‘Not in the long-term, no, but you revived him before the ambulance came. That’s amazing, Callie. Well done.’
She’d never called me Callie before. She’d never praised or thanked me before, either. I took a deep breath and wiped my cheeks again, trying to compose myself. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you? Any paperwork or anything?’
‘It’s all in hand, but I appreciate the offer. There is something you can do, though. The family want to go ahead with the party tomorrow as a celebration of Reggie’s life. If I give you the list of the residents who were going, would you mind asking them if they still want to go? I understand if you’d rather go home early. It’s been a tough afternoon.’
‘Thank you but, sadly, it’s part of the job. I’ll stay and speak to them all.’
She nodded and handed me the list. ‘Get yourself a cup of tea or coffee first and take a moment. And take your time asking the residents. They might need to talk. Maria or Pete can fill in for you.’
‘Thank you.’
‘If they want to go, are you still okay to accompany them tomorrow?’
I nodded. ‘Yes. Even if none of the residents go, I’ll still put in an appearance. I loved Reggie.’
Denise smiled. ‘I think his family would appreciate that,’ she said gently.
I pulled my bag out of my locker while I waited for the kettle to boil and rummaged for my phone. I needed a hug. Desperately. I texted Tony:
To Tony
Awful afternoon. One of the residents collapsed. I revived him but he died on his way to hospital. I know we have no plans but I really don’t want to be alone tonight. Is there any way you can come round, even if you can’t stay for long? xx
My phone beeped with a reply just as I finished my drink:
From Tony
Sorry about your afternoon but I can’t come tonight. Sorry. We’ll get together next week. I promise. Take care xx
Cheers for that. Tossing my phone back in my bag, I shoved it in the locker and slammed the door shut. What sort of a relationship did I want? I wanted one where I could rely on my boyfriend to be there for me when I really needed him. Like tonight. Surely that wasn’t too much to ask.
The door burst open and Maria rushed towards me, arms outstretched. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘Are you okay?’
‘No.’ I gratefully sobbed in her arms. Tony might have been unreliable but at least Maria was always there for me.
‘Are you crying?’ I asked when I pulled away.
‘No.’ She wiped her cheeks. ‘Maybe a little bit.’
‘I thought you never got attached to the residents.’
‘I don’t but who wouldn’t have a soft spot for someone who could pull sherbet lemons out of your ears?’
‘You’re not as tough as you try to make out.’
Maria smiled. ‘Don’t you go telling anyone. You’ll ruin my reputation.’
When I clocked off shortly after eight, Ruby was waiting in the residents’ lounge. She’d told me earlier that Rhys was picking her up at seven. I couldn’t bring myself to go in and speak to her. I felt so tightly coiled with emotion after Reggie’s death and Tony’s rejection that I was likely to snap and tell her exactly what I thought of this unreliable – or fictional – grandson of hers. Thankfully she wasn’t alone. A large group had gathered, telling stories about Reggie and toasting his memory.
Flinging my bag across my shoulder, I strode towards the entrance. I heard the noise before I saw it: torrential rain. Just what I needed. And on a day when I had no coat, cardigan or brolly with me. I hesitated under the entrance canopy. Nick would pick me up if I asked him nicely but I remembered him saying he was going out for drinks and a curry with his best friend, Skye. Mum? No. She was having friends round. Taxi? I couldn’t afford it. That anniversary meal had set me back a small fortune, especially that damn bottle of wine.
I shook my head at the downpour. There was no way it was going to let up any time soon. If anything, it was getting heavier. I stamped my feet a few times and let out a frustrated cry as I psyched myself up to run for it.
‘I hope that isn’t cramp again.’ I jumped as Mikey appeared round the corner from the car park and lowered a large golf umbrella. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a white linen shirt rather than his grubby gardening clothes. He scrubbed up pretty well and I could see why Maria had been so enthusiastic about him.
‘No. Just crap unpredicted weather. I’m psyching myself up to run home.’
‘Run? In this? How far away do you live?’
‘It’s about a twenty-minute walk. I’m no runner so that’s probably a nineteen-and-a-half-minute run.’
Mikey laughed. ‘Come on. I’ll give you a lift home.’
‘Weren’t you here to do something?’
‘It can wait. It’s not often I get to rescue a damsel in distress twice in one day.’
I thrust my shoulders back and glared at him. ‘I’m not in distress.’
‘That little war dance you just did would suggest otherwise.’
I so desperately wanted to tell him to do one, but I wasn’t stupid enough to refuse his offer. I stayed close by his side as he walked me to his van, grateful for the protection of the brolly. He held it over my head while I got in. Chivalrous as well as mildly attractive, eh?
Fastening the seatbelt, I sat back and released a huge sigh.
‘Bad day?’ Mikey asked as he started the engine.
‘The worst. One of our residents died this afternoon.’
‘I heard. I’m sorry. Where are we going, by the way?’
‘Castle Vale Gardens. Do you know it?’
Mikey nodded. ‘Yes. I used to live near there.’ He pulled onto the main road. ‘I really am sorry about the bereavement today. That must have been tough.’
‘It was,’ I admitted. ‘We all know it comes with the job, but it certainly never gets any easier. Well, not for me, anyway. Reggie was a lovely man. He used to magic sweets out of my ear.’
It wasn’t just sweets either. He’d once made me howl with laughter when he produced a whole packet of garibaldi biscuits instead and announced that my ears needed syringing. Cheeky man!
‘He’d have been ninety tomorrow and his family had a surprise party planned,’ I said. ‘They still want to have it as a celebration of his life and all the residents who’d been invited still want to go. I’m not surprised. His family are lovely. They were always visiting him and taking him out. It’ll be strange not seeing them anymore.’ I jumped as a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, followed by a crash of thunder. ‘Wow! Thank you so much for the lift. I’d have been caught in that.’
‘Pleasure.’
‘You know what really gets me?’ I said.
‘Unexpected thunderstorms?’
‘No. Well, yes they do, but I was going to say something else. What really gets me is that you get these lovely relatives like Reggie’s who go out of their way to ensure he still feels part of their family and isn’t packed off to wither in a care home, then you get cases like poor Ruby. She’s a wonderful lady with a heart of gold, yet she has this absolute waste of space of a grandson who constantly lets her down.’
‘In what way?’
‘He never turns up when he says he’s going to. She gets all ready to see him then he doesn’t show. He’s done it again tonight. Who’d do that to an old lady? I’m so angry for her. If he ever did turn up, I’d certainly have a few choice words for him.’
Mikey indicated to pull into Castle Vale Gardens. ‘How do you know he’s not shown tonight?’
‘Because she told me earlier that he was due at seven. It’s after eight and she’s still waiting. It breaks my heart. Anywhere on the left will do, thanks.’
Mikey stopped the van. ‘You should have a little more faith in people. Perhaps this grandson was just running late.’
‘I’d like to believe that. I really would. I’m just a little out of faith in people at the moment.’ I opened the door. ‘Thanks for the l
ift.’
‘Do you want me to walk you across to the door with the brolly?’
‘It’s fine. I can probably manage to run that far. I hope I haven’t made you too late for whatever you were doing this evening.’
He smiled. ‘It’s fine. I was already running late. Another ten minutes won’t have made a huge difference. See you soon.’
Dashing across the car park, trying to avoid the deepest puddles, I unlocked the door to my block as another lightning flash lit the sky. I didn’t mind storms, but I didn’t like being out in them.
I turned and waved to Mikey as he pulled away. I hated to admit it, but he really had been my knight in shining armour. Twice. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.
12
Thanks to the thunderstorm, Saturday dawned with clear air and a bright blue sky, which felt fitting for Reggie’s party. I stood on my balcony, squinting in the sun. ‘Happy Birthday, Reggie,’ I whispered, looking up towards the heavens. ‘I hope you’re partying up there.’
I’d cried myself to sleep last night, thinking about Reggie passing away and the hole it would leave in his wonderfully caring family, Ruby with her seemingly uncaring, unreliable grandson, and my situation with my seemingly uncaring, unreliable boyfriend.
Reggie’s party wasn’t until three. As I washed up my breakfast dishes, the enormity of yesterday hit me and my chaperoning role suddenly seemed like a huge responsibility. What if one of the residents got upset? What if they all got upset? I always fell to pieces when anyone else cried. Would I be able to hold it together and remain professional? Feeling anxious and emotional, I texted Tony again:
To Tony
Morning! Feeling sad about Reggie and very apprehensive about taking everyone to the party this afternoon. Huge responsibility
He texted back ten minutes later:
From Tony
Don’t go to the party, then. You’re not being paid for it. They take advantage of you at that place.
My fist tightened around my mobile as I re-read his text. He’d completely missed the point and, once again, he wasn’t there for me when I needed him.
Knowing that I’d work myself up into a frenzy if I remained in the flat all morning, I decided to go for a walk. And where better than a walk into town to return that expensive bottle of wine? Unfortunately I could only get a credit note for it but I was sure I’d manage to spend that eventually on delicious treats for me.
I felt much better after returning the wine and decided to walk the long way home around The Headland, psyching myself up to face whatever the afternoon presented me.
Fortunately, everyone seemed in high spirits when I arrived at Bay View at half two. They’d pulled their chairs into a circle in the residents’ lounge and were laughing and joking as they reminisced about Reggie again.
A quick headcount revealed one short. ‘Where’s Ruby?’ I asked. ‘Still getting ready?’
‘No,’ Iris said. ‘She says she’ll see you there. Her grandson’s taking her. Apparently he knows some of Reggie’s family.’
‘Oh. Did he eventually show up last night?’
‘Yes. Either that or she has a fancy man she hasn’t told us about.’
That was a relief. Not fictional after all. ‘You all stay here and I’ll go out the front and watch for the minibus.’
Was I finally going to meet the famous Rhys at the party? I’d have to bite my tongue and be on my best behaviour because I wanted to give him a piece of my mind for letting her down so often and a birthday/wake wasn’t exactly the appropriate time or place.
I’d had the opportunity to offer my condolences to most of Reggie’s family when I heard her. ‘Callie! Darling!’ Ruby sashayed towards me in a silver flapper-style dress, arms outstretched. ‘Did Iris give you my message?’
I nodded. ‘Your grandson’s here, then?’
‘He’s parking, but he’ll be along shortly, and I can finally introduce you two.’
‘So he did turn up last night?’
‘He did, but he was running late. Poor boy had a puncture on his way, so he had to change his tyre in that awful downpour, then get showered and changed again because he was soaked through and filthy. Don’t look at me like that. He rang me to let me know.’
If this was the truth, things were certainly looking up.
‘No sugar daddy today?’ she asked.
‘No. I didn’t ask him, not that he’d have come if I had.’
‘His loss is our gain.’ She grinned widely as something caught her attention by the door. ‘Ah! He’s here.’
‘Tony?’ I spun round, frowning.
‘No, dafty. Not Tony. My grandson, Rhys.’ She waved towards the door. A few guests had arrived at the same time, but the only person I could see who could possibly be the right age was Mikey. What was he doing here?
‘Rhys! Over here!’ Ruby called.
Mikey smiled and walked towards us. ‘Sorry it took me a while to park, Nanna,’ he said. ‘I’d forgotten they’d made Chapel Street one-way. ‘Hi, Callie.’
‘So you have met,’ declared Ruby. ‘I thought you might have done with Rhys getting the gardening contract.’
I looked from Mikey to Ruby, then back to Mikey again, trying to get my head round things. ‘I don’t understand. You’re Ruby’s grandson, Rhys? But you said your name was Mikey.’
‘It is. Well, it’s what I’ve always been called. My name’s Rhys Michaels.’
‘So you lied to me?’ I winced at my aggressive tone.
He put his hands up in surrender. ‘I wasn’t trying to deceive you. Nobody outside my family calls me Rhys.’
I planted my hands on my hips. ‘Well, I’ve got a bone to pick with you, Rhys Michaels. What do you think you’ve been playing at by telling Ruby you’re coming over and then not showing up?’ Whoops! So much for biting my tongue.
Ruby clutched my arm. ‘Callie, darling, Rhys has never let me down. It was all my fault.’
‘You don’t have to defend him,’ I said. ‘I’ve seen you waiting for him, all alone, on at least two occasions.’
Rhys’s eyes widened and he shook his head. ‘I don’t know where you get your information from, but I have never let Nanna down. I was late last night thanks to a puncture, but I phoned her to tell her. Then, because I decided to save you from a drenching, I was even later. I’ve never left her waiting before, though.’
He looked so incensed that I couldn’t help but believe he was telling the truth. I looked at Ruby for affirmation. ‘It’s true,’ she said. ‘It really was my fault each time. I misread a text once and thought he was coming during the week when he’d said the weekend. Another time he had to cancel on the day because of a crisis at work. He phoned to tell me, but I hadn’t realised my phone was flat, so I didn’t pick up the message until bedtime.’
‘What sort of person do you think I am?’ Rhys asked, then he smiled. ‘Actually, don’t answer that because I think I know after your rant last night.’
I blushed, feeling very guilty all of a sudden. ‘Why didn’t you tell me who you were and put me straight last night?’ I asked in a gentler tone. ‘I said nasty things and you just let me go on and on.’
‘It seemed to me like you needed to let off steam and, as you know, I was running ridiculously late to take Nanna out. If I’d taken the time to explain who I was, we’d have been too late for our meal and I really would have been letting her down.’
‘Mikey!’ One of Reggie’s grandsons, Greg, headed towards us, hand outstretched towards Rhys. ‘Glad you could come, mate.’
They shook hands. ‘I’m really sorry about your granddad,’ Rhys said. ‘How’s your mum doing?’
‘Putting on a brave face. Come and say hello.’
Rhys turned to me and grinned. ‘You can apologise later if you like,’ he said, winking. Then he turned to follow Greg across the room.
Ruby nudged my arm. ‘He likes you.’
I rolled my eyes at her. ‘Dislikes, you mean. And quite rightly so.’
‘Right now, Ruby, I think a corpse would be a better choice than Tony.’ I clapped my hand across my mouth. ‘I can’t believe I just said that, given the circumstances.’
Ruby giggled. ‘Oh, darling, you do make me laugh. Don’t ever change.’
‘Can I get you a drink?’ I asked, because I could certainly do with one.
‘That would be wonderful. Dry sherry. Would you mind if I join the old folk while you get it?’
It always amused me when she referred to the other residents as ‘old folk’, especially as many of them were younger than her. ‘Of course not, Ruby. I’ll bring it over.’
It was a lovely party and a fitting send-off for Reggie. His family had prepared a slideshow of photographs of him from childhood to present day and the overriding impression was how much they all loved him. I could remember him telling me how, when he’d realised he was struggling on his own, he’d been inundated with offers to move in with various family members but had ultimately decided to move to Bay View to be with his friends and maintain an element of independence. He also didn’t want to show any favouritism by accepting one offer and not another. He was so thoughtful like that.
I chatted to various members of Reggie’s family after the slideshow, sharing stories of things he’d said and done to entertain the residents and me. Greg laughed when I told him the story of the garibaldi biscuits. ‘That’s very Grandad,’ he said. ‘He tried to teach me the trick but I was rubbish at it.’
‘So how do you know Rhys?’ I asked him when we’d finished reminiscing. ‘Or is it Mikey to you too?’
He smiled. ‘He’s always been Mikey to me. I was born in Whitsborough Bay but we moved to York when I was three and I met him at primary school. We lost touch when I moved back here before senior school then reconnected a couple of years ago.’ He took a sip of his drink. ‘He’s a good bloke, you know. You’ve picked well.’
Making Wishes at Bay View Page 6