“I have a feeling,” Jackson says, “I’m very fond of the Taylor women.”
Nanny giggles again before digging through her basket for new colors, “Well I’ll do cream for now until we know and then I’ll make more in different colors, but if Daddy says girl I’m saying girl too.”
Jackson clasps his hands together. “Put me to work Nanny.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, my brow scrunching as I realize it’s my old boss calling. “I’ll be back,” I tell the room. I step outside into the corridor and pull the phone to my ear. “Kathleen?”
“Rosie, my love! How are you?”
Kathleen left the post house to go freelance, and the last I heard from her she was trying to get a short film into a festival.
“I’m good, how are you?”
“Great! Listen, I’m actually crewing up for my next short film. It’s a small one, with only a female and non-binary crew. The budget’s small and it’s definitely more of a passion project, but I wanted to know if you’d be up for editing it?”
“Oh!” I wasn’t expecting that at all. I haven’t edited a short since my university days, working as an assistant ever since. “When are you filming?”
“We’re still prepping at the moment and, as it’s lowbudget, we’re looking to shoot nearer the end of the year, around December.”
I do my mental math. I’ll be around seven months then. Though it’s not like I’d be needed on set or anything, and I do have all the software I need at the flat. Low budget is low budget, but I should really be jumping at the opportunity to make a bit of extra cash before the baby comes.
“I’d love to,” I tell her, laughing at the squeal of excitement that echoes down the line.
“Yes, I knew you’d say yes! You’re going to love the script. I’ll send it over to you. I can’t wait to work with you again. It’ll be like the good old days.”
We reminisce for a few more minutes until she has to run and I return to the room, unable to stop the grin on my face.
“Rosie, help him, he’s all fingers and thumbs.” Nanny says as she glances up at me.
“How is it going in here?” a nurse asks when she arrives a few hours later to find all three of us in a circle around Nanny’s chair, streams of wool piled between us. “I’ve been hearing all the laughter from down the hall and we all want to know what’s so funny.” I usually spend a few pleasant hours with Nanny, catching up on our days or knitting quietly. I’ve never laughed as much as we have today.
“I’ve been trying to learn, but these two keep distracting me,” Jackson complains, lifting his jumble of wool.
Nanny playfully swipes at him with a wrinkled hand. “You keep winding us up.”
“Visiting time is nearly over,” the nurse says kindly. I tug down on the disappointment in my chest as I press a kiss to Nanny’s cheek.
“I’ll see you soon, Nanny,” I tell her, folding away the knitting.
“Okay sweetheart,” she says before turning to Jackson. “It was lovely to meet you, Jackie.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Betty.” He presses a kiss to her hand.
“Will you come back again?”
“If you’d like me to.”
“Well you need to finish this blanket,” Nanny says gesturing to her basket of wool.
“I’ll get some practice in.”
I tug my jacket on and Jackson does the same.
“Enjoy the Strictly results, Nanny,” I tell her as I cross to the door.
“Praying for Thatcher.” Jackson crosses his fingers and winks at Betty as she laughs.
When we leave the home, the sky is dark and there’s a distinct chill in the air.
