Cinnamon Gardens

by Anna Jacobs

  She smiled. Hazel had a daughter to help her and until now Winifred had had no one from the family to keep in touch with except a cheating nephew who was only after her money. Now she’d have Janey.

  And how wonderful it would be not to be always on her own, to have other people around!

  As she took another sip, another idea came to her, a very good idea, and she smiled as she drank a second toast to it.

  The following morning Janey telephoned Dawn, who had stressed that if ever she needed to talk about anything, she could come to her.

  She went to the headquarters of the charity, an old house that had been gifted to Just Girls. Here the organisers had offices and held meetings for the girls they helped. The conference room was also rented out to other groups who needed a meeting place, which helped pay the running expenses of the house.

  She stopped outside to look at the small sign by the door. Just Girls. If she ever got any spare money, she would make regular donations to this wonderful group of women. The refuge they’d created had made all the difference to her at a very traumatic time in her life. Her attacker was now behind bars, but she still had nightmares about him pursuing her. Here was where she had first found sanctuary.

  Dawn welcomed her with a hug. ‘Do sit down. You look solemn. Is there a problem?’

  ‘No, but I do want to run something past you.’ She explained about Miss Parfitt’s offer.

  Dawn looked thoughtful and it was a minute or two before she spoke. ‘Miss Parfitt is a dear, but she’s very old. What would you do if she dropped dead suddenly, or developed Alzheimer’s? You might have to move out quickly when the new owner took over. I’m assuming she’ll leave the house to someone in her family.’

  ‘I didn’t think of that.’

  She looked so upset, Dawn said quickly, ‘I’m not saying don’t do it, but there are ways of dealing with such situations. They need to be faced before you move in, not after. You should have a proper lease, for a start, one giving you at least a month to move out if anything happens to her. I’m sure Miss Parfitt won’t object to that.’

  Janey nodded. She was sure of that, too.

  ‘And it wouldn’t hurt for you to learn something about first aid, in case she has a medical crisis and needs your help.’

  ‘I’d like to do that anyway – well, if I can find someone to babysit Millie. I once thought of training as a doctor, but I knew my father would never let me do that, however good my school results were. He doesn’t believe in female doctors. I’m not at all frightened of blood or human bodies, you know. Dead people can’t harm you like the living ones do.’

  Dawn patted her hand, understanding that sentiment. ‘We’ll find you a first-aid class, then, and a babysitter, if necessary, because I think Miss Parfitt is too old to leave in charge of Millie.’

  ‘I know – and she admits that. But she says she can keep an eye on Millie while I’m in another part of the house studying or cleaning, and I’d trust her to do that. Millie already recognises her and they love one another.’

  ‘Then let me go over a few things with Miss Parfitt and make arrangements for a rental lease before you do anything. I could phone her now and then take you home on my way there, if she’s free. I know you’ve walked a good way to come here.’

  Janey smiled. ‘Thanks, but no need. I enjoy walking and it’s a cheap way of keeping fit. I have some shopping to do in town, anyway. But perhaps you could phone me after you’ve spoken to Miss – no, she wants me to call her Auntie Winnie! Isn’t that wonderful? Neither of us have relatives, so we’re making our own family together.’

  ‘That’s an excellent idea. More people should do it.’

  Dawn watched her go with tears in her eyes at this last statement. She hoped Janey hadn’t noticed. Social workers weren’t supposed to get personally involved with their clients, but there was something special about that young woman.

  She wondered if there was some way she and her co-workers could help Janey become a doctor. She’d have to look into it. What an achievement that would be, for them as well as for Janey!

  She sat for a while, still slightly worried about whether this move was a good idea. She liked both of them but Winifred was eighty-four and Janey only eighteen. That was a huge disparity in age. And as she’d tried to point out, the risks of living with an elderly person were considerable.

  Her supervisor, when she’d worked for a local council, would have vetoed this proposal very firmly, but Dawn wasn’t going to do that.

  Sometimes you had to take a chance and hope for the best, because if things went well, if Winifred continued to be in such good health for a woman of her age, even if that only lasted a year or two, there would be a lot of benefits for both her and Janey.

  Not just financial benefits, but emotional ones too. She knew from her own mother’s situation since she’d been widowed how lonely older people could get. And from her work with the charity she knew how lonely the young mothers could feel.

  In the end Dawn decided that if ever there was a time to take a chance, this was it. After all, she’d be around to keep an eye on things and help if needed. She picked up the phone. She’d check things out with Winifred and, subject to a proper lease being drawn up for Janey, she’d tell them both to go for it.

  If only all her girls could have such help with their new lives. Some of the ones Just Girls helped had had a very hard time and were still having it tough. She stretched the money and help as far as she could, but it was never enough.

  Later that day, Angus came to pick Winifred up and take her to the police station to look at photos of young men. She recognised the one who’d attacked her at once.

  The policeman seemed doubtful. ‘Are you sure, Miss Parfitt?’

  ‘Very sure. He has a sort of twist to one eyebrow. Very distinctive. And his face was quite close to me.’

  He peered at the photo again. ‘Well, if you’ll sign a statement to that effect, we’ll investigate further.’

  As Angus drove her home, she relaxed, feeling she’d done a good thing in identifying her attacker.

  Tomorrow, she promised herself, she’d make an appointment for a hearing test. The community nurse at her doctor’s would know who she should see, and if it was on the other side of town, she could get a taxi there. After all, the money her friend had left her should be coming through soon.

  How rich she’d feel! She’d be able to buy some new clothes. She did love nice things to wear. And she’d give presents to her friends. She could buy something for Janey and Dan Shackleton, and perhaps a small thank you gift for Angus.

  Life was still good and getting better. Or it would be, if these vandals would just leave her alone.

  On Saturday morning, Nick sorted out his clothes and sighed. The day had come when he’d have to do some washing.

  He went into his brother’s bedroom. ‘Do you remember what Ma told us about how to do the washing?’

  ‘Nah. I’ll think about that later.’ Steve put his headphones back on.

  Nick shook his shoulder.

  ‘What?’

  ‘We need to buy some food and some detergent to do our washing.’

  ‘I’m not into cooking. I’ll get takeaways if I get hungry. And I’m not interested in washing. I’m not out of clothes yet, so I’m not wasting my money on detergent.’ Back went the headphones.

  Nick decided to go shopping on his own and, if possible, to keep what he’d bought for himself. Steve had been mooching off him for long enough. Nick had done a few sums today. He had some savings he hadn’t told anyone about, but he didn’t want to touch that money. He couldn’t afford to keep buying meals out and if he couldn’t get the hang of cooking, well, he could always buy bread and make sandwiches.

  The trouble was, if he got some food in, Steve would ‘borrow’ it. And not put anything back in its place.

  His younger brother wasn’t the ideal flatmate and Nick had quickly started wishing he’d gone in with someone else or rented a bedsit on
his own.

  But Ma had paid their deposit for this place as a farewell present, and paid the first two weeks’ rent as well, so that they could move out several days before she left for England. She had wanted him to keep an eye on Steve, he knew, but that was harder than she realised.

  He had a sudden idea and studied the door of his bedroom. It was old-fashioned, like the whole building, a solid core door. It’d be easy to put a lock on it, and if he always wore the key on a chain round his neck he’d not lock himself out. He ought to ask the owner’s permission but that’d take time, so he was just going to chance it.

  He had a few tools that had belonged to his grandfather and he’d brought them with him. If he could just remember where he’d put them … He got his boxes out from under the ancient single bed and five minutes later let out a yell of triumph. There the tools were.

  So he went out, the first time he’d done any serious shopping on his own. In the supermarket he put some bananas in his trolley. Fruit was good for you, right? He grabbed a bag of apples as well, then went to the frozen foods section, where he studied the ready meals.

  ‘They’re cheats,’ a voice said next to him.

  He turned to see a girl, not beautiful, but easy on the eye with nice brown shoulder-length hair. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I tried the ready meals when I first got my own flat. They look good on the box, but they’re tiny portions when you open them up. You’d be better buying a steak or chop, a roll and some salad. Anyone can cook a steak and butter a roll.’

  ‘Thanks. Good idea.’ He wanted to keep talking to her, so he added, ‘This is my first time shopping for myself.’

  ‘I guessed from the expression on your face. Did your parents chuck you out of the nest or did you fly of your own accord?’

  He could feel himself flushing in embarrassment. ‘Ma pushed us out.’

  She patted his arm. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. My mum was the opposite. She didn’t want me to leave. Your mother was probably being cruel to be kind. Guys are harder to dislodge.’

  ‘It’s cruel, all right. I’m hopeless at looking after myself and I don’t know where to begin with food. You wouldn’t … help me do some basic shopping, would you? I’ll buy you a coffee afterwards as a thank you.’

  She studied him, head on one side. He must have passed some sort of test because she nodded. ‘OK. I’m Carla Baldino, by the way.’

  ‘Nick Vincent.’ He offered his hand and she shook it. Her skin felt nice, soft and warm against his. He didn’t want to let go.

  She flushed slightly and tugged her hand away, pointing to the fresh stuff. ‘This is not only good for you, it’s cheap and easy to deal with.’

  He didn’t tell her he wasn’t into vegetables, because he didn’t want to upset her. She pointed and he obediently loaded his trolley. Then something occurred to him. ‘Oh, no. I can’t take this much home, or my brother will pinch it out of the fridge. He’s a lazy slob.’

  She looked thoughtful. ‘Well … My flatmate has just chucked out an old booze fridge. It’s sitting on the kerb waiting for the council pickup. It works OK, but it looks a real mess, with dents and rusty patches. If no one’s taken it, you could grab it and keep it in your room. Well, you could if you fitted a lock on the door.’

  ‘Brill! I owe you a pastry with your coffee for that. Let’s go and check out the fridge.’

  ‘We need to pay for this food. And didn’t you say something about doing the washing?’

  ‘Oh. Yes.’

  ‘You’ll need detergent, then.’

  It astounded him how much the bill came to, even though he’d not bought anything extravagant.

  ‘Shall we go in my car?’ he asked.

  ‘No. I’ll follow you.’

  It was sensible really. He could be a serial killer for all she knew. But he hoped he wouldn’t lose sight of her in the traffic. He should have got her address.

  He didn’t lose her and she didn’t try to get away from him, either. That was hopeful. Wasn’t it? He hadn’t met a girl he liked this much in ages … well, actually, never before. She seemed a bit special.

  He hoped she liked the look of him.

  The fridge was still there, looking about a million years old, but if it worked what did that matter? Carla helped him lift it into his car. She was fit and toned, moving easily.

  ‘Would you trust me enough to come in my car and help me carry it into my place? Then I’ll buy you that coffee. I’ll drive you back here afterwards, I promise.’

  Another long scrutiny, then, ‘OK.’

  He felt as if he’d passed some sort of test again. He beamed at her.

  She smiled back. Lovely smile, she had.

  To Nick’s relief, Steve wasn’t at home. The kitchen looked like a whirlwind had hit it. ‘I’m sorry. I did tidy it up a bit this morning and I was going to do the washing-up after I got back, only my brother must have been on the hunt for food.’ Spilt milk, flakes of cereal, crumbs, an open jar of jam. Didn’t Steve ever pick anything up or put it away?

  When Nick opened the door to his bedroom, it looked a mess, but it wasn’t half as bad as the rest of the flat, and at least his dirty clothes were neatly piled on the end of the bed. ‘I’d got as far as sorting stuff out to wash when I realised we didn’t have any detergent,’ he explained.

  Carla leant against the door frame, arms folded, looking disapproving. ‘Well, you’re not a total pig, at least.’

  She helped him get the fridge inside, then grinned. ‘I bet you’ve never washed clothes before.’

  ‘You’d win the bet. Um, you couldn’t …’

  ‘Help you do the washing? No. Give you instructions, yes. But you will be doing it. I don’t do washing for guys. Your mother should have given you lessons before she chucked you out.’

  ‘Ma tried. We didn’t listen. I wish I had now.’

  ‘Can’t you go back to her for advice?’

  ‘She’s gone off to England.’

  ‘With your dad?’

  ‘They’re divorced. Have been since I was little.’

  ‘Ah. Well, I’ll take pity on you, then. We’ll get the food into the fridge first, then you can start on the washing.’

  It turned out to be fun and afterwards the coffee turned into them making lunch at his flat from some of the stuff he’d bought. Another lesson. She was right. Salads were easy.

  When she looked at her watch, he screwed up his courage to ask, ‘Are you seeing anyone?’

  ‘No. But I’ve got a weekend job in a bar and I don’t want to be late.’

  ‘Would you … come out with me sometime?’

  ‘Yes.’ She grinned. ‘You sounded nervous then. Am I so frightening?’

  ‘No. But it was important.’

  ‘Oh.’

  She looked pleased, then she frowned and waggled one finger at him. ‘I’m still not cooking or washing for you. I’m not your mummy. I will help you shop, though, and give you advice. You’re a grown-up. You ought to be able to look after yourself.’

  Put like that, it seemed ridiculous that a grown man couldn’t see to his own needs. The idea had never struck him so strongly.

  Nick drove her back to her flat and when he came home he finished washing his clothes and used the dryer because it was raining. Then he laboriously ironed his shirts and folded up his t-shirts and other tops. As Carla had pointed out, you’d be stupid to let them get crumpled when you’d just washed them.

  After that he nipped out to the hardware store and bought a lock for his bedroom door. Made a good job of fitting it too, if he said so himself. He liked doing little jobs around the house.

  Which proved he wasn’t completely helpless.

  He stared at himself in the mirror. His hair needed cutting and unshaven wasn’t the best look for his face.

  He hadn’t realised how much there was to sort out if you lived on your own. And he was only one person.

  For the first time it occurred to him to wonder how the hell hi
s mother had coped all those years with three children and no practical help from their father?

  Why hadn’t they helped her more?

  Even his father helped his second wife around the house these days. Well, Jenny was much stronger than Ma and didn’t let him get away with a thing.

  There was still no sign of Steve coming home. What would he say to the lock and eating separately? Nick looked at the clock. He was getting a bit worried about his brother’s new friends.

  More important, would his brother have the rent money this week? It’d be the first time they had to pay it themselves.

  Nick decided to get it out of him before the idiot spent it on booze. Or worse.

  Chapter Seven

  Nell parked her new car next to the house, got out and studied the vehicle approvingly. Bright yellow wasn’t her favourite colour for a car, but it was supposed to be the safest colour of car to drive. Or so Nick had once told her. She’d bought it because of its reasonable price and modest size, not because of the colour, and because it was an automatic.

  She’d not enjoyed changing gear manually on her hire car and was glad the company would be picking it up this afternoon. Well worth the extra money not to have to drive it somewhere and then get herself back here somehow.

  She kept wondering how her sons were going on. They’d probably have turned the flat into a pigsty by now, knowing them.

  Wait till they ran out of clothes! She wished she could be a fly on the wall when they did their first load of washing. She’d tried to teach them how to sort and wash things before she left, but they’d only said, ‘Yeah, yeah!’ and gone glassy-eyed, so she’d dropped the subject.

  She’d sent all three sons an email yesterday from the local library, telling them she’d arrived safely and promising more information when she got online again. She’d ended with an outright lie: ‘I’m loving it here in my tiny cottage.’ She didn’t want them to think she had any spare bedrooms.

  Thank goodness she didn’t need to worry about Robbie. He’d always been the sensible one and Linda didn’t put up with any laziness from him.