‘That’s funny,’ she said. ‘It’s here, R9, flowers May to June, and it’s Latin name is Doris.’
‘Are you sure?’ said Liz.
‘D O R I S,’ repeated Tammy. Liz leant over Tammy’s shoulder to look at the book. Tammy was right. Jim had scribbled Doris next to the plant name and then it suddenly occurred to her why and she laughed out loud. Tammy, gave her a quizzical look.
‘Why is that funny?’ she said.
‘It’s Jim having a laugh,’ Liz replied. ‘Doris is Jim’s older sister and they didn’t really get on. Whenever she came to visit she would spend the first half an hour criticising him, the house or the garden. Hawthorns are prickly.’
‘Oh,’ said Tammy. ‘Did he have a name for you?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Liz. ‘I’ll have a good look later.’
They continued to compare the list of plants that Tammy had made with Jim’s garden history and by the time they finished they had discovered that there should also be Broom, Pieris, Ribes, Rosemary, Lavender, Wisteria, Thyme, Sage, Dog Rose, Chives, Lillies, Fuschia’s, Buddleia, Hebe, Mahonia, Hellebore and loads of Columbine.
‘It was, and hopefully is, still full of bee friendly plants.’
Tammy made careful notes of the grid references for the plants on the list and between them they decided that, all being well, on Monday morning, providing it wasn’t pouring down, they would begin to tackle the garden.
‘Have you anything planned for the weekend?’ Liz asked Tammy when they had finished.
‘Monica is taking me swimming tomorrow,’ replied Tammy, ‘and then we are going shopping. Monica said that we could decorate my bedroom, maybe even buy a sofa bed so I can have friends to stay over.’
‘Wow, that’s fantastic. So you will be busy over the next few weeks. How are you two getting on now?’ Liz asked cautiously. She had not heard the back door slamming lately.
‘She’s alright,’ replied Tammy grudgingly. ‘She is trying to learn to cook. She made shepherd’s pie yesterday and it was edible, except that the mash was a bit lumpy, and this weekend she is going to attempt spaghetti Bolognese.
Would you like to come to dinner?’ she added hopefully.
‘I’d love to,’ said Liz, ‘but I think you should check with Monica first. She might have other plans.’
* * *
Adam was in the middle of a staff appraisal when his secretary buzzed that his wife was on the phone. He took the call knowing that their holiday was in jeopardy and hoping she had managed to sort something out.
‘It’s not good news, Adam,’ she began. ‘I’ve managed to get Leo sorted. He can stay with his friend Alex from school. Alex’s parents have a holiday home in Devon and they are happy to take Leo with them for the Easter break. I have tried to get someone to look after Sasha but most of her friends are going abroad. So unless your mother can come and look after her we will have to cancel and I was so looking forward to it.’ She sounded upset.
‘Don’t worry, darling,’ Adam soothed. ‘I will finish work a bit earlier and pop in to see Mum today. I am sure that it was just a misunderstanding and she will be able to come and stay. We don’t go until Tuesday evening so there’s still time,’ and with that he put down the receiver.’
* * *
When Monica arrived home from work she was shattered. She was really looking forward to the Easter weekend to re-charge her batteries. Work was so demanding. She could have done with taking some home but she tried not to work when Tammy was around, often finishing reports early in the mornings or when Tammy had gone to bed. She had stopped at the supermarket on the way home to buy everything she needed and dropped the shopping off at the flat before going next door.
Tammy opened the door to her and Liz shouted the offer of tea or coffee from the kitchen. Monica usually declined. She was always so tired after work she couldn’t wait to get home and take off her high heels and put on some comfy clothes and flip flops but today she accepted. She hardly had time to sit down before Tammy asked if Liz could come to dinner on Sunday.
‘That would be lovely,’ said Monica, and warned Liz about her cooking. ‘It’s still early days. I am attempting spaghetti Bolognese but you might have to bring a sandwich just in case.’
‘Don’t forget the pie,’ said Tammy. ‘You said I could make a pie.’
‘I haven’t forgotten the pie,’ replied Monica smiling smugly. ‘I bought all the ingredients on the way home from work but I haven’t got a pie dish. We’ll have to get one tomorrow.’
‘Don’t worry about a dish,’ interrupted Liz. ‘I’ve got several. You can take one home with you. Keep it, I don’t cook as often as I used to.’ She got one out of the cupboard. ‘Will this be big enough?’
‘Perfect,’ said Tammy.
They all sat in the kitchen chatting. Tammy showed Monica the list of plants and the grid. Monica looked out of the window at the lawn, or rather what used to be a lawn, the grass being completely squeezed out by taller, beige coloured stems of something or other that none of them knew the name of.
‘I’m thinking of redesigning the garden,’ Liz said eventually. ‘I might replace the lawn with something else, maybe a pond with shingle or paving. I’ll keep the flower beds but I’m not good with grass. I hear you’re thinking of decorating,’ she said quickly, not wishing to dwell on the grass for too long.
‘Yes,’ said Monica. ‘All the rooms could do with a lick of paint, especially Tammy’s. It’s not at all girly at the moment is it?’ Tammy nodded agreement. ‘And there is nowhere for friends to stay over. So we thought we would decorate it. Although it’s only a two bedroom flat the bedrooms are a decent size so there is room for a bed and a sofabed or bed settee. We also need some new wardrobes and a dressing table. The wardrobes are fitted in my room and they’ll do for now but Tammy has nowhere to put anything in her room. I thought we’d brave Ikea for some inspiration.’
‘Any thoughts on colours yet?’ Liz asked Tammy.
‘Not sure. I’m going to look around before I decide,’ she replied.
‘And who’s doing the painting?’ Liz added.
‘Well, I don’t get much time,’ said Monica, ‘so I’m not doing it myself. I’d still be painting at Christmas. There is money in the budget to pay someone to do the walls and the ceiling. I’ll find someone when we have decided on colours, maybe even paint the kitchen and living room too, brighten the place up.’
‘It always feels good when a room has been decorated,’ agreed Liz. ‘I might think about decorating when I’ve finished the garden.’
Monica and Tammy were just getting ready to leave when the doorbell rang.
‘I wonder who that can be?’ said Liz. ‘I’m not expecting anyone.’ She opened the street door. ‘Oh, it’s Adam,’ she said out loud, a hint of pride in her voice as she said it.
‘Hi, Mum,’ he said, smiling as she let him in. He was surprised to see she had visitors.
‘Oh, Adam, this is Monica and Tammy, my neighbours. They live next door in Eve’s old house.’
‘Nice to meet you.’ He smiled as he shook Monica’s hand and said hello to Tammy.
‘Well, we’ll be off,’ said Monica. ‘See you on Sunday.
‘Don’t forget the pie dish,’ Liz called to Tammy, who ran back and collected it before running off after Monica.
‘Well, Adam, it’s lovely to see you. How are you?’
‘I’m fine Mum. You?’
‘Really well. Can I get you anything?’ she added, before walking back into the kitchen.
‘Tea would be good.’ He followed her in and sat down at the table. He watched her as she filled the kettle. ‘Something’s different,’ he said presently.
‘I’ve had a haircut,’ said Liz, subconsciously touching her hair.
‘It looks great,’ he added.
‘Thank you, love. It was long overdue.’ She made the tea and put a few biscuits on a plate on the table before sitting down.
‘I’m sorry to come una
nnounced,’ he said.
‘It’s always lovely to see you, Adam, you don’t need an appointment.’
Liz knew he was about to ask her to look after the children. He had not popped in unannounced since he moved to Bury, even though he worked in Canary Wharf.
‘I have just posted Easter eggs for the children,’ said Liz. ‘If I’d known you were coming you could have taken them with you.’
‘Thanks mum,’ he said, ‘but I needed to see you because Georgina and I are in a bit of a bind. We planned a holiday over Easter and we were counting on Georgina’s parents to look after the children, but they are now going on a cruise for their anniversary. We go on Tuesday. Leo is staying with friends but we have no one to look after Sasha.
Maybe I misunderstood but when I asked if you could stay you said you had plans. I wondered if it’s something you could change.’
‘There was no misunderstanding, dear.’ Liz looked at him and tried not to look too pleased about it. ‘I do have plans. I am not able to stay in Bury over the Easter holiday.’
‘Well, what are you doing that is so important you can’t cancel for your granddaughter?’ He asked impatiently.
‘Not that it’s any of your business, Adam,’ Liz kept her voice calm, ‘but I have promised that I would look after Tammy over the holiday.’
‘Who’s Tammy?’ said Adam incredulously.
‘The little girl next door, the one you’ve just met,’ she reminded him.
‘I haven’t heard you mention them before.’
‘No,’ said Liz. ‘I’ve only known them since January when they moved in. We have become very good friends and Tammy and I are going to do some gardening.’
‘Gardening?’ said Adam. ‘You hate the garden. You haven’t touched it in years.’
‘Exactly,’ said Liz, ‘it’s long overdue.’
‘You would choose to look after a stranger rather than your own grandchild?’ he said, exasperated.
‘I love Sasha, Adam, but I don’t know her and she doesn’t really know me. I’ve seen more of Tammy in the last two months than I have of you or my grandchildren in nearly seven years and although I would hate you to miss your holiday,’ she said unconvincingly, ‘I can’t come to Bury.’
‘Can’t or won’t?’ said Adam bitterly.
‘both,’ said Liz defiantly.
She wanted to vent. She wanted to tell Adam what a selfish, thoughtless disappointment he was but she felt sorry for him.
‘What can I do?’ he said, pushing his fingers through his thinning hair. ‘What will I tell Georgina? She will be devastated.’
Liz thought of Georgina being devastated and what a ridiculous use of the word. Losing someone you love is devastating, missing a holiday is unfortunate.
Liz thought for a second. ‘You can tell her that I would be happy to look after Sasha.’
‘You will?’ asked Adam hopefully.
‘Yes,’ said Liz, ‘but not at your house. She can come to stay here with me while you’re away. She can help me and Tammy sort out the garden.’
‘I‘m not sure Georgina will be happy with that. Sasha will miss her friends and her horse. I don’t know what to say.’
‘Thank you would be a start,’ said Liz. ‘You can drop her here on Tuesday on your way to the airport. It will be fun.’
Adam was not convinced. Georgina disliked Enfield, probably because it was too close to Edmonton where she had spent her teenage years before her parents moved out to Bury St Edmunds. She now considered most of Enfield as too rough for their delicate offspring who were used to private schools with well-spoken children who owned horses and played tennis. Not on neglected, litter strewn, public courts in run down parks but in local clubs and more often on courts in the grounds of houses owned by their friends. He resigned himself to the fact that he would probably have to cancel the holiday.
Chapter 7
When he finally got home around nine thirty Georgina was in the conservatory reading a book and drinking a glass of Amarone.
‘Hi, Darling,’ she said, getting up and putting the book down on the seat.
She poured him a glass of the deep purple wine and walked over to the door as he put his briefcase and jacket on a chair. He took the glass and sniffed it, breathing in the alcohol before taking a sip.
‘Mmmmm, just what I needed,’ he said.
‘Would you like something to eat?’ she walked towards the kitchen.
‘Not now,’ he called after her, ‘this will do fine,’ and he sat down on the sofa.
‘Well, how did it go? Are we going on holiday?’ asked Georgina, as she sat next to him.
‘Good news and bad news, I’m afraid,’ said Adam. ‘Mum has agreed to look after Sasha.’
‘Great,’ said Georgina. ‘What’s the bad news?’
‘Sasha will have to stay at her house. She will not stay here.’
‘But what about her friends and her clubs, and Ebony? Who will ride Ebony?’ Georgina whined.
‘The horse is not really a problem is it.’ Adam was irritated. ‘You know that the stable can get one of the stable girls to ride her. She will be fine’
‘Why didn’t she want to come here?’ she asked eventually. ‘What are the ‘plans’ she spoke of.’
‘She is looking after the girl next door,’ Adam continued. ‘She and Tammy, that’s the girl’s name, are going to sort out the garden.
‘That’s ridiculous,’ said Georgina, ‘you know how she feels about the garden.’
‘How she felt about the garden,’ repeated Adam. ‘She seems different. She’s had her hair done. She looked really well.’
‘What do you really think is going on Adam? Do you think she has met someone?’
‘Mum? Don’t be ridiculous, sweetheart. She is nearly sixty and besides she doesn’t go anywhere. Where would she meet someone?’
‘Well, it just seems strange. We don’t know anything about this child next door or even if she really exists.’
‘She definitely exists,’ replied Adam. ‘I met her and her aunt at Mum’s today.’
‘What is she like?’ asked Georgina, wondering if she would be a suitable companion for Sasha.
‘I don’t know,’ Adam laughed. ‘About Sasha’s age, brown eyes, curly hair. I didn’t really take that much notice. I only had time to say hello after all. They were leaving as I arrived. You’ll meet her yourself soon. Look, hun, if you want to go on holiday, you’re going to have to trust Mum. I’m sure she will take very good care of Sasha but if you really feel that she may be in mortal danger we had better cancel.’
‘I don’t know, Adam,’ said Georgina. ‘Sasha is very sensitive and easily influenced. I don’t think staying there is a good idea.’
‘I’m not sure we are talking about the same child, Georgie. I love our daughter with all my heart but I am under no illusion. She is bossy, manipulative and very, very spoilt,’ Adam replied, ‘and on reflection I think it would do her the world of good to spend some time with Mum doing manual labour.’
He took another sip of his wine and laid his head against the back of the sofa. ‘Anyway, if we don’t go we will lose all the money which is eleven thousand pounds in case you have forgotten. The insurance only covers cancellation by the travel agent, injury or death of the insured or close relative and perhaps volcanic ash. Us not having someone to look after Sasha doesn’t qualify for a refund. Anyway, I’m tired. I’m going to bed. Let me know what you decide and I’ll give mum a call in the morning.’
Georgina was well versed in the art of getting her own way with Adam but she had no influence on Liz. She knew that it was pointless piling on the pressure. Besides, she had been looking forward to the holiday. She had spent a small fortune on resort wear and underwear to be seen in.
‘It’s only for ten days,’ she reasoned. ‘Sasha has a mobile, I could ring up every day and check on her. It will be fine.’ She drained her glass and followed Adam up to bed.
* * *
Monica woke up ea
rly on Saturday morning with the sun streaming in through the curtains. She needed blinds. It was impossible to go back to sleep with the room so bright. She stretched out as far as her limbs would stretch and then relaxed back onto the pillow. She thought about the Easter holiday and her promise to Joanna. She must make some time to take Tammy out. She leant over the side of the bed and pulled out a shoebox. She had to adjust her position and kneel on the mattress so that she could pull the box onto the bed without falling over.
Once in place she sat cross legged with her back against the pillow and the box in front of her. She lifted the lid and looked at the photographs. There were a couple of albums and several loose photographs scattered on the top. She picked up the loose photographs and spread them over the duvet. Just as she did so she heard Tammy call out.
‘Come in,’ she shouted. A very sleepy looking Tammy walked zombie like through the door.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘I’m just reliving some memories,’ said Monica. ‘Do you want to look with me?’
Tammy walked over to the bed and saw the photographs. She just stood there for a second before climbing onto the bed next to Monica, upsetting a lot of the photographs and turning them back to front. Monica had picked one up.
‘Wow, you were such a beautiful baby,’ she said to Tammy, ‘and so good, unless I held you of course, then you would scream the house down.’
Tammy laughed and picked up another photograph. It was a picture of the three of them, Joanna, Monica and Tammy who was about four or five at the time. They were at the zoo and Tammy was playing tug-o-war with a goat who wanted her crisps.
‘Do you remember that?’
‘Mum was beautiful wasn’t she?’ Tammy was running her finger over her mother’s face.
‘Yes, she was,’ said Monica, ‘and you are so like her. She would be so proud of you.’
Tears welled up in Tammy’s eyes which made Monica cry too. Monica handed her a tissue and took one out of the box for herself. She put her arm around Tammy who let Monica hug her while they both cried.
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