By the time Mia was due to return, there’d been no let-up in the hot weather. Because of Furzewell’s situation in a valley surrounded by the rolling Devon hills, it sometimes felt as if there was no breath of air in the village at all. It would have been cooler on the coast, but I could just imagine how crowded all the beaches would be, and at least in the garden of Eagle House we had some shade from the trees. Mum and I were worried about Gran, who was finding the higher temperatures of the afternoons completely exhausting and had taken to going to bed for a nap, with the curtains drawn against the sun and a fan going in her bedroom.
‘It’s the best thing she can do, while it’s so warm,’ Mum tried to reassure me. ‘We just need to keep nagging her to drink lots of water.’
I had similar concerns about Smartie who, as soon as he’d started to recover from his injury, was missing his walks, becoming mischievous again because he was probably bored.
‘The trouble is,’ I explained to Gran, when I visited her on the morning before Mia was due back, ‘he can’t go for walks till he’s had the stitches out. And anyway, it would be too hot for him. Even in the garden, all he wants to do is lie down in the shade or go indoors for a drink of water.’
‘I know how he feels,’ Gran complained. ‘I haven’t got an ounce of energy. Can’t be bothered to do anything, but I’m bored to tears just sitting here with the curtains drawn.’
‘Why don’t you come round to Eagle House for a few days? I can pick you up in the car to save you walking round there, and you’d at least be able to talk to Mum and me, and see Mia when she comes back.’
For a second, I thought she looked tempted. But then she shook her head.
‘No, thank you. I know your mum thinks I’m too old and feeble to live here on my own—’
‘No, Gran, that’s not what we’re saying. It’s just that this weather is a bit exceptional. You can’t do the things you’d normally do. It’s not safe for you to be outside in the heat.’
‘It’s all right. I’ll stay put, thank you very much, even if that silly old man over the back does drive me mad playing his bloody vampire films, or whatever they are, all night when people are trying to get to sleep.’
‘Is he still doing that?’ I sighed. ‘Shall I have another word? Ask him to turn the volume down again?’
‘No, don’t bother, Nicky. I don’t want to remind him that he wanted me to go and watch one of the damned things with him. As if I’d be interested,’ she huffed.
‘Well, if it goes on, I’ll mention it to what’s-her-name – the warden. She can talk to him.’
‘Huh. Fat lot of good Lazy Lizzie would do. Waste of space, she is.’
‘OK.’ I felt at a loss. Nothing I could say seemed to be cheering her up. ‘Well, look, keep drinking the water, won’t you. And call us if you think of anything else you need from the shop. You know Mum would prefer to cook for you—’
‘Who needs to eat, in this weather? A slice of toast is all I want.’
‘You’re worrying me now,’ I said. ‘Please look after yourself Gran or you will have to come to Eagle House.’
‘Sorry,’ she conceded. ‘I’m being an old misery, aren’t I? Go on, thanks for coming round, love. Bring Mia round to see me tomorrow when she’s back, won’t you. I want to hear all about her holiday, and what that damned fool Josh has wasted his money on this time.’
It wasn’t like Gran to criticise Josh. She’d been very careful up till now to keep her opinions about him to herself. I walked home slowly, worrying about her not eating, getting dehydrated, being frustrated and bored, and not getting enough sleep. I stopped off at the shop to update Mum.
‘I’ll take her some fruit – strawberries and grapes – when I’ve finished here, and some ham and salad, and maybe a bottle of that sparkling apple drink she likes,’ she said. ‘She just needs encouragement to eat and drink properly.’
‘I’m hoping it’ll cheer her up to see Mia tomorrow,’ I said.
And of course it did, but not as much as it cheered me up!
‘She enjoyed absolutely everything about the holiday,’ Josh said when he accompanied her to the door of Eagle House, carrying her suitcase. ‘She’s even learned a few words of Spanish. She can’t wait to show them off to you.’
‘Hola! Comó estás?’ Mia squealed excitedly. Her face and arms glowed, but only a gentle light golden colour. Josh had evidently taken the sun cream rules seriously. ‘Mummy, I had paella! It was yummy! And we went to this water park, it had the biggest water slide ever, and Daddy put me on his lap to come down it the first time, but the second time I came down on my own. It was amazing!’
I hugged her so tight that she eventually struggled free, laughing.
‘It does sound amazing,’ I said. ‘I can’t wait to hear all about it. Come in, let’s put your case out of the way. Nanny’s waiting to hear your news too. Go in and say hello.’ I turned to Josh. ‘Thank you,’ I said stiffly, still unable to help a slightly resentful tone to my voice, despite being assaulted again by the memory of his unexpected words when he’d picked her up for the holiday. ‘It sounds like she’s had a brilliant time.’
‘No worries.’ To be fair, he sounded a little awkward himself. ‘I’m just sorry that … well, you know.’ He shrugged, looked down at his feet. ‘Never mind, no point going into it now.’
‘Into what?’
‘Regrets,’ he said, meeting my eyes for a moment and then looking away. ‘Too late, isn’t it? Anyway, I’ll pick her up as usual for the weekend after next.’
‘No, we’ll be in Cornwall, remember? Probably won’t be back till the Saturday night. You agreed to skip that one—’
‘Oh yes, of course.’ I’d half expected a protest, but instead he just said, to my surprise, ‘I hope you have a nice time, then. Bye, Mia!’ he shouted into the house, where I could hear her chattering away to Mum about the water park and the paella.
‘Mia!’ I called. ‘Daddy’s going! Come and say goodbye.’
‘It’s all right, Nic,’ he said. ‘I’ve had her for ten days. Let her catch up with her nan.’
He walked back to the car, where I could see Sue and Steve waving. I waved back, watched the car disappearing down the road, but still I stood on the doorstep, staring after it. I felt an unexpected pang in my heart – but then I turned back to go into the house, quickly.
He was right, I told myself sternly – it was too late for regrets. As he’d said himself, holidays in Lanzarote were never going to make up for all those years he wasn’t there for Mia. I slammed the door shut and went back inside to cuddle and chat some more to my daughter. She might have had a nice holiday with Josh, but now she was home. And her home was with me.
CHAPTER 28
Because of Smartie’s healing leg, I wasn’t joining the dog walks that week, and it continued to be so hot and sticky that I wasn’t sorry. Mum had bought a paddling pool for the garden, and each morning I set this up in the shade, filled it with cool water, and Mia was happy jumping in and out of it for most of the day – Smartie often joining her to splash around in the water, shake himself all over her and make her giggle. Eddie was in Cornwall with his grandparents, Louise was working, and I split my time between housework, gardening and visiting Gran to make sure she was coping with the heat.
I began to wonder if I’d ever hear from Craig again. Now that I’d resolved to stop worrying about Josh, perhaps Craig was already tired of me! I thought about calling him or texting him, but as he’d warned me he was going to have a busy week with work, I didn’t think that would be the right thing to do. And then – the day before we were due to go to Cornwall – he finally called.
‘Sorry it’s been a while,’ he said breezily. ‘Work’s been horrendous. I haven’t even had time to join the dog walkers; Judy’s just had to put up with a quick run around the block every night before I fall into bed exhausted.’
‘Oh, I haven’t been for the walks, either.’ I explained about Smartie’s injury, and filled him in
with the latest news about the playground equipment. I’d only heard that morning that the council had indeed panicked when they received Mr Brent’s letter, and their workmen were in the process of dismantling the equipment even as we spoke.
‘That’s brilliant news,’ Craig agreed. ‘Sorry to hear about Smartie hurting himself, of course, but at least we’ll be rid of that eyesore before the day of the pet show.’
‘Yes, exactly.’
‘So: I was wondering if you’d like to come round for dinner tomorrow night. I’ll cook for you. It’s one of my many talents. If it’s still hot like this, we can eat outside on the terrace.’
‘Oh, Craig, I’d love to, but I’m off to Cornwall tomorrow morning. Louise has invited me and Mia to stay at her mum’s place for a week, with her and Eddie.’
‘Oh yes – you did mention that, sorry. But that means I’ve got to live without you for another week. God, the only thing that’s kept me going all this time I’ve been working like a dog was the thought of seeing you again.’
‘Really?’ I smiled to myself.
‘Yes, and I can’t make tonight, unfortunately. My parents have come down from Bath, and I haven’t seen them for a while, so I’ve got to make an effort.’
‘Of course. Don’t worry. I’ll definitely see you when I get back.’
‘OK, I’ll be looking forward to it. Have a great time in Cornwall.’
I couldn’t stop smiling after I ended the call. I was almost wishing I wasn’t going away the next day, the thought of being with Craig at his apartment was so tempting. Sitting outside with him, enjoying dinner and perhaps some wine, and then … whatever came afterwards…
I got to my feet, giving myself a little shake, and went outside to take the washing off the line. I needed to pack our bags for Cornwall. I was going to have a lovely, lovely week with my little girl, my new friend and her son. Craig, and his apartment, and his cooking skills (and the other talents he’d hinted at) would still be waiting for me when we came home!
Leaving Smartie in Mum’s care, we were travelling down to Cornwall early in the morning, to avoid the heat of the day and be ahead of the holiday traffic coming from up-country. Mia was awake early anyway, bouncing around with excitement about her second holiday.
‘It won’t be quite like Lanzarote,’ I warned her.
‘I know,’ she said, falling quiet for a moment and giving me a sad look. ‘Because Daddy won’t be there.’
‘True,’ I said, and thought better of adding anything else. ‘Come on then. Say goodbye to Nanny and bring your bag out to the car.’
We picked up Louise – there was no point taking two cars – and the three of us sang along to happy holiday songs for the whole journey, which was mercifully short and trouble-free. Louise’s mother’s home was beautiful: a modern, chalet-style house with four bedrooms and a lovely lawned garden sloping down towards the sea. Charles and Anne were welcoming and generous hosts, refusing to allow Louise or me to do anything much in terms of helping with the catering.
‘It makes a lovely change for us to have company,’ Anne assured me, as Mia and Eddie, excited to be reunited, ran off to play. ‘And I can’t tell you how pleased we are that Louise and Eddie have made such good friends. From what she tells us, you and Mia have been absolute lifesavers for them.’
I laughed. ‘Trust me, the reverse is just as true. The change in Mia since she’s been friends with Eddie is unbelievable.’
I’d still been putting off talking to Mia about the fact that Eddie was going to be in a different class when they went back for the autumn term. I needed to do it, and couldn’t afford to wait much longer. But in the meantime, we had a week at the seaside to enjoy. The beach was a quiet, sandy cove, and the weather remained warm and sunny, but with the benefit of a cooling breeze off the ocean. The kids played outside all day every day, running, jumping, swimming, building things in the sand, hunting for shells and fishing for crabs. Despite the enforced wearing of sunhats, Eddie’s fair hair had bleached to a startling blond, and even Mia had golden highlights in her dark curls. Every day, Anne and Charles insisted we left the children in their care for an hour or so – it would have been hard for us to force them away from the beach – and Louise and I went for a walk along the coast path, or drove into the nearest town to get some shopping, or just strolled to the little café on the top of the cliff for a quiet coffee and a chat.
The week passed peacefully but quickly, and by the time we eventually loaded up the car again to drive home, we were all feeling relaxed, rested and ready to face the world again.
‘Back to work on Monday,’ Louise said. ‘Are you sure you’re still OK to have Eddie again, Nic?’
‘Positive. You’ve seen for yourself how well they occupy each other. I don’t have to do a thing when they’re together.’
‘Well, at least there’s only a week and a half left of the school hols. They go back on the Thursday of the following week, don’t they?’
‘Yes. And the Monday is bank holiday, of course. The pet show.’ I felt suddenly shaky with nerves, just talking about it. Were we ready? I had no idea.
‘Oh yes, of course! I’m really looking forward to it.’
Louise would be one of the helpers at the park gate, selling programmes. I’d be busy, with some of the others, shepherding pets and their owners to the right places at the right time. Simon would be in charge of the public address system.
‘It feels like we’ve been planning it for ages,’ I said now. ‘I can’t believe it’s only next week.’
And we really, really, needed it to be a success. And for it not to rain!
The next day, Sunday, I was sorting washing into piles when I heard Mia talking. At first, I thought she must be chatting to Mum, but when I put my head around the door I saw she was lying on the floor with Smartie, stroking his ears as she told him all about her holiday in Cornwall. I smiled as I watched her, remembering how I’d shared all my secrets with our dog when I was a child myself.
‘I didn’t want to come home,’ she was telling Smartie. ‘The beach was amazing, and the sea was so warm. And it was fun sharing a room with Eddie. And I don’t want to go back to school next week. I’m a bit scared because I’m going to have a new teacher. But at least me and Eddie will be together. I’m not so scared when he’s there.’
My heart sank and my smile disappeared. We needed to have that talk. It wasn’t fair of me to keep putting it off. I waited until after dinner that night, when we were snuggled on the sofa together with a book. At the end of the story, I closed the book and said:
‘Mia, I’ve got to explain something to you.’
She looked up at me, her eyes big and trusting. ‘What?’
‘You know your class at school has children from two different years?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded. ‘My year and Eddie’s year.’
‘Your class is for Years 1 and 2. That was your year and Eddie’s year. But now, when you go back, you’re going to be in Year 2, and Eddie will be in Year 3.’
She frowned. ‘So our class will be for Year 2 and Year 3 now?’
I smiled, despite myself, admiring her logic.
‘No, sweetheart. The children in Eddie’s year will move up to the next class – the class for Years 3 and 4. You’ll have the new Year 1 children in your class now. They were my reception children before, and I’ll get a new reception class.’
Mia was still frowning. I could see her working this out, thinking it through. It didn’t take long.
‘So … me and Eddie won’t be in the same class anymore?’
‘Eddie and I,’ I corrected her automatically. ‘No, you won’t, sweetie. I’m sorry. I know how much you’ve enjoyed being together, but—’
‘Why can’t I move up with him?’ she demanded crossly. ‘It’s not fair.’
‘Because you’re younger than he is. You know that. You’ll still see him at playtimes, and lunchtime, and he’ll still come and play with you after school—’
&nb
sp; ‘He’ll be lonely,’ she said, starting to cry now. ‘He’ll hate it in that class without me.’
I gave her a hug. I loved her for thinking of her friend first, even while she was upset herself.
‘I’m sure he’ll be all right, Mia. He’s happy at school now, like you are. It was different before, when you were both new. You’ll still be best friends, of course, but you will make other friends too.’
‘I won’t!’ she said, folding her arms across herself and jutting out her lip. ‘I don’t want any other friends. Nor does Eddie.’
I stroked her hair, and talked to her about other things, about the next few days, when Eddie would be coming to play again, and the following weekend when she’d be seeing Josh, and coming home in time for the pet show. I talked about the week in Cornwall, and her holiday in Lanzarote, and how much fun she’d had on them both. And finally I read her another story. And through it all, she maintained a mutinous silence, her thumb back in her mouth for the first time in months, her arm around Pink Bunny.
‘I wish you hadn’t told me,’ she said accusingly when I put her to bed a little later. ‘I wish I didn’t know about it. You’ve ruined everything, Mummy.’
‘But children always blame us for everything, don’t they,’ Louise said lightly when I told her about it quickly the next morning when she dropped Eddie off on her way to work. ‘She’ll be fine, Nic. Eddie says he’ll talk to her about it.’
‘You’ve already told him? I didn’t know. He hasn’t said anything to Mia about it yet.’
‘No. I asked him not to, until you’d told her yourself. It only came up just before we went to Cornwall and I warned him to wait. He said once you’d told her about it, he’d help her not to be upset.’
‘Ah, that was sweet of him. But wasn’t he upset himself?’
‘He went a bit quiet. But actually, he seems to be handling it much better than I expected. I guess he’s growing up.’
The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers Page 23