‘That’s great news!’ said Amanda.
‘But she can’t live alone. Not anymore. She either has to have someone with her or she will have to go to an assisted living facility.’
Amanda shook her head. ‘No, she won’t be going there. Diana can live with me.’
The nurse frowned. ‘Are you sure? It’s a big responsibility, caring for an ageing person.’
Amanda shook her head. ‘I nursed my mother to the end when she had terminal brain cancer. I know what I’m doing.’ She thought about Moongate Manor. ‘And the house is big enough for the two of us. I will just need to make some adjustments. When were you thinking she’d be able to leave?’
The nurse looked at her notes. ‘Next month. We just have to do some more work on her daily living skills.’
A month – that was doable.
‘No problem,’ she said.
The nurse looked at her. ‘When you tell her that you know, she will be very emotional. Not just because of the news but also because a stroke can heighten emotional responses. Just be prepared for that and if there is an issue, you need to bring her right back to the hospital.’
‘Okay,’ said Amanda. ‘I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for her and for me. Truly.’
‘That’s my job,’ said the nurse. ‘But thank you. We have enjoyed Diana’s company, even if she is very vocal about the quality of the food, the interiors, the lack of garden and the nurses’ sneakers.’
Amanda laughed. ‘Yes, she’s a lot sometimes.’
Back at Janet and Carole’s house, they made a plan.
‘I can move her into the downstairs living room. It’s huge and she can have her own little space in there, with her bed and her lounge suite from the gatehouse.’
‘Is there a bathroom downstairs?’ asked Carole.
‘Only a toilet.’ Amanda sighed.
‘You could turn the butler’s pantry into a bathroom, as the door opens into that room, doesn’t it?’ Janet asked as she looked at the sketches of the downstairs that Amanda had done.
‘With what money?’ Amanda laughed. ‘I’m so poor I’m living off your food and am behind in my student loans and probably all the utilities have been disconnected at the house.’ She looked down at the sketch. ‘I mean, I could sell something.’ And she looked up at them. ‘Actually, I do have something I could sell.’
‘We could help,’ said Janet, and Carole nodded.
But Amanda shook her head. ‘No, I have to do this for Diana and myself.’ She got up and went to the guest room and came back and put the silk bag on the table in front of them.
‘Do you know where I could sell these?’ she asked.
Carole opened the bag and pulled the pearls out. ‘My God, these are for royalty,’ she said.
Janet gave a long slow whistle.
‘Do you know what they would be worth?’ she asked them.
‘No idea, but I know someone who would know,’ Janet said. ‘She’s a valuer from one of the fancy auction houses. I could ask her if you trust me to show her?’
Amanda threw her hands up. ‘All yours, just tell her I need enough to fund a bathroom, and maybe a new kitchen.’ She laughed.
‘Are you sure?’ Carole asked, looking at the clasp and holding the pearls up to her neck.
‘It’s either sell them or put Diana in a care home and I can’t do that. It’s not even an option.’
Janet took the pearls from Carole’s hands. ‘And no, we can’t afford them,’ she said to Carole who smiled.
‘I know, but they’re so very beautiful.’ Carole sighed.
