Challenges For The Grans’ Club!

Final Part: After all their ups and downs, their love of their grandchildren has made the friends’ bonds even stronger

Wait,” called out a voice just as Patty was getting into her car. “Come back. Please.” Was that Brenda? Surely not. The woman had been so rude, telling her to leave her house. But yes, there she was, stumbling down the path towards her!

“I’m sorry.” Tears were streaming down Brenda’s face. “It’s just that you took me by surprise when you just turned up like that. I was going to explain to Sally at some point, but one lie led to another and I felt it had all gone too far to come clean.”

Patty was really worried now. Sally’s instincts had been right. This wasn’t the kind of woman who should be in charge of young children. “I think you’d better tell me what’s going on,” she said stiffly.

“Not here. In the house.”

Was this safe? But Brenda was already walking back and Patty felt she had no option than to follow.

“Please. Take the chair by the window.” The view looked out onto a swing and climbing frame. “They’re for my stepgrandson Hamish,” said Brenda slowly. “I bought them when I moved in, but he’s never been on them.”

A cold shiver crawled down Patty’s spine. “Why not?”

There was a short, sharp laugh. “I’m not allowed to see him any more. My stepson was upset when I married his dad, he saw it as disloyal to his dead mother’s memory. But then Hamish came along and Brian and I thought it was a new start.” Tears flooded her eyes again. “I’d never been able to have children of my own and the little lad was a real blessing to us. He’d come and stay, which was a great comfort to Brian at the end. He loved me too, as if I was his real gran, but as soon as my husband died, they cut off all contact. I think they were angry because they only got some of his money instead of all of it.”

Patty was silent, thinking of Jim. Was that why Sally resented her for going out with her dad?

“Anyway,” sniffed Brenda. “I missed little Hamish so much I moved here near his parents to see if they’ll change their minds. But they haven’t.” More tears were coming now, thick and fast. “It’s like a knife in my heart. That’s why I love working at the nursery. The children are so sweet. But they can never be a substitute for my Hamish. I had to get used to not being a mother and now I can’t be a gran either.”

Instinctively Patty got up and put her arms around her. “I’m so sorry. Is there nothing that can be done?”

Brenda shook her head. “I’ve looked into it but I don’t have any legal rights. Even blood grandparents sometimes have to fight to see their grandchildren if there’s been a family rift.” She sighed heavily. “And now I’m worried that Sally won’t want me working at the playgroup.”

“I’m sure she’ll understand once we explain. Mind you, your second referee didn’t seem to exist. Sally’s letter came back with a ‘Not Known At This Address’.”

“Really?” Brenda frowned. “I’d better check I gave the right one. To be honest I’ve been in such a state since losing my husband and then Hamish.”

Just then Patty’s phone beeped. Her heart thumped madly and she sank back down on the chair. “What is it?” asked Brenda. Patty’s mouth was so dry she could barely speak. “It’s the hospital.”

Brenda didn’t know about the lump. Nor did Patty want to tell her. It wasn’t as though she was a close friend. In fact, she still wasn’t sure she could trust her.

“It’s just routine. Sorry. I’ve got to go.”

As she walked briskly back to the car, Patty pressed speed dial on her mobile.

“It’s me. The hospital has had a cancellation. They can do the op next Tuesday. I’m so scared. I want to be around to see little Arthur grow up…”

Jim’s deep reassuring voice cut in. “Calm down, love. We’ll face this one together. It will be all right.”

Germany wasn’t what Hannah had expected. The house her son had found for them was very close to the centre of Berlin, and it was all so noisy! Gudrun’s parents, who lived nearby, seemed welcoming from their gestures and invitations to meals. But she couldn’t understand a word they said.

“You must take language classes,” said her daughter-in-law firmly.

If Simon was here, he’d be telling her to do the same! So she signed up for a course while little Tom was at nursery. Yet it was hard to take it all in.

IthinkI’mtoooldtolearnanew language, she emailed Sally.

I’msureyou’llgetthehangofit, her friend emailed back.

But it wasn’t a very long reply. Hannah felt quite hurt. Maybe they’d all forgotten about her already, especially as they had this Brenda as a replacement.

Still, at least she was with Tom. He was taking some time to settle down too and when she met him after nursery, he always flew into her arms.

“He really loves you, doesn’t he?” said a well-dressed woman collecting a little girl. “You speak English!” “Yes. I was au pair for many years in London, and now I work as a part-time translator. I look after my granddaughter two days a week so my son’s partner can work. My name is Katrine. You must come for tea. My granddaughter, she is friends with your Tom, I think. I am glad. She is shy and it takes her time to accept others.”

“That would be lovely.” Hannah was glad Katrine hadn’t mentioned Tom’s Downs Syndrome. She was always worried that other mothers might not include him purely because he was different. Then again, wasn’t that what Hannah was now, in a strange country where she couldn’t speak the language? Different. If Tom could be brave and deal with it, so could she.

“Great. I can practise my English on you and maybe help you with German, if you wish. You come now? As you say, I believe, there is no time like the present!”

After that, everything got so much better. It was amazing how life perked up when you had a friend. Katrine introduced her to other English-speaking friends, although they always had one Germanonly afternoon a week so she would learn.

“You are getting more used to our country, I think,” said her daughter-in-law.

Yes, she was! And then she got the email from Sally asking her to do something. How could she say no?

Sally clapped her hands and called out, “Song-time, everyone! Let’s start with TheWheelsOnTheBus.” Normally she loved this part of the

morning at nursery. Each little face in front of her was shining with excitement and concentration. But right now, it was Sally herself who couldn’t concentrate. Patty would be going into surgery right now. Despite his brave face, poor Dad was beside himself. As if that wasn’t enough, her daughter was still totally besotted with this Jake.

“Tell you what,” Brenda was saying to a boy who kept jumping up and down from his chair. “Why don’t I sit next to you and help with the words?”

At least that particular problem was sorted out, thought Sally. When Brenda had admitted the full story, with Patty’s encouragement, she’d mentioned it to Duncan. It was he who had put two and two together.

“Her surname sounds familiar,” he’d mused. “If I’m not mistaken, I know Brenda’s stepson through Young Farmers. I heard he wasn’t too happy when his father remarried some years ago. And I also heard he was cross that his stepmother had moved down here.”

So that part was true. Then a very apologetic Brenda had given her a different address for the referee which turned out to be the right one. A glowing testimonial had arrived within two days. If only she could sort out her own life! Bother! Her mobile was vibrating in her pocket. Sally waited until the song was over and they’d started snack time before glancing at it. “Oh no.” “What is it?” asked Brenda. “It’s my granddaughter’s school. I need to get there urgently.” Sally glanced around. Thank goodness there was an extra helper today. “Could you take charge? I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Sally’s heart was pounding as she drove to Annie’s school, parked and dashed into reception. To her relief, her granddaughter was sitting there, safe and sound. “They told me you’d played truant!” Annie frowned. “I only went for a walk during maths. I came back afterwards.” “But why? It’s your favourite subject.” Annie looked away. “I was upset… Mummy argued with Daddy this morning when he came to take me to school.”

“We tried to get hold of your daughter and son-in-law,” said the receptionist. “But there was no answer.”

This really wasn’t good enough. Something had to happen. Just as well half-term was coming up.

“Tell you what, love,” she said, giving her granddaughter a cuddle. “If you go back to class now, we’ll do something special together next week.”

Hadn’t she always promised to do one section of the nearby south-west coastal path with Annie on their own one day? It would be perfect girl time with her granddaughter. Although it might not bring the family together, it might help Annie realise that Gran was there for her.

The weather turned out to be perfect. Sally chose a short route which, hopefully, wouldn’t be too much for Annie’s little legs. Duncan was going to meet them at the other end in the car so they didn’t have to walk back.

Sally had already decided not to talk about the family situation – just as Dad didn’t want to talk about poor Patty. She’d let her granddaughter raise the subject herself, if she wanted to.

“Do you remember what those are called?” she asked now. When the children were little, Sally had always taught them the names of wildflowers and now she loved doing the same with her precious grandchildren. Annie bit her lip. “Pink campons?”

“Nearly. Red campions, actually. And what about those?”

“I know!” Annie was jumping up and down. “Cow Parsley.”

“Clever girl. It’s also sometimes called Queen Anne’s Lace.” “Why?” “Because the flowers are just like lace. Look.” Sally bent down to pick a stem but as she did so, she slipped in the mud. “Ouch!”

“What’s wrong, Granny?” Annie’s face was creased with concern.

Sally bit back the pain. “I think I’ve twisted my ankle.”

How were they going to get back now? There wasn’t any mobile phone reception!

“Listen, Annie. Can you be a really big girl for me? I need you to follow the path without going near the edge. That’s really important because there are some parts that aren’t fenced in. Keep on until you see a big car park. Grandad will be there.” Annie nodded solemnly. “Will you be all right?” Her ankle was really throbbing now and swelling even as she looked at it. “I’ll be fine. But please be careful.” Sally wondered if she had done the right thing as she sat in the hedgerow. Please don’t let anything happen to her granddaughter – she just couldn’t bear it!

She must have dozed off, partly through shock and partly through pain, but suddenly Sally was aware of feet running towards her.

“Mum!” It was her daughter Katy. What was she doing here? “Are you hurt?” “Where’s Annie?” “In the car with Dad. I came with him to pick you up.” “But I thought you were with…” Sally couldn’t bring herself to say that man’s name.

Her daughter flushed. “Jake and I had a bit of a disagreement about the children. He said they were old enough to understand about divorce but… Look, it doesn’t matter. Let’s get you back, shall we? Here, lean on me.”

It was so comforting to feel her daughter’s touch again after all those arguments, thought Sally as she limped on with Katy’s help. Who knew what was going to happen? But at least they were talking again now.

It had been ten long days since the operation. When Patty had first come round, it felt as though she’d been in a lovely deep sleep. But then, when the pain killers wore off, her breast felt so sore.

“It was quite a complicated operation,” the consultant had explained. “You had a large cyst in an awkward place. We won’t know if it is cancerous until it’s been tested. This could take three weeks or so, but try not to worry.”

Easier said than done! In the meantime, she was under orders to get rest – both from the doctor and Jim.

“I know how much your grandson means to you,” he said, as he helped her home. “Remember, I’ve got great grandkids too and I’d do anything in the world for them. But you’ve got to look after your own health or you won’t be any help at all. It’s none of my business but perhaps it’s time to stop looking after Arthur.”

“But how will my daughter be able to work? She and Clive need the money they save by having me look after Arthur.”

“Well, can you afford to pay for a childminder for them?”

Actually, she could. Her husband had always been a careful man and left her comfortably off. But what would Rosie say about it? As it turned out, she was more than understanding.

“I know just the person,” she declared. “One of my friends doesn’t need hers now her mum has moved in.”

However, Patty couldn’t help feeling hurt, feeling she was no longer needed.

“I know it’s hard,” Jim said when she told him. “But this is your time now. I thought we’d go on a trip to the Seychelles next month. What do you think?”

A holiday didn’t seem important compared with Arthur. On the other hand, Patty did feel very tired.

Then, one morning, when she was struggling to get out of bed, the phone rang. It was the consultant…

Two months later, Sally looked around at everyone gathered around her and asked, “Is everyone ready?” Yes! There was Hannah with little Tom in the pushchair. It was so lovely to see her again, even for a short time. It sounded as if she was settling down much better in Germany now.

There was Patty, looking a little pale, alongside Dad. It was strange how she was getting used to seeing them as a couple now. And there was Brenda, holding hands with a rather serious-faced child. “This must be Hamish?” Sally asked. Brenda beamed. “It’s all thanks to you.” “Actually it was Duncan,” Sally replied. It was true. Her dear husband had gone to see Brenda’s stepson and explained, man to man, how much Brenda missed Hamish. Somehow Duncan’s words must have hit the mark because the next thing they knew, the step-daughter-in-law had rung to invite Brenda over.

“I can’t say it’s all happy families,” whispered her new friend. “But we’re working on it. And at least they’ve allowed me to bring Hamish on the walk.” Just then, Annie came running up. “I’ll do that, Gran.” She grabbed the pram handle of her latest cousin. “You’re meant to be looking after your bad ankle.” “It’s much better now, thanks.” “But Mum said I had to help you when she was away. Do you think she and Daddy are happy now?”

Silently, Sally crossed her fingers. The two were still living apart but Katy had broken off with Jake, much to her relief.

“Jake just didn’t get what it was like to have kids,” her daughter told her. “And even though Geoff and I have been having problems for ages, I felt awful about hurting him.”

“What you need,” Sally had said, “is some couple time.” That’s just what they were doing now. Dad had insisted on transferring the tickets for the Seychelles for him and Patty, saying, “It’s not as though we can use them now.” There was no guarantee that Katy and Geoff might get back together, but it was surely worth a try.

“Good news about Patty, isn’t it?” said Hannah as she approached Sally.

It certainly was. Not only had she got her all-clear from the op, but her son-inlaw had got a promotion, which meant her daughter only had to work two days a week. Patty immediately offered to replace the childminder – who spent most of her time on the phone to her boyfriend!

It meant cancelling the Seychelles holiday, but as Dad said, no-one should come between a grandparent and a grandchild! And wasn’t this what this march was all about? It wasn’t until Brenda had entered their lives that they’d all realised how lucky they were.

“Ready, steady, go!” said Sally. And off they went, their banners waving, reading: MoreRightsForGrandparents.

Afterwards, they had a tea party in the village hall. Brenda’s step-grandson fell out with Patty’s Arthur over a toy train, but it didn’t matter. As they agreed, they all had to learn to share. It was a milestone in everyone’s lives. With luck, there would be plenty more ahead.

The End