Chapter 13
That evening in my cosy sitting room, with Plato curled up in the armchair next to me, I sent an email thanking Madeline and Tobias for forwarding Mr Fuller’s offer and fell to thinking about it again.
No matter how hard I tried to focus on pulling together ideas for the equinox party instead, my brain kept tracking back to the sheet of paper now on the arm of the chair, and in the end, I had to banish it from sight before I found any peace.
It all made for a rather restless night, but I was looking forward to seeing Grandad George the following morning and telling him I’d taken his idea about finding a distraction to heart and how it was working out.
Rather less well than it might have done given I now had something else to think about that complicated the point of my moving to the square, but I genuinely had enjoyed my two stints in the Grow-Well, and wouldn’t mention the job offer.
‘No secret meeting or appointment today,’ I commented when I found him and Freddie sitting with their heads together in a quiet corner of the care home day room.
‘Skylar!’ Grandad George beamed. ‘How lovely to see you. No, nothing clandestine today. In fact,’ he said mysteriously, ‘I think my work there is done.’
‘Given what you’ve just told me,’ Freddie joined in, ‘I think you’re right, old man. Mission accomplished. Very well done.’
‘If anyone ever dared to assume that folk are over the hill and out of the loop when they move into residential care,’ Grandad laughed, ‘then they’d be seriously underestimating us, wouldn’t they?’
‘That they would,’ Freddie wholeheartedly agreed.
I shook my head as the pair high fived and felt grateful that I didn’t know what had been afoot, and given that it was ‘mission accomplished’ I preferred to forget rather than fuss over it.
‘I think I’ll leave you to it,’ Freddie said and kindly offered me his seat. ‘I’m going to telephone my friend, May. I’ll thrash you at dominoes later George. Lovely to see you again, Skylar.’
‘Likewise,’ I smiled and sat down in his place.
I scanned the room and noticed Mabel was absent. I hoped she was all right.
‘So,’ Grandad George said, ‘how are you, my dear? You look a little tired, if you don’t mind me saying so?’
‘That’s because I’m a bit worn out,’ I told him, then added, ‘but that’s your fault.’
‘Oh?’
‘Don’t look so worried, because it’s with good cause. I took on board what you said last week and I’m now helping in the Grow-Well. I’ve been over twice since I saw you and you were right, it’s a great distraction and I’m learning lots of new things, too.’
‘Oh Skylar,’ Grandad George clapped, ‘that’s the best news. I’m so pleased. What have you been doing over there? You know, your father never said a word when I saw him yesterday. I take it he knows?’
‘He does,’ I confirmed. ‘But I asked him not to say anything because I wanted to tell you myself.’
‘Go on then. Fill me in.’
I told him how I’d cleared beds and pots and then given the henhouse a deep clean and been rewarded with more of the freshest brown eggs I’d ever had. There had even been a feather attached to one.
‘Well, how about that?’ he said, sounding astounded. ‘I’ve never had you down as an outdoorsy type, but this ‘something new’ seems to have perked you up no end, even if it has tired you out.’
‘It certainly has and that’s not all. I’ve had an evening in a local pub with some of the neighbours, too, and I’m feeling much more settled as a result.’
Had it not been for the details of the potentially too good to turn down job offer, I might have felt completely settled, but the email wasn’t up for discussion.
‘I was already in a good mood, but you’ve made me even happier!’ Grandad George glowed. ‘What are the locals like? As friendly as Rafe reckons or has he got his rose-tinted specs on? I know how keen he is for this move to be a success for both of you, so he might be a bit blinkered…’
‘No, he’s right,’ I was happy to say. ‘Everyone is friendly and so kind and helpful.’
Even Erik had come good and if you’d told me that just a week ago, I never would have believed it.
He hadn’t been able to explain why he’d been off with me, but I had assumed his initial bad mood had been prompted by fears of a Prosperous Place security breach.
Whatever the reason, he had apologised and that was good enough for me.
I was already enjoying being his Platonic Plus One and had just about managed to rein in my tendency to moon over his beguiling blue eyes.
‘Well, that’s marvellous.’
‘And there’s something else marvellous, too,’ I continued. ‘But I haven’t mentioned this to Rafe in case he thinks it sounds too much like my line of work.’
Grandad George looked concerned.
‘It isn’t work,’ I said quickly. ‘Not in the employed and paid for sense anyway.’
‘Go on.’
‘I’ve offered to help organise the Grow-Well autumn equinox party and include some extras,’ I told him.
‘The neighbours come together throughout the year to celebrate the seasons, along with feasting on what they’ve grown, but recently everyone has been so busy there hasn’t been an opportunity to do more than share the meal. Now however—’
‘You’ve come along,’ Grandad George cut in with his smile back in place, ‘with time on your hands and being an outstanding organiser, you’ve offered to step in and embellish things.’
‘I don’t know about being an outstanding organiser,’ I laughed at his high praise, ‘but yes, that’s the gist of it. What do you think?’
He took a moment to consider.
‘Three things,’ he said and held up the corresponding number of fingers.
‘Go on.’
‘One, I think it sounds like a brilliant idea and the perfect way to further keep you occupied while you’re taking time out from the real world of work.’
‘Agreed.’
‘Two, I very much hope I can blag an invitation to attend, even though I’m not a resident of the square.’
‘I’m sure I’ll be able to smuggle you in,’ I giggled. ‘What’s the third thing?’
‘You must tell Rafe before someone else does. It’s bound to come up in conversation with one of the neighbours, and he’ll be hurt if he hasn’t heard it from you.’
‘I just don’t want him jumping to the wrong conclusion,’ I sighed.
‘Well, that’s exactly what he’ll do if he thinks you’re trying to hide what you’re up to. And to be honest Skylar, this is nothing as dramatic as something like letting him assume you’re resting while secretly applying for jobs. You’re making too much of it, my love.’
I bit my lip and nodded. ‘Perhaps you’re right,’ I swallowed and again pushed away thoughts of the unexpected offer.
It wasn’t as if I’d applied for that job, it had landed in my lap.
‘This is a small gathering for people you and Rafe are starting to think of as friends. It’s going to be fun. No pressure, no bridezilla expectations, just neighbourly fun.’
‘To be fair,’ I said, though it was hardly the point, ‘the grooms could be equally as bad.’ Grandad George gave me a look. ‘But I get what you’re saying. I’ll tell him today.’
I hoped Lisa hadn’t got to Rafe first, because having heard what Grandad George had to say about it, I could see that I had made rather a mountain out of a molehill.
‘Good. And you know how much your father loves a good party,’ he reminded me. ‘He might have an idea or two to contribute.’
‘Assuming he isn’t too preoccupied,’ I mused.
‘With his writing you mean?’ Grandad George asked. ‘Or the man he spent the whole of Saturday night talking to?’
‘He’s told you then,’ I realised. ‘It must be serious. I hope he’s a nice guy.’
‘Don’t look so worried. I have it on very good authority that he’s a very nice guy indeed. Now, here comes Beth with something fun for me to do. Will you stay?’
Having decided that I should tell Rafe about my involvement with planning the equinox gathering with all possible haste, I decided not to join in with what Beth had got lined up, but I did make a point of nabbing her. In fact, that was a mutual thing because she wanted to talk to me, too.
‘I don’t want to hold you up,’ I told her. ‘But I was just wondering where Mabel is today. I haven’t seen her at all.’
‘She’s in her room.’
‘Oh right,’ I grimaced, hoping that was okay.
I knew Mabel craved peace, but I hoped she wasn’t hiding away.
‘Don’t worry, it’s all good,’ Beth elaborated. ‘She’s just having some time out after the early birds’ senior tai chi session. It was her first go at it today.’
‘I see,’ I said, drawing the words out because the activity and Mabel’s participation in it had taken me by surprise. ‘Well, that’s definitely progress, isn’t it?’
‘It is,’ Beth agreed. ‘She might have picked the quietest activity to try, but she did it and I’ve been making sure she hasn’t been pestered into coming out of her room when she doesn’t want to. She’s now got some balance to her days.’
‘She did mention the opportunity to have some quiet chats, too,’ I remembered. ‘Though I imagine the staff don’t have much time for that, and I know you’re always on the go.’
‘That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about,’ Beth smiled.
‘Oh?’
‘Our conversation about Mabel got me thinking over something I’ve been considering for a while now.’
‘Which is?’
‘Setting up a befriender service,’ she explained. ‘Made up of a small group of volunteers who’ll come in once a week initially, to chat with people like Mabel, who would benefit from something more peaceful to what’s generally on offer in the day room.’
‘I think that sounds like an excellent idea!’ I smiled. ‘Mabel will be thrilled.’
‘I’ve settled on trying it on a Thursday,’ Beth continued. ‘Perhaps even starting it in a small way this week if I can sign anyone up.’
‘Even better.’
‘So, what do you think?’ she asked and I realised the direction the conversation was taking. ‘How do you fancy being our first volunteer and taking Mabel under your wing while she settles here?’
It took me less than a second to decide.
‘I’d love to!’