by Jo Meadows
***
Sure enough, when Leo brought Georgina home, she was full of praise for him and about what a time she’d had. She’d bought a couple of new outfits including shoes and they’d had lunch in a nice restaurant. Once she’d calmed down, still not bothering to ask how David was, she said how tired she was with all the traveling and shopping.
‘I’m so glad you had a great time Mum. Did you spend much? Those outfits look fantastic. How about a fashion show? Go on try them on, let’s have a look.’
‘Don’t be silly, I’m not telling you what I spent and I’m not parading up and down for you, who do you think I am?’
‘You did it for me Georgina,’ said Leo with a wink.
‘Oh alright, give me a minute.’ As she left the room Lynnette looked across at her Dad.
‘Let her do this and then get settled, and then we’ll discuss the holiday. You never know, she might be up for it. Besides, she’s got all these new clothes; she can’t say she’s got nothing to wear. So Leo, you’ve already had your fashion show have you?’
‘Well yes of course, I had to give my opinion, didn’t I?’
After Georgina had shown them the clothes and they’d all told her how good she’d looked, Lynnette asked, ‘Mum, Leo and I have been thinking, how about you and Dad come home with us for a while? We’ve got plenty of room and it would do you both good to get away. Once we’re at our place I can chip in to help with Dad and you can have someone take care of you for a while; I’d enjoy that. Besides, Dad’s getting better all the time so he could do with a change of scenery.’
‘No, we couldn’t possibly. It’s too short-notice.’
‘Why? You don’t have any plans or appointments do you?’
‘No but -’
‘Well then, let’s do it. I can help you pack and we can go tomorrow. Emily would love to see you; she hasn’t seen her Nana for ages. Come on, why not.’
Lynnette had timed it perfectly and given her Mum no real chance to object. Before she knew it Georgina had agreed and they’d set about preparing to go. She feebly tried to throw a spanner in the works by saying David didn’t have enough of some of his medication but, a quick phone call and a trip to the doctor’s and pharmacy soon sorted that out. Over the phone, Lynnette also arranged for her Dad to visit her local doctors while he was staying with them if necessary.
The next morning, bright and early, they packed the car and before Georgina had the chance to throw in any last minute obstacles, they set off. Lynnette could see by the look on her Dad’s face, he was really happy.
Georgina on the other hand, seemed a little subdued. She’d started to realise that things had been taken out of her hands. She’d lost some of her control over David and wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She decided to see how things went and allow Lynnette to have her way for now. I can soon change all that if I don’t like it, she thought.
Chapter 20
The journey went well and although Georgina insisted they stop several times along the way, they finally arrived at Lynnette and Leo’s house without too much fuss. Leo showed Georgina and David inside and then unpacked the car, while Lynnette went to collect Emily from her friend’s around the corner.
A little later, after emotional greetings with Emily and all the unpacking was done, they sat together in the living room with coffee.
‘That wasn’t too bad was it?’ said Leo. ‘We got here quicker than I expected.’
‘That was an awful journey. Now I know why I don’t travel anymore, I hate it; all that traffic,’ said Georgina.
‘Come on Mum, it wasn’t that bad. Traffic was good considering the time. Besides, it’s about time you two came to stay with us; you’ve only been here once in years.’
‘I suppose it was alright. I just feel all rushed. This time yesterday, I’d just got back from shopping with Leon and here we are hundreds of miles away.’
‘You’re okay aren’t you Dave?’ asked Leo.
‘Oh yes, it’s great to be here and, seeing my little Munchkin is wonderful.’
‘Oh don’t go over the top David. It isn’t that long since you saw her and her name’s Emily not Munchkin.’
‘Don’t you remember, the last time Emily came to see me I was in hospital and I wasn’t exactly all there was I?’
‘Yes, you were really poorly Grandpa and I was frightened when I saw you. You look all better now though. Do you have to use those sticks?’
‘Yes, for the moment I do. I should be able to get rid of them soon though.’
‘If you worked a bit harder you’d have got rid of them by now,’ said Georgina.
‘Mum! How can you say that? I watched him the last couple of days and he’s been working really hard. He insisted on doing his exercises while you were out shopping and he did very well; things take time you know.’
‘I’m just saying,’ said her Mum. ‘You have to keep on at him or he’ll just sit there and do nothing.’ Lynnette shook her head and sighed. We’ll have our work cut out with her, she thought.
The first couple of days went by quickly with Georgina and David settling in. Emily loved having her Grandpa to stay and as soon as she came home from school, she sat with him and played cards or they read her books together. David seemed visibly relaxed compared to when Lynnette had seen him just a few days ago. When Georgina wasn’t around she asked him how he felt. He squeezed her hand and with tears in his eyes said, ‘I can’t thank you enough Lynnette, I’m really happy. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well. I feel so relaxed and comfortable here. I wish I could stay.’
‘One step at a time Dad, we still need to work out what we’re going to do. I’m glad you’re so happy; it’s the least we could do. You can stay for as long as you like you know that, but Mum will have other ideas. She probably thinks we almost tricked her into coming and I’ve no doubt she’ll be angling to go home pretty soon.’
Lynnette was right and it wasn’t long before Georgina was making comments about just that. Leo and Lynnette both worked on her however, and managed to convince her to stay with promises of shopping trips. Although, after they’d taken turns to take her out on her own several times, the novelty soon wore off, and she decided she’d had enough and stopped wanting to go out.
Things then soon started to go downhill and whenever she was staying around the house, and especially when no-one else was around, she would to pick on David. Although he worked at his exercises vigorously each day, she would laugh at his efforts and badger him to try harder. It was during one of these sessions when she was muttering and complaining about how useless he was that David had had enough and said, ‘You talk to yourself quite a lot these days don’t you?’
‘No I don’t. What on earth do you mean?’
‘I can hear you, you’re complaining about me and my exercises again. You want to try and do them, they’re quite hard work.’
‘Don’t be so stupid, why would I want to do your silly exercises? For what good they’re doing you, you might as well give up. You’re never going to get better at this rate. You’re hopeless.’
‘Nana, please don’t shout at Grandpa. He’s been poorly, I’m sure he’s trying as hard as he can.’
‘Oh hello Emily, I wasn’t shouting at him. We’re only having a bit of fun like grown-ups do. What are you doing home from school this early?’
‘We finished early because the teachers had a meeting. It sounded like you were angry at Grandpa, it didn’t sound very nice and you were shouting.’
‘Now, now young lady. Mind your manners and don’t be cheeky.’
‘Who’s being cheeky, what have you been saying Emily?’ said Lynnette walking into the room.
‘I wasn’t being cheeky Mummy, Nana was shouting at Grandpa and I just asked why she was doing it that’s all,’ said Emily looking worried.
‘What’s going on? Why were you shouting at Dad?’
‘I wasn’t shouting. We were having a bit of a laugh and I was telling your Dad to try harder at h
is exercises that’s all. It might have sounded like I was shouting, it’s nothing is it David?’
‘Well, you did raise your voice Georgina. Don’t worry Emily; no-one thinks you’re cheeky. It’s just your Nana having fun with Grandpa.’
‘Emily, why don’t you go and get changed. We can go to the park later if you like.’
‘Alright Mummy, can Grandpa come?’
‘Probably not this time but he might be able to in a few days. Off you go now.’
‘Mum, I’d like a word if you don’t mind,’ said Lynnette going to the kitchen.
‘Of course Dear,’ said her Mum as she followed her. ‘What is it?’
‘Mum, if you have a problem with anything Emily says, would you mind talking to me first? I would rather you didn’t tell her off or tell her to mind her manners, that’s my job.’
‘I didn’t tell her off, that’s a bit strong. Anyway, she had no need to say anything. I wasn’t shouting. You heard your Dad; we were just having a bit of fun.’
‘Mum, I could hear you shouting before I came in the door and Emily was ahead of me. And, I wouldn’t call her asking you not to shout at her Grandpa as being cheeky either. She even said please, I heard her.’
‘Well, you can call it shouting if you like, that’s your opinion. But, I will tell my granddaughter not to be cheeky if I think she is. I’m her elder and she should respect that.’
‘Emily spoke up because she was obviously afraid for her Grandpa. She does respect her elders but she’s been told to speak up if she thinks something is wrong. She did exactly what we’ve taught her to do. This is my house, and I will thank you not to tell her off. I’m her mother and as I’ve said that’s my job.’
‘Well it’s time you started doing your job that’s all I can say. That’s the problem these days, there’s no discipline or respect. In my day, children were seen and not heard. I would never have allowed you to speak out like she did; what a cheek!’
‘No Mother; god help anyone who would dare to speak up to you. We all know where that would get us,’ snapped Lynnette as she stormed out of the room.
‘What do you mean by that?’ shouted Georgina. ‘Come back here! Don’t you walk away from me!’
Lynnette went out to the park with Emily and while Emily played on the swings, she sat on a bench trying to decide what to do for the best. Her Mum’s behaviour was getting worse and she knew that it wouldn’t be long before things came to a head. She couldn’t sit by knowing what all this was doing to her Dad. Realising that it would be better to take her Mum to task sooner rather than later, she decided to talk to Leo when he came home.
Georgina stood in the kitchen trying to calm down. She was angry that little Emily, angelic little Emily, had questioned what she was doing and, she was furious that Lynnette thought she could lay down the law to her. Who did she think she was? If I want to teach her precious daughter a few manners, I will. It may be her house but I won’t have her talking to me in that tone.
As for David telling me I’d raised my voice. Wait till I get him on his own, I’ll show him another version of a raised voice. They all need teaching a lesson or two. I didn’t ask to come here; I don’t know why I allowed it. I knew it would be a mistake. Well, we’re going home, that’s that. I’ll wait till Leon comes home and I’ll tell them both we’re going home as soon as possible.
As she looked over at the worktop by the kitchen window, she saw a stew that Lynnette had made ready for that evening. Without giving it a second thought, she got some salt from the cupboard and stirred what amounted to several spoonsful into the stew. Feeling a little happier, she went upstairs to be alone in her room.
When Lynnette came back with Emily, she was pleased to see that her Mum wasn’t around. She went to talk to her Dad and let him know her plan for later that evening. In the living room her Dad was sitting quietly, and looking worried.
‘Are you okay Dad?’
‘Oh. Hi Lynnette. Yes I’m fine thanks. I was just going over what happened earlier.’
‘Do you know where Mum is? I don’t want her walking in on us.’
‘I think she’s upstairs in her room. She’s been there since just after you left.’
‘Good. Look Dad, I’m going to talk to her tonight when Leo’s here and after Emily’s gone to bed.’
‘Okay, it’s probably about time; I’m starting to get worried again. It was alright when we first got here but things are slowly going back to normal. I got the feeling that today, if you and Emily hadn’t come in when you did, she was going to have a real go at me. I’m sure she blames me for letting you convince her to come and stay. She isn’t happy about it and I know she wants to go home.’
‘You’re alright though aren’t you Dad? She didn’t do anything to you did she? She hasn’t hurt you?’
‘No, not yet; it’s only a matter of time though. Every time you, Leo and Emily are out, she starts getting at me and I just know that one of these times she’ll lash out. I’m scared Lynnette. I know you can’t be here all the time and I really appreciate what you’ve done for me but what are we going to do? I can’t go on like this.’
‘Well let’s see what our little discussion throws up tonight. Once she’s faced with the fact that we all know what she’s been up to she can’t just deny everything and, whether she likes it or not, she’s got to understand that this can’t carry on.’
‘She’s going to insist that we go home.’
‘I know, we can’t keep you both here indefinitely but we can lay down a few ground rules for her.’
‘Lynnette. I don’t want to go home with her. I just know that once she has me on my own, something will happen. I can’t face that. I still love her but I couldn’t go back to the way things were, not now.’
‘Alright Dad. Let me think a minute…’ Lynnette sat quietly for a few seconds. ‘How about you stay here? If Mum wants to go home she can. Once we’ve had it out with her I can tell her that you’re not prepared to go home and allow things to go back to the way they were. I won’t allow that to happen. She either stays with us or she goes home on her own.’
‘She won’t agree to that. You know she won’t be dictated to.’
‘I don’t care, she’s dictated to everyone else all her life. Let’s see how she likes it. I’ve got another idea. Would you be willing to move house and live near us?’
‘God Lynnette, I’d love that. It won’t happen though, she won’t do it.’
‘Okay, how about this for an idea? You sell your house as soon as possible and you stay here in the meantime until you find a place near here where I can visit daily. If I come in to see you every day, Mum wouldn’t dare hurt you and we can make her work on her behaviour so that she starts to treat you with some respect and dignity. An even better idea would be if we built an extension on this house. We could have a self-contained flat that you and Mum could live in. You’d be separate from us but so close that you’d be safe and we could monitor how she is with you.’
‘That would be fantastic. Still, it’s pie in the sky fantasy. She won’t do it.’
‘Dad, if you’re willing to back me up, she’ll have no choice. I know your house is in joint names but you both live almost totally off your pensions don’t you? Other than her state pension, she has no income of her own. If you decide to separate from her, and if she doesn’t accept what we’re saying that’s what this will come down to, she won’t be able to afford to live on her own. If your house was sold, she’d either have to approach the local authority at Calthorpe for a place or come and live here under our rules.’
‘What about Leo? What will he say?’
‘Trust me Dad, Leo loves you both and he would love to have you living down here near us. He agrees with me, we can’t let things carry on the way they’ve been.’
***
Everyone was subdued as they sat down to eat that evening. Saying nothing about what had happened earlier, Georgina had said that she wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want any stew. Sh
e’d opted for a sandwich that she made herself. Lynnette had managed to talk to Leo when he came in and he’d wholeheartedly agreed with her plan to get her Mum and Dad to move house.
‘Ugh Mum! This is horrible,’ said Emily. ‘What is it?’
‘What do you mean? It’s beef stew, I made it earlier. What’s wrong with it?’
‘Taste it you’ll see. Ugh.’
‘She’s right Lynnette. It tastes really salty,’ said Leo. Lynnette tasted the stew and spat it straight out.
‘How did that happen? I made it the same way as I always did.’
‘Sorry Sweetheart, but we won’t be able to eat this however it happened. What do you reckon to fish and chips? I could go and get them.’
‘I suppose you’ll have to, I don’t fancy cooking anything else right now. Emily, do you want to go with your Dad?’
‘Yes alright, but I only want fish please.’ After getting a list of what everyone wanted Leo took Emily to the chip shop, leaving Lynnette wondering how she’d messed up the stew.
After they’d eaten and Emily was all tucked up for the night, Lynnette made coffee and then told her Mum they needed to discuss a few things. Georgina said she’d planned to have an early night because she wasn’t feeling well but agreed to stay when Lynnette insisted.
’What’s so important that you need to talk now? I don’t want to discuss what happened earlier, that was all a misunderstanding. I’ve told you I don’t feel well and I’d like to go to bed so get on with it if you insist.’
‘I do insist Mum, and this is important so please pay attention. You can go to bed as soon as I’ve finished.’
‘What do you mean pay attention? Of course I’ll pay attention. If we’re going to talk, I want to say that we want you to take us home as soon as you can. We’ve enjoyed our stay but it’s time we went home.’
‘Okay, we’ll talk about that in a minute but first I’ve got other things I need to say.’ Lynnette then told her Mum that she knew about everything that had happened since her Dad had come home from hospital including the unprovoked violent outbursts and the attacks her Dad had suffered. Her Mum immediately started to protest and told David to speak up for her but Lynnette told her to shut up and listen. Georgina was taken aback by Lynnette’s aggressive tone and for once, remained quiet.