‘Wonderful,’ said Maureen as they packed up their lunch containers.
‘I can’t wait to see you and Nick in it, the dynamic duo!’ she said, and gave Lily another hug and then was gone to class and Lily headed back to the music school to shake things up a little more. On the way she texted Nick.
I just had lunch with your mum.
What? Why? How?
You didn’t tell either of us that we worked at the same school. We bumped into each other.
Oh wow, how funny. I was going to tell you but all the stuff with Gran meant it just went out of my brain. She loved you.
She was great, very enlightening.
Oh no, what did she say?
That’s between her and I. Gotta go teach piano!
And she laughed all the way to class.
34
The morning of opening night was clear and crisp and Lily made her tea and went into the garden. Nick was at his flat and she was alone in Pippin Cottage.
The garden of Pippin Cottage was awash in soft morning light, and the leaves of the old apple tree were a riot of reds and oranges. It was the sort of morning that Gran would have cherished and she felt the sadness come back. She wiped tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her robe.
As though the world was listening, she heard her phone in her pocket signal a text message and she opened it and saw her dad’s name. Fear ran through her. When would she stop being anxious at text messages? she wondered as she opened it.
Gran had a good night. Nurse said if she continues like this she can come to closing night. Hope we can come then too.
Despite Lily’s best efforts to keep her optimism in check, her heart soared at the prospect of Gran coming, but she was also aware of how rapidly things could shift in relation to Gran’s condition. It was disappointing her parents weren’t coming tonight but her mother was barely speaking to her, so she wasn’t about to beg her to come to the show.
‘That’s good news about Gran, isn’t it?’ she said to Mr Mistoffelees as he wandered about the grounds. The garden was still half done and Lily wondered if she could fix it in time for Gran’s return and then gave up the thought.
One thing at a time, she told herself. She had moved here to slow down, not to fill every moment with activities.
She had the day to herself, alone, and it felt almost surreal. Nick had been here every night since Gran had been in hospital but they had agreed they would get proper sleep the night before the show.
After breakfast, Lily cleaned the cottage to keep herself busy and pulled a few weeds out and then sat in the sun with the cat and enjoyed the morning.
At lunchtime, she contacted the hospital, but Gran was asleep, and she didn’t want to wake her up.
How is Gran?came a text from Nick.
She’s asleep but Dad said she’s a bit better and might come to closing night,she said.
That was five shows away. Would Gran make it to then?
Want a pickup on the way to the show?texted Nick.
Yes please.
Lily sat at the piano and played a few notes, and then started to play a ‘Nocturne in B-Flat Minor’ by Chopin and felt herself relax into the music as she played. How long had it been since she had spent time playing for no reason other than for pleasure?
It was so peaceful in the cottage as she played. Mr Mistoffelees came and jumped up onto the stool beside her and sat purring, listening to the music.
She glanced down and smiled at the cat. Everything was okay, she reminded herself. Not perfect but it was okay.
*
