Chapter 19
19
Edna was sitting up and, although pale, looked a lot stronger and was delighted to see them with their gifts.
‘Thank you, both, you saved my life. I could have been lying there for days.’ She sounded very emotional. ‘And you’re holidaymakers too, I can’t believe that you noticed something was wrong.’
‘It was Dee, really,’ Babs said as they each pulled out a chair and sat down beside the bed. ‘She was the one who thought we should check on you.’
‘Actually it was your cat, Snowy, who alerted us. We’re staying at Sunset View, as you probably realised, and he visited us. He seemed hungry but we could tell that he was well cared for, and his name and your address was on the disc on his collar. So when I saw him miaowing and scratching at your front door, and your curtains all closed, I had a feeling that something was wrong and decided to check.’
Edna clasped Dee’s hand between hers. ‘Thank you. Thank you.’
She turned to Babs. ‘You too. You helped. And the lovely policewoman said that you’re both looking after Snowy while I’m here. How is he? I’m so worried about him.’
‘He’s fine, he’s made himself at home. See.’ Dee showed her a couple of photos of Snowy that she’d taken earlier. One of him eating his food and the other of him curled up in his basket.
‘That’s so kind of you. So kind.’ Edna dabbed her eyes with a tissue. ‘All of this has been such a shock to me. I’ve been getting a bit unsteady on my feet, and when I was lying there on the floor I thought “this is it, Edna, no one’s going to find you for ages”.’ She dabbed her eyes again. ‘It’s not been easy living on my own since Bert died.’
Dee felt for her. She had seen it many times with the old folks she’d visited, they struggled on alone, not wanting to leave their homes, scared to ask for help in case they ended up in care. ‘Your son is driving down to visit you,’ she said, then wondered if Martin had wanted to keep it as a surprise.
‘After his inheritance I expect,’ Edna said bitterly. ‘I haven’t seen him for ages and now he thinks I’m about to keel over, he’s going to play the loving, dutiful son.’
Dee wasn’t sure what to say. She knew that there could be some truth in what Edna was saying, she’d seen it happen before, but she didn’t want to judge the man until she met him.
Babs leaned over and squeezed the old lady’s hand. ‘Well, he’ll be waiting a long time because there’s a lot of life left in you yet.’
Edna nodded. ‘There certainly is. Although that won’t stop him trying to sell my cottage and putting me in a home. But I’m one step ahead of him.’ She straightened her shoulders, looking a bit brighter. ‘Has anyone told my sister, Mabel? We talk to each other every week. She’ll want to know.’
‘I can let her know for you,’ Dee offered. ‘Can you remember her phone number?’
‘It’s saved in my mobile. Did you bring it?’ Edna asked. ‘It’s in my handbag.’
Dee shook her head. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise and your house is all locked up now. I’m afraid that the police had to break in to get to you and they’ve temporarily made the door safe.’
‘I’ve got a set of keys hidden. Can you get them, go in the back way and get some things for me, do you think?’ Edna asked.
‘Of course. Where are the keys?’ Dee asked her.
‘In the green watering can in the front garden. Thieves never think to look in a watering can. The larger key is for the back gate and the one next to it for the back door,’ Edna added.
‘Are you sure about this? You don’t know us and you’re giving us the keys to your house,’ Dee said.
‘I’m a good judge of character and I know who I can trust.’ Edna touched her nose with her forefinger. ‘Could you please get my handbag from the lounge, it’s by my armchair, and the phone charger is on the coffee table. Then go up to my bedroom, please, it’s the first one, and get a wooden box from the shelf at the top of the wardrobe. You’ll have to move some jumpers. Please do that as soon as you can. Martin will be here any minute and he’s probably intending to stay at the cottage. I don’t want him to find the box.’
She really doesn’t trust her son, Dee thought. ‘Of course. We’ll go as soon as we get home,’ she promised.
‘Thank you so much. And please bring the keys with you, I don’t want Martin letting himself in without my permission.’
‘We will.’ Dee handed over the carrier bag in her hand. ‘Meanwhile, we’ve brought you a couple of things from the corner shop.’
‘Bless you both. You’re so kind.’ Edna’s eyes filled up. ‘I’m so grateful. Do you think you could pop back later with my handbag, the box and my keys? I need to phone Mabel and get things moving as soon as I can.’
Dee promised they would.
* * *
‘We’ll go around to Edna’s first,’ Dee said as they left the hospital. ‘I don’t like the thought of her keys being available for anyone who might find them.’
‘Perhaps Martin knows where his mum keeps her spare keys and that’s why she wants us to go now, before he arrives.’ Babs frowned. ‘And I wonder what’s in the mysterious box she doesn’t want him to find?’
‘Maybe it’s her will…’
‘Could be.’ Babs eyes lit up. ‘Perhaps she’s left the house to the local cat’s home instead of Martin and she thinks he’ll be furious and try to talk her out of it.’
Dee thought her friend could be right, she’d seen situations like this before when adult children had tried to control their ageing parents’ lives. ‘I hope that he’s not as mercenary as Edna thinks, but unfortunately it does happen and she obviously doesn’t trust him. So, I think for now, until we know different, we have to take her word for it.’
As soon as they got back to Port Telwyn they parked up at the back of the cottages, checking to see if there were any cars that could possibly be Martin’s there. Not that they had any idea what car he drove but they had the impression it would be an expensive one. The parking space was empty apart from a dirty, dark blue van and a silver car that they’d noticed there before. So they went around to the front garden of Primrose Cottage.
Glancing around they saw the green watering can tucked up in the corner. Dee picked it up and turned it upside down, and out fell the keys. She grabbed them triumphantly, looking over at Babs who was keeping watch. ‘Let’s go!’
They hurried around the back and were soon inside the house, going straight to the lounge to get Edna’s handbag.
Babs quickly started checking down by the sofa and held up a large grey and black handbag. ‘Here it is,’ she said, picking it up. She checked inside. ‘Edna’s phone is in here too.’ She picked up the phone charger from the coffee table and popped it into the handbag. ‘Now, let’s find the wooden box and get out of here before Martin arrives. I know we have Edna’s permission to be here but I still don’t fancy her son walking in on us.’
‘You’re right.’ Dee headed up the stairs first, Babs behind her. Feeling a bit like an intruder, she opened the first door and stepped inside. It was a cosy, cluttered bedroom, a crotcheted multi-coloured bedspread on the bed, pretty flowered curtains, a large patterned rug on the floor, pictures all over the walls, many of them of Edna with a smiling, dark-haired man – Bert, Dee presumed – and some featuring a little boy of various ages – Martin.
A huge, dark-walnut wardrobe ran across the back wall.
‘That must be where she’s hidden the box,’ Dee said.
Babs was already at the wardrobe, trying to pull open the doors. ‘They’re very stiff.’ She gave an extra hard pull and the door popped open. Babs fell back onto the floor on her backside. ‘Owww!’ she yelled.
‘Are you okay?’ Dee hurried over to help her up.
‘I think I’ve got a bruise on my bum!’ Babs rubbed it ruefully. ‘I don’t know how Edna manages to open those doors!’
‘I don’t think she goes in here often.’ Dee regarded the array of dated winter coats, evening dresses, fur stoles and other items of clothing that she couldn’t imagine Edna wearing now. They were clearly from the fifties and sixties but still looked in excellent condition.
‘These would fetch some money,’ Babs said.
Dee looked up at the long shelf running along the top of the wardrobe that was full of hat boxes, shoe boxes and neatly folded jumpers. ‘Edna said that the wooden box is at the back. I’m going to need a footstool to reach.’
‘There’s one!’ Babs pointed over to a wooden footstool with a pretty but faded embroidered top which was placed under the window. She went over and picked it up, carrying it back. ‘Phew! It’s heavy!’
‘Good, I don’t want it giving way underneath me!’
Babs placed the footstool on the floor by Dee, who manoeuvred it into place with her foot then stepped on it, feeling underneath the jumpers for a wooden box.
‘Nothing here,’ she said.
‘It might be behind it. She obviously doesn’t want Martin to find it, so might have hidden it really well,’ Babs suggested.
‘Good point.’ Dee took some of the jumpers off the shelf and passed them down to Babs who laid them carefully on the bottom of the bed. Then she saw a box, smaller than she’d imagined, pushed right at the back. ‘I’ve got it!’
She pulled out the box, surprised at how light it was, and handed it to Babs, who placed it on the bed then handed back the jumpers for Dee to replace on the shelf. Finally, Dee stepped down from the footstool and regarded the box. It was decorated to look like a book, and was the same size as a hardback novel, securely locked with a small bronze padlock.
‘Maybe she’s got her best jewellery locked in it,’ Babs suggested, giving the box a little shake.
Dee thought that was possible. She knew that many older folks didn’t trust banks or solicitors, preferring to keep their precious items hidden in their houses.
She slipped the box under her arm. ‘Let’s get going. I’ll feel happier when we’re out of here.’
They headed down the stairs and out of the back door, locking it behind them. Babs opened the gate and peered up and down the street, making sure the coast was clear before calling Dee out.
‘I feel like a criminal!’ Babs said as they hurried back to their cottage.
‘So do I,’ Dee agreed. The sooner Edna had her things the better. If only they could take them to her now instead of having to wait for visiting time tonight.