Chapter 21
I spent the early part of Saturday morning continuing with my cross stitch for Laughlin before driving over to The White Willow to meet Paulette, Saffy and another two of Paulette’s grandchildren for lunch.
Paulette’s youngest daughter, Julia, and her husband were at a wedding but the invitation hadn’t included children so their two girls – fifteen-year-old Mila and thirteen-year-old Naomi – were spending the weekend with their grandma.
When she’d rung to invite me first thing this morning, Paulette had told me she wouldn’t be offended if I said no because, now that she’d spoken the words out loud, she could appreciate that spending time with someone else’s grandchildren perhaps wasn’t that appealing a prospect.
I assured her I was flattered to be asked and if Mila and Naomi were anything like Saffy, it would be a pleasure to meet them.
It would fit well with two of my journal entries to stop hiding myself away and to see more of the local area with my new friends.
I’d wanted to dine in The White Willow so this was the perfect opportunity.
As it was a dry and bright day, Paulette had told me the girls were planning to walk into Keswick afterwards and suggested the two of us go for a walk alongside the lake.
I dressed in suitable clothes and put some thick socks, my walking boots, a waterproof coat and my hat in the car.
As I approached The White Willow, nervous butterflies fluttered round my stomach.
I hated that I felt that way but I couldn’t be too hard on myself about it when the sensation came from so many years of hiding away from people and feeling anxious about meeting anyone new.
It didn’t matter that they were a couple of teenage girls – they were still unknown.
I managed to find a parking space right outside the café and could see Paulette and her granddaughters already at a table perusing menus.
Within minutes of joining them, the butterflies had settled.
Mila and Naomi were as lovely as I’d anticipated and it was touching to see how close they were to Saffy and how much they looked up to her.
I recognised the woman who came over to take our order as the one who’d taken my cake order on New Year’s Eve. She greeted Paulette warmly and they commented on how quickly the first few weeks of January had flown by.
‘Yvonne, this is Kelly. She owns The White Willow with her husband, Aled,’ Paulette said. ‘Kelly, this is my good friend Yvonne. She lives in Pippinthwaite but is hoping to downsize and move to Willowdale so if you hear of anyone about to put their house on the market, do let us know.’
‘I will,’ Kelly said, smiling at me. ‘You look familiar. Cake? New Year’s Eve?’
‘That’s an impressive memory.’
‘I never forget a face but I’m not so great with names so please forgive me if I need prompting a few times before it sinks in.’
‘And these are three of my grandchildren,’ Paulette said. ‘Saffy’s staying with me for a while, and Mila and Naomi are here for the weekend. Saffy has a favour to ask.’
‘Fire away,’ Kelly said.
‘Grandma tells me that your nephew and his fiancée have a children’s book coming out later this year and that Autumn’s the illustrator. I love drawing and it would be amazing to talk to her about how she got into illustrating. Could you give her my phone number?’
‘I can do one better than that. Dane and Autumn have a table booked for lunch in half an hour so I can introduce you then and you can sort out a time to chat to her.’
‘Awesome! Thank you.’
‘You’re very welcome. She’s lovely and extremely talented.’ Kelly took our order and told us she’d be back shortly with the drinks.
When she returned, she looked directly at Saffy. ‘When your grandma said you had a favour to ask me, I thought you might be looking for a job. We’ve had a couple of waiting staff leave unexpectedly without working notice so we’re a bit stuck. I don’t suppose you’d be interested?’
Saffy looked at Paulette. ‘What do you think, Grandma?’
‘It’s up to you, love,’ Paulette said. ‘If you’re sticking around, it makes sense to get a part-time job. This is a lovely place to work and it’s handier than traipsing into Keswick.’
‘I’ve just realised I should have asked if you have any experience first,’ Kelly said. ‘My brain’s not in gear today.’
Saffy laughed. ‘I had a job at the cinema while I was at college so drinks prep and serving hot dogs, nachos and popcorn if that helps.’
‘That would be perfect. Have a think and, if you’re interested, give me a shout and we can talk hours and pay. Your food will be out shortly.’
My lunch was delicious – a brie, bacon and cranberry ciabatta with curly fries followed by a slice of salted caramel sponge cake – and the company was great too.
So many television programmes conveyed teenagers as uncommunicative individuals with their mobile phones stuck to their hands but, while I was sure there were many who fit that description, the only time any of Paulette’s granddaughters dug out a phone was to snap photos to send to Mila and Naomi’s parents.
I took a photo of the three of them together and another of them with their grandma but was touched when they called one of Kelly’s team over to take a photo of all five of us.
‘You’re an adopted member of the family now,’ Paulette whispered to me, creating a lump in my throat.
I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be part of a family but having Naomi link her arm through mine as we smiled for the photo reminded me of how Mrs Kellerman and Cliff used to make me feel on my birthday.
When Kelly came over to clear our dessert plates away, she brought Autumn and Dane with her and made the introductions.
I’d never met either of them before but I remembered seeing their photos in the newspaper.
Autumn asked Saffy about the artistic styles she was most drawn to and, after a quick chat, arranged a date to meet up.
‘When’s your first book out?’ I asked them.
‘Not until the end of the year,’ Dane said. ‘We finished the series ages ago but it’s a lengthy process to get to publication date.’
‘You must be so excited,’ Paulette said.
Autumn nodded. ‘It still feels like a dream. I don’t think either of us will fully believe it until we’re holding a copy in our hands and, even then, I think someone might have to pinch me.’
‘Your ring’s really pretty,’ Mila said, pointing at Autumn’s sparkling engagement ring. ‘When are you getting married?’
Autumn and Dane exchanged smiles. ‘We wanted to make the books our priority for this year,’ she said, ‘but we’re thinking next year for the wedding. We haven’t looked at any venues yet, so we really need to get cracking with that.’
They settled at their own table and Kelly returned with the card reader so we could pay.
‘I’d love a job, please, Kelly,’ Saffy told her. ‘I like it here. It’s got a good vibe.’
Kelly smiled widely. ‘Aw, bless you. If you scribble me down your email address and phone number, I’ll send you the details and we can talk hours.’
‘I’m really flexible,’ Saffy said. ‘If possible, I’d rather not work a Wednesday afternoon because I go to Cake & Craft Club with Grandma but, if you do need me then, that’s fine.’
Bill paid and job secured for Saffy, we headed outside.
‘Have a nice time in town,’ Paulette said. ‘I’ve transferred some pocket money into each of your accounts.’
To cries of, ‘Thank you, Grandma,’ they all launched at her with hugs.
‘Thank you for letting me have lunch with you,’ I said, smiling at them all, and was rewarded with hugs too.
As they crossed the road, I turned to tell Paulette she had a lovely family but I couldn’t get any words out over the lump in my throat.
‘Told you you’d been adopted,’ she said, linking her arm through mine. ‘Come on, you can drive me home to change our shoes then we’ll have a walk by the lake to work off that incredible cake.’
It was a very short journey back to Paulette’s and she chatted the whole way about how proud she was of the girls and the way they all stayed in contact despite only seeing each other every Christmas and perhaps once more during the year.
I nodded and smiled but my thoughts were elsewhere.
If I’d made different choices, would I have had grandchildren like Paulette did?
Would I be the one slipping them pocket money and being crushed in grateful hugs?
Would I be the person they turned to in their hour of need like Saffy had turned to Paulette?
It must be incredible to be so loved, wanted and needed.