Chapter 11 #2
‘What’s all that rubbish?’ Gran asked from where she sat at the kitchen table, glaring with narrowed eyes at the equipment. She was suspicious of anything new, having told Lily when she suggested a coffee machine for the cottage, that she would sooner drink pond water than that newfangled muck.
‘It is an assortment of things to keep you out of hospital or a nursing home.’ Nick was kind but firm. ‘I call them a compromise.’
Lily couldn’t help but admire how he handled Gran’s prickliness with such ease, because she was testing her patience right now.
Lily bit back a flickering smile. ‘Gran, it will help you remain independent. Surely that is worth a little bit of a compromise?’
‘Independence? Funny! I was climbing trees and chasing sheep when you were both but twinkles in your parents’ eyes,’ Gran said, but Lily observed her glare softening somewhat as she once more stared at the tools.
‘I just don’t think it’s necessary. It was one fall, and we’re already cramped in this house, without adding more contraptions. ’
Lily was ready to tell Gran exactly what she thought when she heard Nick speaking in his kind and gentle way, which was never condescending but always respectful.
Nick patiently went over the purpose for every object. ‘The chair is for the shower; this frame will enable you to go about more safely. Mrs Baxter, these are not restrictions. They are pieces of equipment to enable you to keep doing what you love, which is be independent.’
Gran huffed at him. ‘Well, if it means that it will keep those busybodies from the hospital and my own son and daughter-in-law from suggesting a nursing home, then I will try your contraptions. I won’t guarantee I’ll enjoy them, though.’
‘You don’t have to enjoy them, Mrs Baxter, but I expect you will enjoy the ongoing independence.’
Lily turned to Nick and both of them suppressed grins.
Although it wasn’t exactly acceptance, from Gran it was a settlement between them.
Lily felt a warmth in her chest as she watched Nick keep talking with Gran, softly nudging her into walking a little further with the frame, his hand hovering at her back to guide her.
Finally Gran was back in her chair, after doing a lap of the room, while Nick rearranged a few small items of furniture to make room for the frame.
‘I’ll pop these upstairs,’ said Nick. ‘And then I’ll give you a quick check-over.’
‘Cup of tea?’ asked Lily as he carried the items upstairs.
‘Yes please, if it’s made, but don’t go to any trouble,’ he said as he went upstairs.
‘Go on, get your leading man a mug,’ teased Gran as Lily shook her fist playfully at her.
‘Shh, or you’ll be popped in the shed with the old pots,’ Lily whispered as she made Nick a mug of tea.
‘That’s elder abuse that is,’ said Gran loudly for Nick’s ears as he came back downstairs.
‘What’s elder abuse?’ asked Nick as Lily set about making the tea.
‘Lily said she’d pop me in the shed with the old garden pots.’
‘Don’t forget to use your frame on the way there,’ Nick said as he sat down at the table, and Gran and Lily burst into laughter.
‘So the upstairs is ready. I’ve popped the frame at the top of the stairs, and I’ve placed the chair in the shower.’
Gran gave him an expression of despondency and resignation.
‘That’s depressing. Getting old is so frustrating.
It really does sneak up on you.’ She shook her head at herself.
‘But enough about that sad stuff. How were the auditions last night?’ Gran asked him as though she hadn’t heard a thing from Lily.
Nick smiled at Lily. ‘Your granddaughter is a marvel. I don’t know why you’re not the leading lady in every show in London,’ he said to her and she felt herself redden with his praise.
He leaned over to Gran. ‘Lily really does have an incredible voice. Apparently Sheila and Jasper were fighting about you after we left.’
‘Oh that’s not good,’ Lily said quickly.
‘Why?’ asked Nick.
‘Because I can’t be in the show. It was just a test to see how my voice went,’ she said.
‘Do you think you’re too good for the Appleton Green Amateur Drama Society?’ Gran asked, and Lily wasn’t sure if she was being serious or not.
Lily felt her cheeks flush at her grandmother’s question.
‘It’s not that, Gran,’ she said, stirring her tea absentmindedly.
‘It’s just… this isn’t the West End. And after everything that’s happened…
I don’t know. It feels like a step back.
Now I know I can sing again I should be thinking about auditioning for shows, after I’ve got you on the mend again. ’
Resting in her chair, Gran’s gaze remained as piercing as before.
‘You said you would stay longer and it’s not as though I need waiting on hand and foot; perhaps see it as a chance to practise and have something to do while you’re in Appleton Green.
’ Sipping her tea, she stared fixedly at Lily’s face.
‘It doesn’t matter where you are, if you want to sing, sing.
You see, my dear girl, talent has no boundaries.
Unless you really do think you’re too good for the show. ’
Sighing, Lily shook her head. ‘No, Gran, I told you I don’t think I’m too good. I think I’m just a bit confused and besides they haven’t offered me anything anyway. Sheila was adamant she wanted Jessica in the role. I think she has more say than Jasper in the casting.’
‘Oh piffle to Jessica and Sheila thinks she has more power than anyone . Are you happier chasing that dream in London or rediscovering why you loved it in the first place, right here for the summer?’ Gran asked with a kinder tone.
Lily hesitated before responding, unable to think of anything to say. A few straightforward words from Gran could always clear her head, but with Nick here, she felt confused.
Leaning back, Nick’s face betrayed his seriousness.
‘Lily, you were just amazing. It is evident that you have accomplished much with your training and commitment to your voice, and I know it’s a bit silly doing an amateur show but it would be wonderful for us, and I already know I’m playing Freddy – Jasper rang me this morning – so we could be playing opposite each other.
It would be such an honour to sing with you and we would have a blast.’
Lily knew she was blushing now.
‘That’s exactly what I’ve been advising her,’ Gran said. ‘I said to myself last night that you would be a lovely Freddy.’
She felt Gran’s hand on hers as she extended across the table. ‘Lily, I would love to see you sing again on stage. I can’t get to London anymore and having you here and then performing in the village, well I couldn’t think of anything better for my summer.’
Tears irritated Lily’s eyes and her gaze fell to her hands, where her grandmother’s weak hold remained. Could it be that easy? Could she simply stay with Gran over the summer, and stop worries about auditions and competition and her voice and just sing for a while?
‘I would love to sing for you again, Gran,’ she said in an almost whisper. ‘But I haven’t been offered anything so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. And I still don’t know if I can trust my voice.’
‘Your voice is fine. It’s rich and powerful; it’s wonderful and I know this show is not professional or the West End,’ Nick said, ‘but maybe it’s time to reset your expectations for a while and see what it feels like to sing without all the pressure from doing it professionally on your shoulders.’
She wasn’t sure why but his words felt soothing, like a balm, and she closed her eyes and let them envelop her.
Imagine a whole summer of not running from audition to audition, working at the call centre and the restaurant for the rent.
Trying to juggle her social life, dating, the chaos of the flat with her and Nigel working different hours, always trying to be quiet when he was asleep and trying to manage the shopping and eating properly and looking after her voice.
Perhaps they were right. Perhaps there was more at stake than a stellar career or the West End. Possibly, this was all about rediscovering her voice in the most basic, uncomplicated way.
‘I can see why you’re a nurse. You just healed me in many ways,’ she half joked to Nick.
‘Speaking of which, I need to give you a check-over, Violet, and that dressing on your nose needs to be changed.’
‘Anyway, I don’t know what you’re both worrying about, I haven’t even been offered chorus.’ She laughed as she stood up from the table to clear the plates when her phone rang.
‘Destiny’s calling,’ said Gran wryly as Lily picked up her phone.
Lily went outside to take the call.
‘Lily Baxter?’ she heard a man’s voice say.
‘Yes?’
‘Jasper Winterbottom. and you, my dear, are our new Eliza Doolittle. Congratulations!’
‘Oh wow,’ she said, feeling the rush of success through her body. It never mattered how big the role; being chosen was always a special feeling.
‘Yes indeed, we start tomorrow night for a read-through, so don’t be late,’ he said and before she could say a thing, the line went dead.
Lily walked back into Pippin Cottage, where Nick and Gran both turned to look at her expectantly.
She shrugged. ‘I guess I’m playing Eliza for the summer,’ she said and then did a spin.
Nick grinned at her and Gran clapped her hands.
‘Oh wonderful, I’ll have to stay alive for a little bit longer now to see my girl sing the role of a lifetime.’
Nick laughed at Gran’s words but Lily saw a flash of something else in her grandmother’s face, just for a moment, that sent a shiver of something unfamiliar through her bones, and as much as she didn’t want to face it, she wondered if this really would be Gran’s last summer.