thing hurt was his dignity,” smiled Kate. “He was stuffing himself with Mam’s scones last I saw of him.”
“Sure that’s grand so,” smiled Eoghan.
“Hey Kate, come ’ere,” a voice called from the other end of the bar.
“Catch ye later,” she said, leaving them alone again.
“She’s a great kid. Hopefully we’ll be able to take her on full-time in the future, if things continue to go well. Have you ever seen her art though? Bloody fantastic! Will you have another?”
“I will, thanks,” said Sophia, thinking if any of her friends saw her they’d be amazed at her propping up the bar in a quaint Irish pub. But she was having a great time, and then Grace came over to join them.
“Eoghan, I just got a glowing email from Juan Moreno to say that there was a positive buzz on the tenders heading back to the liner. He’ll provide us with the passenger satisfaction scores as soon as possible.”
“Sure that’s fantastic. Oh, the power of technology. What’ll you have?”
“A sparkling water, thanks. Sophia, I was wondering if you’re free in the morning, I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
“Absolutely.”
“Pick you up at ten-thirty so.”
“Grace!” called Dirk.
“Sorry guys, see ye later,” she said, going back to join Dirk and the others.
At ten-thirty a.m. the next morning, Grace turned the quaint ivory doorknob of Sophia’s pretty little summer house.
“Hello the house,” she called.
“Are we having coffee first?”
“No, we’ll have one in my mother’s house. I’d love you to meet her. I know you two will get along.”
“I’d imagine we will but give me a break with your terrible imitation of my accent. Yours is worse than Kate’s. She sounds more like an Indian – the Eastern kind.”
“True, I’ll give you that. Anyway Mam is expecting us. You’ve been here so long I’m embarrassed that you two haven’t met yet. By the way what do you think of Eoghan?” Grace smiled knowingly.
“Well now Missy, the living cheek of ya!” Sophia chuckled.
“Now look who’s talking about accents? You’re still no better, Sophia Wynthrope. Come on, life definitely begins at what age did you say you are? Seventy,” Grace joked.
“My gosh, the nerve of you. And I count you as a friend …” laughed Sophia, getting into the passenger seat of Grace’s silver Golf.
Twenty minutes later Grace pulled up outside the small terraced house in which Grace had grown up. She opened the front door with her key.
“Mam, we’re here. Oh, the smell is lovely,” said Grace, adding, “we’re in for a treat, my mother bakes the best fruit scones in Ireland.”
“Come in, come in, you’re very welcome,” said Grace’s mother, coming out from the kitchen into the tiny hallway.
“Sophia, I’d like you to meet Molly, my mam.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Molly. I’m delighted to be invited to your home.”
“Sophia, I’ve heard so much about you from Grace I feel I know you already. Grace, bring Sophia into the sitting room. I’ve set up a tray.”
Grace smiled. Her mother liked to use the “good” room. All the family had chipped in a few years back and they had completely redecorated the inside and outside of the house. Marilyn, their eldest sister, had wanted her mother to move away. Marilyn had married well and wasn’t exactly proud of her humble beginnings. But her mother was contented, surrounded by lovely friends and neighbours and a community spirit second to none.
“So, Molly, how many children do you have?” asked Sophia.
“Seven, it was crazy in those days, but sure everyone was in the same boat. We had the four girls in the big room and the three boys in the next one and myself and himself in the box room.”
“My goodness.”
“What about yerself Sophia? Where did you grow up?”
Grace had never asked Sophia any questions about herself and was intrigued to hear the answer.
“My Italian grandmother raised me in the Bronx …” She paused and Grace wondered should she fill the momentary silence. But then Sophia continued. “My mother was … let’s just say ‘a handful’, I never knew who my father was, she refused to say. And when I was around six years old my mother disappeared and we never saw her again.”
“Oh my Lord, you poor thing,” said Molly. Grace was stunned to silence that Sophia had opened up to her mother in this way. She wanted to leave the room to allow them to chat but she couldn’t move.
“Molly, strangely it was for the best because my life settled down. Gran and I had a great relationship, she didn’t have much but she was hard-working and I was loved. She used to work as a housekeeper for a wealthy family in the city and she believed in education. She never spoke to me in Italian, wanting me to have perfect English. I obtained a scholarship and became a journalist. So things worked out for me.”
Grace had never asked Sophia about the limousine experience and was still no wiser as to what Sophia actually did for a living but she certainly knew that being a journalist wouldn’t cover the cost of that life.
“Come on. Let’s go out into the garden. Sure, aren’t we missing the bit of good weather we’re getting?” Molly suggested. Grace smiled, knowing her mother wanted to lighten the mood and of course show off the deck her brothers had built at the end of the garden. Her garden was her passion; it had kept her sane in times of great trauma.
They were sitting on the deck at the end of the garden in the shade of the old apple tree her father had planted years back, when Grace heard the doorbell.
“I’ll get it, Mam.”
“It’s probably Lauren and the kids. Lovely. Sophia, you’ll get to meet some of my ten grandchildren,” said Molly.
“Ten, my goodness, that’s wonderful!”
“Do you have children?”
“I have one son, his name is Richard.”
“Lovely,” said Molly, stretching to pour more tea. Meanwhile Grace stood gaping at the person on her mother’s doorstep.
“What are you doing here?”
“I can explain. I recognised the car. I was on my way back from a call when I spotted it. So I thought to hell with it. I’ll call and say hello. Hello.” He smiled that deadly smile of his. She was completely lost for words. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“It’s my mother’s house.”
“I’d love to meet her.”
“Are you for real?” But she couldn’t help laughing.
“Ah, sure why not? I’d murder a cup of tea.”
“Em …” She had never felt so unnerved in her life and was grateful when she heard her mother’s voice call from the kitchen. “Is that Lauren?”
“No, Mam, just an old friend of mine.”
“Bring her in so.”
She looked straight into the green-grey eyes that so unnerved her. He grinned and said. “Can I borrow a skirt?”
She laughed and held the door wider to allow him to pass. Her heart was pounding so much she was afraid he’d hear it in the confines of the tiny hall. “My mother is in the back garden with Sophia.” He was already nearly out the back door before she finished the sentence.
“Get a grip,” she told herself.
“Hello again, Sophia. And you must be Grace’s mam,” he said.
In different circumstances Grace would have laughed when she saw the look of confusion on her mother’s face. “Mam, this is Jack Leslie. Em, an old friend of mine.” Grace looked at Sophia, who seemed equally confused.
“Oh … hello Jack. Come over. Sit down with us. Grace, make a fresh brew, will you? Jack …” Molly said, pondering “I can’t remember Grace ever talking about a Jack. But sure there were so many in this family it was hard to keep up with them all.”
“I probably wasn’t worth remembering,” he laughed. “You must be into the garden … it’s very beautiful.”
“Jack, I love it. It’s small but it suits me now. What with my age and all!”
“You couldn’t be a day over sixty.”
“Oh, go on outta that,” she said to Sophia. “We have a right charmer here, don’t you think?”
Sophia laughed along. Grace watched from the kitchen where she could hear the whole conversation as she waited for the kettle. She was glad of the reprieve. What was going on with her? She was a happily engaged woman. She set out a tray with a fresh pot of tea and more scones and took them to the garden.
“They look delicious. I’ll bet they are homemade,” said Jack, his eyes twinkling mischievously up at her. “Thanks,” he said, buttering one. Why did he have such an effect on her? “So, Grace, when is the big day?”
“The 26th of May next year, please God,” Molly answered for her. “We’re looking forward to it. She’s living with the grandest chap. Ah, but I’m wicked old-fashioned and so I’m delighted he’s making an honest woman of her.” She nodded towards Sophia. Leave it to her mother to tell all, thought Grace. No one could get a word in as she continued blabbering on.
“What about you, Jack?” her mother asked. “Are you married?”
“It’s a long story,” he answered, taking a bite from the scone.
“Are you just back from vacation Jack? You have a wonderful sun tan,” remarked Sophia, looking sympathetically at Grace, who wondered was she that obviously disconcerted? She was grateful to Sophia for her attempt to change the subject.
“Actually I came back nearly three months ago. I was living in Dubai for the last nine years. I’m always out in the weather so I guess I’m holding the tan.”
It was then that Grace noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
“That sounds very exciting. What do you work at?” asked Sophia.
“I’m a vet. Grace and I actually met one summer. It was great, wasn’t it?” He looked straight into Grace’s eyes.
“It was a long time ago,” Grace replied, avoiding his gaze. It was just too much.
“Twenty years,” he said as Grace felt the blood rush to her cheeks.
“Where was I that summer? Oh, yes, we went to London for the first time. Oh my, what a city,” remarked Sophia.
Oh thank you, Sophia, thought Grace as she watched her mother staring dubiously at the stranger in her garden. But her mother loved to talk and was easily distracted by the mention of London.
“London, I loved it. Grace brought me there a few years ago. Thanks to Ryanair and my family I’ve been to quite a few European cities,” Molly reminisced. Her mother was losing the run of herself, thought Grace, as they chatted on about cities and other inconsequential things until finally Jack decided to go. Grace walked behind him through the kitchen and into the small hallway.
“I’m glad I took the chance today. It was nice. Maybe we can catch up again,” he said, turning around unexpectedly in the hallway.
She caught her heel in the hall mat and fell forward into his arms. He held her for a moment. Neither of them spoke until she broke the silence. “Jack, I don’t think that would be a good idea,” she said, pulling away, but her heart was thumping so loudly she could almost hear it.
“I didn’t mean it like that. Jeez Grace I’m sorry I’ve offended you. I just thought we could be friends, like we used to be.”
“We can’t be friends Jack. Let’s just leave it as the nice memory it is.”
“Goodbye Gracey, take good care of yourself.” He turned, opened the door and left. She closed it and leaned against it to gather herself. Thinking about Jack made her feel out of control, not to mention being near him. She needed steady and reliable not this … what … what was she feeling? Whatever it was she didn’t like it. She brushed herself down, shook her head and walked into the garden as if nothing had happened.
“Are you coming in for a while?” asked Sophia, when Grace pulled up outside her summer house.
“No, I think I’ll go for a walk on the beach now that I’m down this way,” said Grace. Her head was miles away. She needed to focus. She had a million things to do for work and she was worried about Jess.
“If you want to talk you know where I am.”
“Thanks, Sophia, but I’m okay.” Sophia looked doubtfully at her but didn’t say another word. “See you tomorrow.”
Grace parked the car at the beach and leaned back in the driver’s seat, glad to be alone. She was so tired. It was mid-September and it had been a busy season. But none of that had fazed her in the way Jack Leslie had. She locked the car and strolled over towards the sand bank. When she was at the top she took in the view. The sun was going down and the sky was a purplish pink. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She loved the expanse of the bay. She could see for miles. Being near the sea always made her feel less alone in the world and that there was something greater guiding it.
She took off her flip-flops and rolled up her white linen trousers. If only she wasn’t tired all the time. Walking along the water’s edge she felt the waves breaking gently against her bare feet. Jack Leslie, oh how she had wished that he would come back and be her knight in shining armour all those years ago. Now she didn’t need one. She was right to say she didn’t want to see him again. She loved Dirk, he was her world. Steady and reliable.
“Thanks, Geoff,” Jessie said, as her husband handed her a cup of tea. They were sitting outside on the patio watching Sam playing with Buzz in the garden.
“How are you doing?” Geoff asked.
“Tired,” she replied. “I’m glad the summer is over. Sam is settling well in school.”
“You’ve lost so much weight.” She gave him a withering look. “Seriously, you were never heavy Jess but you’re under what you were before you were pregnant. It’s just I notice you’re not eating or sleeping properly …”
“Neither are you!” she said, sipping the tea. “I saw the letter from the bank.”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Honey, I’m not fragile. We have a responsibility for this place, together. I need to know about things.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just, well, I just want you to get better.” He looked at her with eyes full of anxiety. “Jess, you walk around the house at all hours of the night …”
“How are you doing?”
He shrugged his shoulders and looked towards Sam. He said, “What I wouldn’t do to have them here with us. Sometimes when I’m in the tractor the tears start to flow and I just can’t stop them.”
Jessie listened, afraid to move in case he’d stop talking.
“I was so excited. I couldn’t believe how blessed we were to be having twins. ‘Two for the price of one’, they’d say. People would think they were original when they’d say it.” He smiled forlornly and took a sip of beer. “I’d love more children but when people say, ‘you’re young ye can try again,’ I feel like screaming, ‘that won’t bring our babies back’. I know they’re trying their best to be consoling but … they didn’t see them. They were so perfect and so different looking. I felt they had personalities. I reckon that Anthony would have been a tough little cookie and, well, Geoff, he’d be …” He coughed, to hide his emotions. “Ah that’s life. What can we do? I’m sorry for upsetting you.” He got up and touched her on the shoulder. “I won’t hide anything again.” He walked past to join Sam. “Fancy a game of hurling, son?”
The tears rolled down her cheeks. She remembered the nurse saying, talk to one another. They hadn’t because she couldn’t and she didn’t want to upset Geoff. She needed to hear him. As a woman she got plenty of support, whether she wanted it or not. She’d have to get her act together. Face the world, teach the riding lessons again, otherwise they’d lose their regulars. She also needed to attract new people and the last person they’d want to be near was a mope. She’d have to get herself going again. Facing people at the school gate on Monday would be a huge challenge, but one that would have to be done.
Sophia opened the door leading to the terrace of her rental. Her holiday was nearly over. Chatting with Molly had reminded her so much of her grandmother. There was such a genuine humbleness about Molly that Sophia had almost felt moved to tears.
Wandering around the mature gardens of the complex she felt a sense of peace that she hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. She still had trouble sleeping but her days were filled. She had visited almost every historical place within a thirty-mile radius. And she had met some lovely people through Grace. She was regretful that she hadn’t met Jessie, Grace’s best friend who had lost her baby twins. It was such a heartbreaking thing to have happened. Her phone rang, bringing her back from her contemplation.
“Hi Grace,” she said, seeing her picture pop up.
“Hey Soph, Mam was wondering if you’d like to go to bingo with her tonight?”
“Why not!” said Sophia, smiling.
“She said she’ll pick you up at seven. Have to fly.”
The girl was like a whirlwind, thought Sophia. She worked so hard and managed to visit Jessie and include her. Sophia had assured her countless times that there was no need to, but Grace had simply replied, “You’re in my town now.” The same words Sophia had used to her that first day in New York. Sophia had laughed but she had also noted how exhausted Grace was. Thankfully the cruise season was coming to an end with the final one arriving next week. She was seriously considering extending her stay to see it. There was such a buzz around when the ships docked.
Sophia walked back to the little house and placed her coffee cup in the sink. Running the tap to wash it she was suddenly overwhelmed by memories of her first home with Bill – a tiny bedsit in a rough area of the city. It had been all they could afford at the time. Bill’s parents had disinherited him for marrying her, saying she wasn’t good enough for their son. He had never forgiven them and nor had they asked for it. He had given up everything to be with her and Richard. If only she could hold him in her arms again.
She wiped the tears that had begun to flow with the back of her hand. They were never far away. Why … oh why? She gathered herself and picked up her cell phone. It would be nine a.m. in New York.
“Hi Colleen, is Richard available?”
“Hi Mrs Wynthrope … How is Ireland?”
“Wonderful Colleen, much better than I expected.”
“Someday I’ll get to the land of my ancestors.”
“I hope you will Colleen.”
“I’m putting you through, bye for now.”
“Hi Mom, it’s good to hear you. But is everything okay?”
“I just wanted to hear your voice. You sound so like your dad.”
“Mom … are you sure you want to be all the way over there? You know how I feel about it.”
“Richard … it’s actually doing me the world of good. Truly.” She tried to reassure him.
“Mom, you never call in the middle of a working day.”
“I’ve joined a cookery class, and I’ve met some really genuine people. It’s fun and yes I’m … happy. Well as happy as one can be …”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“Richard, I’d like to extend my stay. What do you think?” There was silence. “Are you still there?”
“Yes, yes of course, as long as you’re happy …” She could hear someone in the background. “Sorry, Mom, I have to go … you know how it is around here. I’ll call you later and we can chat.”
“Maybe you’ll visit.”
“Have to go. But I promise I’ll ring you back later.”
“Of course,” she said, clicking off. It had been unfair to ring him at the office. He was always so crazy busy. But she felt better for having spoken with him. Her next call was to her letting agent where the lady assured her that she could stay for as long as she liked.