Lily took her overnight bag and the cat carrier and walked through the gate and up to the front door. She rang the bell.
*
The sound of the doorbell woke Violet from her nap in her comfortable armchair. She managed to get up to standing and then looked at the walker and sighed. She would have to use it, much to her chagrin, and she shuffled over to the door and opened it.
‘Lily!’ she cried.
Lily stood at the front door with a cat carrier and an overnight bag.
‘Gran. Jeesh, you look like you did ten rounds down the pub,’ Lily said shaking her head. ‘I wonder how the other fella came out.’
‘He didn’t survive,’ said Violet with a toss of her head. ‘Come on then. Are you here because you’ve been sent by your parents to check on me? They only left a few hours ago.’ Violet rolled her eyes at Lily.
‘No, I’m here for selfish reasons only. I don’t know what you and my parents are fighting about.’
Violet looked at her granddaughter closely, checking for telltale signs of her lying. When she pulled her earlobe and crinkled her nose, she was lying. Right now, Lily was still.
She looked down at the cat carrier.
‘Is that yours?’ she asked. Truth be told, she wasn’t a huge fan of cats. They were arrogant creatures, always expecting the world to be delivered to them on a silver platter.
‘Yes, you know I have a cat, I’ve told you about him, and I can’t leave him at home alone,’ Lily said looking down at the carrier. ‘Mr Mistoffelees, meet Gran.’
‘Silly name,’ Violet said and sniffed. ‘All cats should be called Puss.’
Lily laughed. ‘Well he’s not called Puss. He will like having a visit here, won’t you?’ she said to the carrier.
Violet opened the door wide for her granddaughter.
‘All right, well you and Puss can come in as long as you’re not trying to pack me off to an old person’s home to die.’
Lily chuckled. ‘No such luck, I’m here because I’m running away from home,’ she said.
‘Oh good for you,’ Violet said and went to her armchair and sat down, trying to keep the pain off her face as she found a comfortable position.
Lily leaned forward. ‘They told me you were in hospital and I thought I would come and see you, but now you’re at home so I thought I would come and annoy you,’ she said.
‘You can annoy me anytime, darling girl, even if you do bring your cat. Now come and tell me everything.’
Soon Lily was settled on the sofa. Mr Mistoffelees was out of his carrier and in the bathroom with some kitty litter and dinner and water. Violet was in her armchair with a cup of tea made by Lily and a piece of shortbread made by Mrs Douglas.
Violet looked at her granddaughter for what felt like an eternity and then she frowned and set down her mug of tea.
‘So what is it? What’s happened? Why are you running away?’ She could tell Lily had something on her mind, and a weight on her shoulders. She was pinched and her blue eyes were bloodshot and swollen, and her usually pale skin was blotchy and looked dry.
Lily put down her mug and sighed. ‘God, I knew you would see straight through me.’
‘Darling, Stevie Wonder could see it.’ Violet snorted.
‘Gran, you can’t say that; it’s not politically correct,’ Lily admonished.
‘Stevie would agree with me, if he were here. You don’t even have to look at you, with your droopy energy. You’re like a wet sock.’
Lily shook her head. ‘God, you’re more brutal than any theatre critic.’
Violet put her feet up on the ottoman and clasped her hands in her lap.
‘Go on. Speak now or forever hold your peace.’
