When Mary messaged him that evening, it was like ointment on his emotional bruises.
Mary
How did the meeting go?
Rather than type the whole story, he called. Pouring it all out felt better than he could have imagined. Mary agreed that a GP appointment was a good idea, and offered at least some comfort in Jaden not shutting the door completely.
‘Even if he’d just woken up, I think he knew full well who Jaden was,’ she mused.
‘Agreed. But that doesn’t explain his behaviour.’
‘Is it frustration at needing looking after? You said he can be difficult with Sonali. Perhaps it’s deliberate sabotage. He could be trying to ensure no care agency will take him on, so you’re forced to leave him by himself. Is that what he wants?’
Beckett had considered this. ‘He did say he doesn’t need taking care of. But he knows he needs help with bathing and getting dressed. He can’t make a drink safely, let alone prepare a meal. He can’t expect me to work and do everything else. Gramps can be rude, and mean since the stroke, but that’s a whole new level of selfish. Unless he simply doesn’t grasp how badly we’d struggle without an income.’
‘On top of the all the night-time wanderings, the other stuff, it sounds like you need a professional opinion.’ Mary paused. ‘A second, impartial professional opinion.’
‘Yeah. Which only leaves the more urgent problem of the bills needing to be paid in the meantime.’
‘I’m here, Beckett. I can bring the sewing machine over and sit with Gramps while I sew. I’m not quite ready to give him a bath, but I can make lunch and ensure he’s not getting into trouble.’
Beckett was quiet for a moment. ‘I can’t leave you with him if he’s not safe.’
‘It was one incident. And like I said, I suspect he knew exactly what he was doing. Please don’t say I can’t come over any more. While I love my Christmassy cottage, Bob has cried non-stop for hours. After such a good day yesterday, I’d made all these constructive plans to go to the shops, do some batch cooking, figure out the wings for racing pigeon Santa and be a proper, functional human again. I haven’t made it out of my pyjamas yet, and the closest I came to cooking was sticking the meal-train leftovers in the microwave. I did stare at a pigeon out of the window while my baby screamed in my ear. I have to get out of here and remember I’m not completely useless.’
‘I’m sorry you had a bad day.’
‘Yeah, well. Nobody threw anything. Now, change of topic before we both drown in our own self-pity. What do I get Li for secret Santa?’
Heartened by Mary wanting to continue the conversation, Beckett opened the fridge and took out the beer he’d hidden at the back of the vegetable tray.
‘I thought that tall guy was playing Secret Santa?’
‘This isn’t for the play! It’s an actual secret Santa, with my actual new friends.’
‘So you have to actually buy Li an actual present?’ He wandered through to the living room. Gramps was in bed, so he was free to settle back, open the beer and take a blissful swig.
‘Yes! Did I just hear you open a bottle of beer?’
‘I’m having a beer on a Saturday night, as prescribed by the doctor in the house following a crap day. Who is Li?’
‘She was the one playing the violin at the advent service, but that’s not relevant here. She’s gorgeous and rich and perfect. Plus, to make matters worse, one of the nicest people ever.’
‘That is the worst. How awful to have to buy a nice person a present.’
‘For ten pounds! You can’t give someone that rich and that lovely a set of supermarket toiletries, or a bottle of cheap wine. The last secret Santa gift I bought was a cushion printed with Sean Bean’s face. I’d known the recipient for fifteen years so had no doubt she’d love it.’
Shay’s Auntie Ada had slept with that cushion.
‘Do you have anything from your accessory company? Surely a scarf or a bag or something would make a good present? It’s secret Santa, no one expects to like what they get.’
‘Hang on. I’m putting you on speaker while I get a tonic and gin.’
‘I don’t want to indulge you by asking why you call it that. Do you also partake in chips and fish, with pepper and salt? Do you eat them with a fork and knife?’
‘It’s a glass of tonic, with one tiny splash of gin. I won’t have to feed Bob for another few hours, but just in case. Wait a sec, I’m getting the reindeer blanket.’
Beckett waited a lot of secs.
