Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Later in the afternoon I updated the family on WhatsApp about the morning’s events.
I got a mixed response. A few of the cousins congratulated me on helping Derek in his hour of need and getting a message to Layla.
Aunty Flo claimed Humphrey never did anything heroic when she was looking after him. Although, as Mum pointed out, she had no idea what Humphrey had got up to when he stayed with her.
Uncle Robert sent a laughing face emoji.
Mum reminded me that losing Humphrey would break Maddie’s heart.
Fay was more concerned about her unplanned weight gain, despite dieting, this side of Christmas.
And Aunty Karen reminded me in capital letters that Grandpa should not be left on his own.
After cooking tea and clearing away, I went to sit on the sofa in the living room with Grandpa. We sat together and Humphrey curled up at our feet.
‘Maybe we’ve got Humphrey all wrong?’ Grandpa said, before leaning over to give him a scratch behind the ears.
I shook my head. ‘It was a coincidence. I think Humphrey was planning to run away and I think the car accident distracted him.’
I showed Grandpa what the family had said on WhatsApp about the drama from this morning. He shook his head at the responses from my mother and Aunty Karen. ‘Some days I struggle to understand the actions of my own daughters. I don’t know why those two can’t say something nice to you for once. It wouldn’t hurt them to say, “well done, Rachel.”’
I tried to change the subject. ‘Let’s not talk about Mum and Aunty Karen. What do you fancy for dinner tomorrow night?’
But Grandpa wanted to talk about Mum. ‘Your mother has been angry at your father for too many years. This is why she’s so bitter the whole time.’
‘I’d say power crazy and bitter.’ I thought about the way Mum controlled everyone on WhatsApp.
Grandpa shook his head. ‘She’s still cross at your father. I think his betrayal has made her poisonous. What your father did was wrong, and he hurt your mother a lot, but she can’t carry on being bossy and nasty to everyone.’
‘Don’t worry, we all ignore her,’ I said, with a nervous laugh.
‘You don’t ignore her though – do you?’ He stared at me. ‘You and Maddie have spent years trying to please her.’ He lifted his hands to gesture to the house. ‘This situation Maddie has got herself into is your mother’s doing.’
‘Really?’
He nodded. ‘Your mother has spent years making Maddie marry someone with money and I think it’s made Maddie depressed.’
‘We don’t know what’s going on with Maddie.’
Grandpa shook his head. ‘I know something is going on with Maddie. Frank worries me.’
Grandpa was getting upset so I gave his hand a rub. ‘We’re going to have a nice Christmas, Grandpa. I know the last few days have been a bit chaotic, but I am hoping things will settle down and we can relax.’
He grinned. ‘Relaxing is for wimps, Rachel.’
I let out an inner groan at the mischievous glint in his twinkly eyes.
‘I wanted to come visit you when your lovely friend passed away.’ He held my gaze. ‘You needed your grandpa, and I had my suitcase packed. Karen refused to get me a ticket as she claimed you were not in fit state to care for me. That was nonsense.’
I smiled and fought back tears as his kind face went blurry. ‘That’s nice to know, Grandpa.’ I let him put his arm around me and I snuggled up to him.
‘Are you okay, Rachel?’
I wiped a tear which was making its way down my cheek. ‘I’m a little better down here. Focusing on Layla has helped.’
‘Well, that’s good to hear.’ He smiled. ‘I’ll always be here for you and Maddie. All those years your mum worked away and left you with your nana and me made us all close. There were times when your nana and I discussed letting you move in permanently with us. We thought you could go to the local school and see your mum when she was home. She left you both for such long periods and we didn’t like ferrying you back and forth.’
‘I bet Mum was against us moving in with you.’
He nodded. ‘She wouldn’t have had control. Now, I want you to promise me something.’
‘What’s that, Grandpa?’
‘Stop letting your mother control you.’
I sat up and stared at him. ‘I’m not doing that.’
He looked at me with watery blue eyes and stroked my face. ‘You are, my girl, and it makes me sad. That life you lead in London is not you, Rachel. You are unbelievably talented, and it breaks my heart to see you trying to please your mother. The world is waiting for you, Rachel.’
Layla entered the living room holding her phone. ‘They’ve operated on Derek’s leg. He should be fine.’
I stood up and gave her a hug. ‘I’m pleased he’s going to be okay. How are you feeling?’
She smiled. ‘I’m better than I was this morning. Thank you for coming to find me.’
‘I didn’t know it was you until he told me. Although, looking at you know I can see you both have the same dark eyes. He said you contacted him last year. What made you find him?’
She fiddled with the L-charm on her necklace. ‘I was lonely. Everyone had either deserted me or was being horrid to me. I’d always wondered about my biological father. I thought – life can’t get any worse so what have I got to lose? I remembered some stuff Mum had told me over the years. So, I tracked down Derek.’
I put my arm around her little shoulders as she talked. ‘We started messaging each other. A few weeks ago, after Ryan had kicked Zac and me out, I decided to arrange a meeting with Derek.’ She lowered her head. ‘Yesterday, I honestly thought he was like all the rest.’
‘I don’t think he is, Layla. He was emotional in the car.’
‘Well, hopefully we can meet again soon.’
‘Are you going to visit him in hospital?’
She shrugged. ‘He wants me to. They say he will be there for a few days, but I don’t want to take Zac. The hospital he’s in is a long way away.’
‘Layla, I will help you.’
Her face lit up. ‘Really?’
‘We will get you to visit Derek.’