Chapter 21
No amount of pretty stickers and washi tape had made today’s entry look any less terrifying to Alison.
She was about to see her daughter and granddaughters for the first time in well over a month, and on top of that she was facing all sorts of temptations at a birthday party, and no doubt her parents would make absolutely sure that everyone knew she was diabetic and mustn’t, on any account, eat anything ‘bad’.
They’d gone on and on about it that night she and Mac had gone round to Sanderlings for tea.
It had been mortifying, not to mention annoying.
Seeing the three of them tucking into chicken tikka masala with mountains of rice, while she had half the amount of curry dolloped on to a bed of wilting baby spinach – and no chance of a naan bread either – had been almost too much to bear, but when Mam brought out the cheesecake and Dad handed her a pot of natural yoghurt to eat instead she’d almost cried.
She might have done if Mac hadn’t been there. In fact, if he hadn’t been there, she’d probably have ended up sneaking into the kitchen and stuffing her face with cheesecake anyway. But he had been there, so she didn’t dare risk it. Which, looking back, she was very glad about.
He’d clearly been embarrassed that she couldn’t eat what the rest of them were eating, and had looked so awkward about the whole thing that she’d ended up assuring him quite heartily that she didn’t mind a bit, and had been really looking forward to her reduced-to-clear vegetables and reduced-to-clear yoghurt, which tasted so sour she wasn’t sure it was even safe to eat.
Mac had walked her home after tea at her parents’.
He’d insisted upon continuing with her as they reached the gates of Watersmeet, even though she’d pointed out it was only a short walk up the road from there and she’d be fine.
She never felt unsafe in Kelsea Sands. He’d been so quiet at first that she’d worried the whole evening had been a disaster, but when she’d tried to apologise, he’d looked horrified that she thought his low mood was down to her or her family.
‘It’s Stella,’ he’d explained. ‘She came to see me earlier and things didn’t go very well. Honestly, it has nothing to do with you. I really enjoyed tonight.’ He’d smiled at her, making her heart skip. ‘Really enjoyed it.’
‘Are you ready?’ Rosie popped her head round the bedroom door, cutting into her thoughts. ‘We’re supposed to be setting off in a minute. We don’t want to be late. Mam would rather die than let Kendra down.’
Alison rolled her eyes and stood, wriggling around uncomfortably.
‘Get you, wearing tights!’ Rosie said admiringly. ‘You look lovely, Ali. I can’t remember the last time I saw you in a dress.’
‘I can’t remember the last time I wore one,’ she admitted. ‘It’s been stuffed in my wardrobe for about two years, cos it got a bit tight, and where do I ever go to wear a dress these days?’
Realising she had nothing suitable to wear for Poppy’s party, she’d called home after work one evening to rummage through her clothes and find something that didn’t look too scruffy or too much like it was cutting off her circulation.
The dress had caught her eye because it was covered in poppies, and seemed appropriate for Poppy’s party, but she hadn’t really believed she’d get into it.
When she found that it fitted her comfortably, she’d almost whooped with excitement. On impulse, she’d rushed to the bathroom and pulled out the scales, wondering how much weight she’d lost, because surely she must have lost something?
She’d literally whooped out loud this time as she discovered she’d lost twelve pounds in just over four weeks. Obviously that rate of weight loss wouldn’t continue, but it was a brilliant boost to start her off, and it must be doing something to help her blood sugar levels.
‘You’re absolutely glowing,’ Rosie said, tilting her head and surveying Alison thoughtfully. She smirked. ‘All that healthy food must be doing you the world of good.’
She was probably right. Alison had never eaten so healthily in her life. Rosie had set her on the right path, and now she had another ally whose help was making all the difference…
‘Your parents are lovely,’ Mac had said as they walked through Tide’s Reach towards Rosie’s caravan.
‘You know they’re just worried about you, don’t you?
I know they did go on about the diabetes a lot, and I saw the look on your face when your mum served up that cheesecake and you got the yoghurt, but it’s only because they want you to be well.
I could see it in their eyes. They love you to bits. ’
Alison had nodded. She knew it, deep down.
‘It’s just a bit embarrassing,’ she said at last.
‘What is?’
‘Getting diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,’ she admitted. ‘Feels like an admission of failure somehow. Like if I’d only had more self-control and willpower this would never have happened to me.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ he assured her. ‘Society’s geared towards getting people to eat unhealthily. Diabetes is an epidemic these days. How many diabetics did you know when we were kids?’
‘I’d never heard of it,’ she agreed. ‘But food wasn’t so widely available as it is now.
The shops closed at teatime. They closed on Sundays.
There were no takeaway deliveries or apps that allowed you to have food delivered to your door in minutes.
It feels like we’re encouraged to eat non-stop these days. And all the wrong things.’
‘I’ve been thinking about that,’ Mac said. ‘You know I’m the world’s worst cook?’
Alison laughed. ‘You might have mentioned it once or twice.’
‘Yes, well, I’ve decided that I’m going to learn how to make some meals from scratch, so I’ve ordered a cookbook.
I wondered if you’d like to learn alongside me?
We could help each other out. You could come round to Watersmeet, and we could practise together.
Only if you want to!’ he added hastily. ‘I mean, there’s no pressure.
I just really want to do this for myself, and I thought if you wanted to do the same, we might as well work as a team. ’
Alison liked the sound of them working as a team. She liked it a lot, which wasn’t something she wanted to examine too closely.
‘That would be great,’ she’d told him. ‘Thank you. Let’s do it!’
What he hadn’t mentioned – and what she only discovered a few days later when the cookbook arrived – was that it was full of diabetes-friendly recipes and was aimed at getting your blood sugar levels back to normal.
She couldn’t believe he’d done that for her, and thought he was quite possibly the kindest man she’d ever met.
Well, apart from her dad, obviously.
And Uncle Christopher.
And Niall.
And Drew of course…
‘Ali, have you drifted off again?’ Rosie asked impatiently. ‘Come on, or we’ll have Mam moaning at us all afternoon.’
‘Sorry!’ Alison shook her head and grabbed her bag. ‘Ready.’
‘At last! Let’s go.’