While the puppies were being rounded up ready for home, I made my move, approaching Mum as she double checked that none of the dogs had left an unpleasant surprise behind in the grass.
‘I was wondering if you should ask Elliot over for Monday Mumday this evening, as a thank you for today?’
I’d barely finished the sentence before she’d raced off to find him.
* * *
I then spent a surprisingly peaceful afternoon with Eddie and his horse, Duchess, who belonged to a local riding for the disabled charity. Duchess graciously permitted a dozen strangers to brush her coat, stroke her nose and feed her a carrot or three, while Eddie listened with interest to their stories about the horses they’d owned, or ridden.
Madeline, who this whole day was really for, waited until last. Tottering to her feet, she leant against Duchess, closed her eyes and allowed a beatific smile to spread across her wrinkles. Once she was too tired to stand any more, she sat in a chair and brushed the small patch of coat she could reach until it gleamed.
At four o’clock she was still sitting there.
I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘You’re going to miss the minibus.’
‘Oh, what a shame. I couldn’t have a few more minutes?’ She pressed her head up against Duchess’s flank.
‘Everybody’s already on board. We shouldn’t keep them waiting.’
‘Will she come again?’ Madeline asked. ‘Before too long? I’d love to see her while I still can.’
‘Of course. If that’s okay with you?’ I asked Eddie.
‘I’ve got an even better idea,’ Eddie said, his eyes glinting. ‘Do you live in the village?’
She nodded. ‘Cooks Lane.’
‘Then how about Duchess takes you home?’
‘Um, excuse me?’ I asked. Had Eddie not noticed that Madeline was about as brittle as a dead twig and struggled to get into an armchair, let alone up on a horse?
‘Trust me, love. My nan rode until well into her eighties.’
‘Madeline is ninety-three.’
He gave a long whistle. ‘Looking good for it, if you don’t mind me saying!’ He winked.
‘I really don’t think that’s a wise idea.’ I glanced about the garden, but all the other staff were helping see everybody off. ‘She’s never ridden before.’
‘Well, it’s about time she started then, isn’t it?’ he said with a wink. ‘How about a couple of laps of the garden? What do you reckon, Mads, are you up for it? I brought our accessible equipment, just in case.’
Madeline looked at me, a gleam of fire in her eyes. ‘Yes. I am.’
So, thanks to some sturdy steps, a specially adapted side-saddle, a lot of careful manoeuvring from Eddie and a woman who was determined to get on that horse or die trying, Madeline’s lifelong dream came true. She managed four laps of the garden, before her muscles began to tremble and even Eddie could see she’d reached her limit.
But, oh. Those few minutes. I don’t think Madeline had such straight posture even when I’d first met her, ten years ago. Head about as high as it could go, she laughed her way around the first lap, wept the second, and then adopted a stately air of jubilant pride as the staff who were still there whooped and clapped her around the final two.
‘Do you wish you’d tried it when you were younger?’ I asked, as I accompanied her home in a taxi, afterwards.
‘I’ve not got enough time left to spend it regretting what I did or didn’t do. Wishing it had been different. All I can do now is make the most of here and now, like today.’ She rested her papery hand on mine. ‘You should try it sometime.’
‘I’m trying, believe me.’ I swallowed, hard. ‘I’m glad you enjoyed it, though.’
‘Oh, Jessie. It was the best day. I can’t thank you enough.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll book Duchess in for another visit, soon. As long as you promise not to tell anyone you got to ride her, or they’ll all be wanting a go.’
‘My lips are sealed! But, ooh, to not be the smallest, slowest person for once. To look down on all of you! I try not to wallow, but I spend so much time feeling so very helpless andold.’ She closed her eyes, still holding onto my hand. ‘Now, I can simply shut my eyes and be back in that magical moment!’ She opened them again, and flashed a mischievous smile. ‘I didn’t mind that lovely man’s hand on my bottom, either!’
