The Winter We Met

by Samantha Tonge

  Gran stared. ‘When did this happen?’

  ‘Saturday night.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me immediately?’

  ‘I wasn’t sure what to do for the best.’

  Gran’s cheeks coloured up. ‘I had a right to know.’

  ‘That woman has messed our lives up enough and we’ve got this move to deal with. I didn’t want—’

  ‘You didn’t think I could cope?’ Gran snorted. ‘I may be upset about Willow Court’s closure but that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my backbone. Is that how you see me? As weak, some sort of pathetic pensioner you are duty-bound to help?’

  ‘No! Of course n—’

  ‘In case you’ve forgotten, it’s been me looking out for you all these years. Who sorted out those girls bullying you in Year 8 when the teachers did nothing? Who worked more than one job at a time to pay the bills? That’s saying nothing about how I kept bailing out your mum until I realised that was just making her easier to do what she wanted. I had to draw on strength I didn’t know I had to slowly let go. But now, years later, she finally gets in touch again and you decide it’s none of my business. Were you not going to tell me at all?’

  ‘I just needed to think about it, Gran, and find the right moment.’

  ‘What if that hadn’t arrived?’ Gran took her gloves out of her bag. ‘You know, I’m tired of feeling powerless – and now I realise that’s partly my own fault.’ She sat straighter. ‘I’ve been wallowing in self-pity. I’ve lost sight of who I am.’ She pushed back her chair. ‘I’ll be catching a taxi home.’

  ‘Don’t be silly.’

  She gave me a sharp look. ‘Please forward that email to me immediately,’ she said stiffly. ‘And I’ll deal with Darkthorn House on my own, from this point forwards.’ Unsteadily, she stood up. Looking a little confused, the waitress hurried over with her coat and helped her into it. Banging into a chair as she went, Gran shuffled outside, into the rain.

  33

  Gran hadn’t spoken to me since Monday. I’d phoned but she didn’t reply, so I texted, asking how she was. A two-word message came back: Okay thanks. I didn’t look up when someone walked past me in the darkness outside Willow Court and their large bag banged against my leg. I hardly noticed the frosty air as I mulled over the chill between me and Gran. However as I approached the entrance loud voices jolted me back to the present. The door was held open by a man in overalls as two others carried the gorgeous welsh dresser that stood at the back of the dining room. Residents loved it, with its display of decorative plates.

  ‘But I’ve made it quite clear to head office that no more removals are to take place until all the residents have moved out,’ said Lynn. She was pacing to and fro. ‘You can’t take that. It’s not right.’

  ‘Sorry, love, we’re only following orders,’ said the man holding the door, in a gruff voice. He was texting with one hand into his phone.

  ‘This is people’s lives,’ she said and looked at her watch. ‘It’s half past six. Head office won’t be open now. They’ve done this on purpose.’

  ‘We got held up in traffic.’

  I stepped aside as the Welsh dresser was carried past. I hadn’t even noticed the large van parked up outside.

  Helplessly Lynn looked on. ‘Jess. Come in.’ I hurried indoors, welcomed by Bing Crosby’s crooning. Lynn marched up to the man and grasped the door handle. ‘Well, that’s your lot for this evening. I’m ringing head office first thing. Now bugger off.’ She yanked the door and pulled it close. We stood behind it and looked through the glass, Lynn glaring until he shook his head and left.

  ‘They didn’t even ask to see me,’ she muttered. ‘I’d just been checking a leak in one of the bathrooms, the emergency plumber hasn’t turned up. I came back for the crafting session and those men were already here, door wide open, carrying out a box of the decorative plates.’ She glanced into the lounge. ‘Nik and Oliver said they’d keep everyone busy – try to lessen the blow.’ I glanced at the entrance’s silver Christmas tree with colourful fairy lights, twinkling intermittently. Lynn had been working so hard to give Willow Court an air of normality.

  Oliver had managed to find thirty suitable sized stones in Springhaye Forest and was bringing them tonight, after cleaning them. He’d texted Nik who’d been chuffed. He’d got back from Paris last night. I’d had to stay a bit later, at work, to help with a stocktake. For a Wednesday we’d been surprisingly busy. I loved watching children becoming more excited as the season of Santa approached and was feeling more confident with the window displays. Our latest idea was one based around the theme of carol singing, with fake snow on the ground and toy dolls and plushies wearing beanie hats and standing around in a circle. We’d printed out sheet music and attached it to their hands. Then in the window we’d also placed our stock related to instruments such as a penny whistle, harmonica and a mini battery-run piano for toddlers. After that I was going to put Seb in sole charge of creating a new display – not to save myself work, but because he’d been brimming with ideas and deserved the opportunity. In fact, Angela had taken me to one side and said that showed true management skills. She said delegation was important but was also about making staff feel valued.

  After those words I’d felt as if I was floating on air. Jess Jagger was a manager. Responsible. Independent. With Gran and Angela’s support I’d been able to achieve the most important things I’d ever wanted.

  Lynn headed off to find Betty. She had a scheduled video call with her daughter. Radiator heat and radiant smiles welcomed me into the lounge– along with a bark from Buddy who was with Nik as Oliver set out the stones on a table. I couldn’t see Gran. Nik crossed the room.

  ‘How was Paris? And Si Tu Veux?’ I asked. My heart leapt a little. As Pan might say, he was so dashing. His striking looks and infectious charm had swept me away, on the plane. It was time for my feet to settle properly back on terra firma and forget about my love life for the moment. There was no time for getting close to a man – apart from Buddy. I crouched down to stroke him properly, took the lead and then stood up. Nik told me about Si Tu Veux’s range of toys and the interesting chat he’d had with the manager.

  ‘I don’t need to visit any more stores,’ he said. ‘I’m coming to a decision about how Junior Magic might expand its customer base. I just need to research that a little more online. I video-called my colleague Lachlan this morning. He’s finishing up the southern Europe leg of our research trip, in Italy, and likes my idea so is going to look into it as well. My neighbour, Rob, is lending me a spare laptop for the rest of my stay.’ His face lit up. ‘Hold on a moment – I almost forgot.’ He went over to his coat that lay on another table, next to the one covered in stones. Seconds later he was back, one hand behind his back.

  ‘Close your eyes,’ he said.

  ‘Nik. We’ve been here before. You’re not holding a jar of Vegemite, are you?’ I did as I was told and felt long fingers open up my hands. He placed a box in them.

  ‘Wow. Mini bronze statues? I love the dog and the horse. And that frog is adorable.’

  ‘Awesome, aren’t they? They’re actually chocolate and handmade by one of France’s top chocolatiers. They had a section in a big department store I visited.’

  I kissed him on the cheek, surprised to feel… nothing much. ‘They look too good to eat.’

  ‘I’d better polish them off then,’ he said and reached for the lid.

  I grinned and put the box onto a nearby chair.

  ‘Did Alice like Darkthorn House? How’s everything going with her? Are you going to contact your mum?’

  ‘I told Gran on Monday about the email. It was a huge shock. Hopefully I’ll find out today what she wants to do…’ I didn’t feel up to talking about our fallout. Buddy pulled at his lead, tail wagging furiously. I followed his gaze and gasped.

  ‘Is that a King Charles Spaniel puppy asleep on Phyllis’s lap? She’s not even fiddling with her activity apron. I’ve never seen her so relaxed.’

&n
bsp; ‘It’s just something I spotted in a department store.’

  ‘It’s not real?’

  ‘No – it’s an electronic breathing pet made especially for dementia patients. I had to walk through that part of the store to get to the toy section. It’s meant to be especially beneficial for those sufferers who are restless. I remembered that Phyllis used to run boarding kennels. They had an offer on, so…’

  ‘That’s so lovely. She’s never looked happier.’

  Oliver came over. ‘Could I have a quick word with you both?’ he said and we followed him into the corridor. Lynn hurried past and went into the lounge.

  ‘I just wanted Jess here, Nik, whilst I apologise to you whole-heartedly.’ He rolled up his sleeves of his lumberjack shirt.

  Nik’s brow furrowed. ‘What for?’

  ‘That’s decent of you to pretend you don’t know. I… I haven’t been exactly friendly. I’ve been suspicious of your intentions towards Jess and Glenda and I’m not proud of it.’

  ‘Oliver, mate – it’s okay. I understand.’

  ‘You do?’

  He looked from him to me for a moment. ‘Sure, I’m a stranger from the other side of the planet. You wouldn’t be a good friend to Jess if you weren’t looking out for her. It’s a cynical old world out there that’s made us wary. I get it. But cheers for the apology. It takes a certain kind of person to accept they’ve made a mistake.’

  ‘Right. Um, thanks… I’d like to explain…You see, I’ve never told you this, Jess. I couldn’t face it when I first moved in as the wounds were still raw, but meeting Krish…’ He looked at Nik. ‘A woman I’ve recently got to know… it’s helped me open up because she’s in business and understands.’

  Didn’t he think I would?

  ‘I used to part-own a bar in Birmingham. I’d saved up. Money left to me by my grandparents helped. I went into partnership with a man who’d got a business degree. He had the intellectual know-how – I had the practical experience, have worked in bars since I left school… much to my parents’ horror.’

  ‘They didn’t approve?’ asked Nik.

  ‘No. They are – or were, before they took early retirement – high flyers at the Foreign Office. Looking back, I think I rebelled against that and swore I wouldn’t go to university, but as it happens that meant I fell into a career that I love. The business went from strength to strength very quickly. It was a relief as I invested everything I had into it. Three years in and we were making good money. Birmingham has the youngest population out of all the major European cities – forty per cent of people living there are aged under twenty-five. We struck gold, managing to appeal to both the huge number of university students and working locals.’

  ‘What went wrong?’ I asked.

  ‘Josh swindled me, embezzling money once the business was doing well, and doctoring the accounts. I’d signed paperwork blindly over the years, thinking I could trust him. Turned out I couldn’t. He just disappeared one day and never came back. I didn’t have much legal redress because of how he’d stitched me up with the contract. I felt so stupid.’

  ‘Oh Oliver, poor you.’

  ‘Gee, mate, that’s terrible.’

  ‘He wasn’t unlike you,’ said Oliver. ‘Tall. A way with words. So friendly. He acted as if he’d do anything for anybody. I guess you being you pressed alarm bells.’

  ‘If it’s any consolation, I have no intellectual power when it comes to business – Lachlan takes care of the more complicated paperwork.’ He clapped Oliver on the back. ‘You’ve done well to come out the other side of this and not be so bitter that you couldn’t get on with your life. As someone who’s part of an independent family business I couldn’t be more sympathetic.’

  Nik nodded as Oliver made some comment about male pride and explained how the police investigation never got anywhere.

  ‘I hope that explains why I’ve been cool with you,’ said Oliver. ‘It’s no excuse but…’ He held out his hand. ‘Friends?’

  Nik hesitated then grabbed his fingers and pulled him close for a hug. I could have laughed at Oliver’s surprised face.

  ‘No worries. It’s already forgotten,’ said Nik. ‘Well, almost – how about you shout me a couple of sherry cocktails in Misty’s some time?’ He winked and went back into the lounge as Glenda called his name.

  I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how tough that must have been for you,’ I said.

  He shrugged. ‘Just as bad was how I felt it must have confirmed, in my parents’ eyes, that I was a loser.’

  ‘Did they say that?’

  ‘No, but at the time they were so wrapped up in their idea of living in France, we hardly spoke about what happened and it was as if that suited them. Krish is the first person I’ve spoken to about it for years.’ He ran a hand through his tawny crew cut. ‘Have you seen Alice yet? Has she had enough time to digest the news about your mum?’

  I went to reply but Lynn appeared, her face drawn and white.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked.

  ‘I can’t believe this has happened. We’ve never lost a resident before.’ Lynn wrung her hands. ‘It’s Betty – she’s gone missing.’

  34

  Fifteen minutes later Lynn, Nik, Oliver and I met again by the entrance. We’d swept through the building discreetly checking for Betty, just to be sure she wasn’t inside. Between us we’d searched the corridors, the treatment rooms, dining room and kitchens, and the laundry area.

  ‘She can’t have gone far,’ I said.

  ‘We have a protocol for this,’ said Lynn. ‘I’ve never had to use it before. First of all, I must organise a search of the grounds, front and back. If she isn’t there, that’s when I phone the police.’

  We spoke in low voices and I glanced into the lounge. Fortunately, everyone was busy making Christmas tree decorations and crackers, with other care workers in there to look after those who needed help.

  ‘Come on Nik, get your coat. Lynn, you wait here in case there is news – us three will check the grounds. I’m sure we’ll find her.’

  There was something about Oliver’s voice that made me feel we’d resolve this. I’d noticed it before when anything went wrong: a lost purse, a flooded kitchen…

  ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ A tear trickled down Lynn’s cheek. ‘I should have been down here. I should have thought that one of the confused residents might have gone out whilst those damn removal men were here – especially Betty. To walk out of those doors is what she’s been wanting for months. Maybe that’s what has happened. What if she gets hypothermia or is hit by a car and—’

  ‘Lynn, this is nothing to do with you,’ I said as the men disappeared to get their coats. ‘Those blokes turned up and bent all the rules about safety. If she did get out whilst they were here you couldn’t have done anything about that or foreseen this. Willow Court couldn’t want for a better or more efficient warden.’

  ‘Well said.’ Oliver was back and pulling on his jacket.

  ‘What was she wearing when you last saw her?’ asked Nik.

  ‘Her usual – the raincoat. Slippers. Carrying her bag.’

  ‘Oh God… I wish I’d looked up. I had a lot on my mind and didn’t really pay attention when I came tonight,’ I said. ‘As I approached the entrance a passer-by almost knocked into me and their bag banged my legs.’

  Lynn’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘You think that could have been Betty?’

  ‘Well, you said you weren’t here when the removal men first arrived – who knows how long that door had been held open?’

  ‘She had her slippers on, you’d think they’d have noticed, although the man outside was on his phone for most of the time.’ Lynn shook her head. ‘I’m absolutely furious. Just wait until head office hear about this.’ She exhaled. ‘But getting angry can wait, first we need to find her. It’s dark out there, goodness knows…’

  Nik placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘Oliver’s right. Us three will bring her back.’

  Lynn wi
ped her eyes with her sleeve and disappeared into the office. She came back carrying three torches and a space blanket. ‘These have been packed away in case of an emergency like this.’ She handed out the torches. I squeezed her arm, thinking I’d heard Gran’s voice in the lounge. She must have gone in whilst I’d been looking in the laundry area.

  I passed Lynn Buddy’s lead. ‘He’ll be fine with Gran or Alf. I’ll keep you posted with texts and try not to worry Lynn.’

  We headed outside and scouted the grounds, looking behind trees – and bushes, just in case she’d fallen.

  ‘I’ve found nothing,’ Oliver said, out of breath, in front of the entrance again.

  ‘Me neither.’

  Nik shook his head.

  ‘Okay. She must have gone into town.’ I texted Lynn as we walked to the edge of Willow Court’s entrance. Frost was already forming. We stood on the high street and I took out my phone again. ‘I’ll ask Lynn if she knows Betty’s old home address. She used to be local. Perhaps it’s within walking distance.’

  ‘Fred once said she used to love going to The Silver Swan for lunch when she first moved in – the two of them would go together, before her dementia got worse. We should look there,’ said Oliver. ‘She could have ended up in the beer garden.’

  He and Nik hurried off to the pub. Lynn’s phone was engaged, so I texted about Betty’s previous home address. I shivered and zipped my coat up higher. Without gloves and a hat Betty would be freezing. The men ran back, stopped when they got to me and stood panting.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Oliver as his chest heaved up and down. ‘She’s not out the back and the landlord hasn’t seen her inside but checked everywhere, even upstairs in his private quarters.’