A heartwarming story
Good neighbours are destined to become more than good friends in this charming slice of escapism
Hi, Mum.” I pushed the train timetable under my newspaper as my daughter bustled into the kitchen. When had Sophie started bustling, I wondered irritably. And being so bossy?
I felt smothered.
Sophie hummed under her breath as she put the kettle on, cleared the table and washed up my breakfast things.
“Darling, I can do that,” I said wearily.
“It’s no bother, and you must rest that ankle,” she replied firmly.
“My ankle is better,” I said, equally firmly. “I walked to the shops yesterday.”
And how I’d enjoyed it, too. My first burst of independence since tripping on the stairs and breaking my ankle.
I’d even had a coffee with Greg, my lovely neighbour, who had also been keeping an eye on me. But in not quite so autocratic a way as my daughter.
“You really mustn’t overdo things, Mum.” My daughter was tutting now, shaking her head from side to side.
I bit my tongue hard. I didn’t want to quarrel with Sophie. She’d been wonderful, running me backwards and forwards to the hospital, doing my shopping.
I was fine now, though. For some reason, Sophie seemed reluctant to accept it.
Before I could stop her she’d picked up the newspaper to wipe the table – and found my timetable.
To my fury I flushed like a child caught with its hand in the sweetie jar. “What is this?” Sophie asked. Despite my annoyance I smiled inwardly. She’d now morphed into matron mode.
“It’s a train timetable,” I said, defiance creeping into my tone. “Well, yes, but why are you looking at a train timetable?”
“To see the times of the trains,” I replied, keeping my tone even and free of sarcasm with supreme effort.
“But why?” she said, sounding so genuinely bewildered I relented.
“I was looking into the possibility of going to London to meet two online writer friends. If they’re as lovely as they seem, I’m in for a treat.”
“But you don’t know anything about them!” Sophie wailed. “Anything could happen.”
My jaw dropped.“sophie, I’ll be in London, in a busy restaurant. What on earth do you think they’re going to do with me? Attack me in the loos, bundle me into a suitcase and abduct me?”
“Well, no, of course not.” Sophie at least had the grace to blush. “But I worry about you, Mum.”
“Why?” I asked gently.“you know how independent I was until this happened. We both led our own lives. Since taking early retirement, I’ve been as busy as you with my writing and all my other interests. I’ve hardly had time to miss work at all –”
I was astonished when Sophie’s eyes suddenly filled and she burst into tears.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked, anxiety flooding me. I couldn’t remember the last time my independent, feisty daughter had cried.
“I’ve been made redundant.” She sobbed. Now guilt overcame me as well as anxiety. Why hadn’t I realised how often Sophie was around? Far more, now I came to think of it, than her shifts at the nursing home would have allowed.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, hugging her to me.
“I didn’t want to worry you.” Sophie snuffled.“not with all you were coping with.”
Despite my daughter’s concerns, I was looking forward to meeting new friends!
“Well, I’m fine now,” I assured her.“i’m going to make us a cuppa and there’s some of that chocolate
cake left.” But when I went through with the tray Sophie was curled up, sound asleep on the sofa, with my snuggle rug tucked all around her. Yet again guilt suffused me. She looked so tired.
“I’m sorry, Mum,” she said when she woke about an hour later. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“It’ll have done you good, love,” I replied.“i’ll go and make us a fresh pot of tea.”
“Hot chocolate?” Sophie asked, her hopeful tone making her sound like a little girl again.
“Now, then,” I began, when we were both cupping large beakers of frothy hot chocolate.“what’s going on, love?”
“I’m sorry, Mum, I’ve been a pain, haven’t I?” Sophie sighed then took a large sip of her chocolate.“but you needing me took my mind off things.“you see,” she hesitated...“richard and I are finished, too,” she said softly.
I was going to be one big ball of guilt at this rate, I thought as relief overwhelmed me. I’d never liked Richard, thinking him controlling and arrogant. But Sophie had adored him so I’d kept my doubts to myself.
“What happened?” I asked. “When I told him I’d been made redundant he looked down his nose at me, as if it were all my fault.” Sophie sighed.“i really thought he was the one, Mum, but I’m actually relieved now things have come to a head.
“It does seem strange, though,” she continued. “Everything happened at once. It was hard.”
“Anyway,” she went on, taking another huge gulp of her chocolate,“more to the point, Mum, why are you secretly studying train timetables?”
“Well, you’d become a right bossy boots,” I admitted.“i didn’t dare mention it.” Sophie blushed.“i’m sorry,” she said again, taking another sip of her chocolate.“i really am glad you’re OK now. When’s your final check-up?”
“The day after tomorrow,” I replied.“shall we go out to lunch to celebrate?”
Sophie looked at me for a moment.
“I’ve got a better idea,” she said. “Why don’t you organise the meeting with your friends and I’ll drive you to London? I can hit the shops while you have your literary luncheon.”
She grinned wickedly at me. “Then we can stop off on the way home and have a slap-up meal at Giovanni’s.”
As I waved her off my heart felt lighter. I was so thankful about Richard, and relieved that Sophie wasn’t too upset. And I was sure, given time, she’d find another job. I was also sneakily relieved not to have to make that train journey. It had had a number of changes with little spare time between connections.
A few days later my meeting with Emilia and Karla was arranged. I was so excited. Since
I’d struck up an online friendship with them, they’d both been so supportive of my beginner’s writing efforts and I’d been thrilled when they’d suggested we all meet up. Then, the evening before my big adventure to London, my phone rang.
“Mum, I am so sorry!” Sophie wailed.“i can’t take you tomorrow.
“A friend of a friend got me an interview at a hospital where I’ve always wanted to work and –”
“It’s tomorrow,” I finished for her, feeling like a balloon that had had all the air squeezed out of it.
“I’m so sorry, Mum. I did put feelers out about rearranging, but it isn’t possible.”
“Sophie, don’t you dare think of rearranging,” I snapped.
My daughter wasn’t the only one able to slip into matron mode.
“You can’t possibly let this opportunity go. I’ll think of something,” I added.
I poured myself a glass of wine and went into the garden. The flowers were an abundant and colourful array, the clouds just like cotton-wool puff balls in the bluest of skies.
Normally I’d have been cheered. I took a glug of my wine.
“Hi, Evie.” Greg Nolan’s head popped up above the fence that divided our two properties. “What’s up?”
“Get round here. I’ll pour you a glass of wine and tell you all about it.” I sighed. I was so disappointed. Why had fate conspired to ruin my day like this?
Greg bounced into the back garden. He was a big teddy bear of a man who had moved in next door a year or so ago and we’d clicked straight away.
“Right,” he said, sipping from his glass of chilled wine.“what’s to do?”
“I’m so pleased for Sophie getting this interview, but the timing could certainly have been better,” I told him wistfully. “I guess I’d better get back to those dratted timetables.”
“I’ll drive you,” Greg offered promptly. “I’ve got to go to London on business anyway. It might as well be tomorrow.”
“Greg, that would be amazing!” I exclaimed, pleasure flooding over me that my leisurely adventure was back on track.
The journey was wonderful. Greg had me helpless with laughter most of the way with his witty stories, and the time flew by. “Just text me when you’re ready to leave,” he said, pecking me on the cheek at the door of the restaurant where we’d arranged our meeting.
Then, with a cheery wave, he’d gone. I found a table and a moment later two ladies erupted into the restaurant and rushed over to me.
“We thought that must be you going in,” one of them said.
“I’m Emilia,” she went on,“and this is Karla.”
They were both so outgoing and friendly that I was put at ease straight away.
Over a delicious meal we discussed writing, our families and everything else in between. All too soon it was time to call it a day. With hugs all round, my new friends took their leave.
I rang Sophie and she was thrilled at how her interview had gone.“they seemed quite impressed, Mum,” she said,“so keep everything crossed. How about you? Did your knight in shining armour come up trumps?”
I laughed.“i’ve had a wonderful time, darling,” I said.“talk to you later.”
On a real high, I texted Greg. With you ASAP. Meeting dragging on. I giggled at the surly-face emoticon at the end of the message, and got myself another frothy cappuccino.
“I’m so sorry, Evie.” Suddenly the restaurant seemed smaller as Greg bounded in. Did he do anything slowly, I wondered, amused.
Back in the car we discussed our day, then, feeling comfortably sleepy, I fell silent, watching his capable hands on the wheel, and taking in the stunning scenery all around me. Suddenly Greg swore as a car raced past us and tried to cut in. He braked hard, but it was too late. The overtaking car hit an approaching one and they both went off the road. Greg switched on his hazard lights.
“Call an ambulance and the police, Evie,” he ordered in an authoritative tone I’d never heard from him before.
He grabbed a bag and ran towards the cars. As I watched him, I remembered him telling me he’d once been a paramedic and was now a First Responder.
Fortunately, none of the occupants of either car appeared to be badly hurt. When we got home, I made us coffees with a large slug of brandy to accompany them.
“I’m feeling a bit shaky,” I said, indicating the brandy. “We could so easily have been caught up in that crash.”
“Well, we weren’t,” Greg said easily. “So try not to dwell on it. And it looked as if they’d all be OK, although I hope that foolish driver has learned a lesson.”
He draped an arm easily around me and gave me a squeeze. I turned and looked into his face, noticing the strength there, and the kindness in his eyes.
“You were amazing,” I said softly, and my heart lurched as he gave me the sweetest smile.
Anticipation swept over me at the thought of perhaps dipping my toe into the relationship waters again. I’d never been tempted since losing Sophie’s dad when she was very young.
Ah, I thought, so that’s what fate was up to when it messed up my arrangements. Who knew whether anything would come of it, and perhaps I wouldn’t want my treasured, easy friendship with Greg to be jeopardised, but, hey, life’s all about taking risks. Isn’t it?
A peck on the cheek, then, with a wave, he was gone