55. Not so long ago – 2021
Samuel was on his way out the gate as Ursula pulled up at the allotments.
He didn’t usually get here this early in the morning.
She nearly always did. Mainly because she liked to get out as soon as she’d had breakfast. Sometimes before, if the house was feeling especially oppressive.
Not that there were many days when it didn’t feel like it was suffocating her.
Most mornings she woke up hating it and vowing to sell it, but something always stopped her.
Or rather, Anton was stopping her. You’d think he’d give her a break now that he was dead, but no, he was still appearing at the window, making his disapproval known.
That day he died, when she’d left him, very much alive, she’d tasted freedom for all of, what, six hours?
What a heady six hours that was, before she crashed back down to reality.
‘Good morning, Ursula.’ Samuel smiled and banished all thoughts of Anton.
‘Good morning. You’re early.’
‘Who wouldn’t want to be early on such a glorious day? I’m going to the café up the road for some breakfast. You want to come?’
She considered it for a moment, but she knew the café Samuel went to and the last time she ate there, it had upset her stomach.
Even so, it would be nice to just sit with him and have a cup of tea.
But today was Wednesday. Not one of her usual café days which meant going there would send her whole day off kilter. ‘No thanks, I’ve already eaten.’
‘I’ll see you later then.’
‘By the way, does Priscilla know you’re sneaking off there?’ she shouted after him. He winked and tapped the side of his nose.
She walked the long way round to her allotment so she could check Clyde’s plot over.
He was due back from visiting his son in Bristol tomorrow and she wanted to make sure it was looking its best for him.
The plot needed no attention. Samuel had probably been there before her.
So she carried on round, stopping to say hello to the other early birds along the way.
The morning was spent doing very little other than chatting with Marcie and Gordon.
Marcie had been troubled with health problems in the last two years and it meant they came less often these days, so Ursula liked to spend time with them when they were here.
The old timers like her, Samuel, and Clyde kept things tidy when they weren’t here which made it easier for them to manage.
Samuel came back with a carrier bag of what looked like snacks and a bottle of rum while the three of them were having tea and biscuits. ‘Got your lunch sorted, have you?’ laughed Marcie.
He chuckled. ‘Damn right. The sun is shining and it’s the test match. Don’t bother coming over because this face is gonna be one big do-not-disturb sign.’
‘Not even to say tara-a-bit when we go?’ said Marcie.
‘That’s the only exception. Otherwise…’ He pulled a long face that must have been his do-not-disturb face.
Ursula cracked up at the sight of it. ‘That’s us told then.’
The sun was close to going down and Marcie and Gordon had gone.
On the way in this morning, Ursula had picked up a bottle of wine and some cheese and meats from the supermarket.
Fancy meats, as she and Samuel liked to call them.
It was a little joke between them that went back to the first time she’d shared them with him.
It must have been twenty-five years ago. That’s how long they’d been friends.
The allotments on other side of the hedge looked a bit sad these days.
Samuel’s was as lush and well maintained as always, but the rest had been left to go to seed when their owners gave them up.
It was out of the committee’s hands unfortunately.
The council were planning to reclaim this patch of land and use it to extend the neighbouring leisure centre’s car park.
They were fighting it but until a decision was made, no one wanted the pitches.
Except Samuel, who was refusing to budge.
He grinned when he saw her coming along the path with her bag of goodies. ‘You brought me some fancy supper, Ursula?’
‘I have indeed. Is that okay, or do you need to get home?’
‘I have all the time in the world. Come. Sit with me.’
She put two plastic wine glasses on the ground and filled them up. ‘Did you win the cricket?’
‘Not yet, but we will.’
‘Do you want your fancy supper yet?’
‘Later.’ He rubbed his chest. ‘Too many bad things today.’
‘You’ve got indigestion? Serves you right, Samuel Sweeting.’
He laughed. ‘What, you don’t feel sorry for me?’
‘Not one bit. Well perhaps a little bit. Shall we just sit here quietly?’
He nodded and looked up at the moon taking the sun’s place in the sky. ‘My boy is close tonight, Ursula.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘Do you want to be alone with him?’
He nodded again. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’
She left him in his chair, looking up at the sky, smiling.
The first thing Ursula did when she got to the allotments that morning was go through the hedge to look for Samuel. He wasn’t there. She’d had this feeling he’d still be sitting in his chair looking at the sky so it was a relief to see that he must have gone home.
She was about to turn around when his shed door opened and out he came with a toothbrush and a mug. The moment he saw her, Samuel froze. Ursula marched down the path. The shed door was still open. He pushed it shut but not before she spotted a camp bed inside. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Priscilla don’t want me in the house no more.’
‘She threw you out? Why didn’t you tell me? You could have stayed at my house.’
He shook his head. ‘It wouldn’t be right, Ursula.’
‘But we’re friends.’ She stopped herself. ‘Or is that the problem?’
‘It’s one of the problems.’
‘Okay. But you can’t sleep here, a man of your age.’
‘Clyde will be back later.’
‘You’ll stay with him?’
He nodded. ‘Until Priscilla comes round.’
‘Do you want something to eat?’
‘All tekken care of.’ He pushed the shed door open to reveal eggs sizzling in a frying pan on the camping stove.
She rolled her eyes. ‘I’ll come back later to make sure you haven’t set fire to the place.’
‘Remember the test match.’
‘Do not disturb. I know,’ she said as walked back down the path.
She popped her head through the gap in the hedge a couple of times to make sure he was all right.
The first time, he shooed her away because the cricket had just started.
The second time she looked, he was asleep in his chair, the radio on in the background.
Spending the night on the camp bed must have taken it out of him.
She’d called Clyde earlier and let him know what was going on.
He promised to come straight over as soon as he was back.
It was lunchtime now. Ursula had brought enough food for both of them and as he hadn’t been back out to the café, Samuel was probably hungry.
He was still asleep in his chair. She stopped on the path wondering whether to disturb him or come back later.
But then a robin landed on his hand and Samuel didn’t move.
Ursula dropped the food and ran down the path, calling out to him but his head stayed bowed.
She fell at his feet and touched his wrist, his neck, his heart.
No pulse. No beat. She put her hand against his face.
It was already too cool for a hot summer’s day.
Samuel’s eyes were closed, as if he really was sleeping.
But he was gone. She’d lost the only man she’d ever loved.