‘I can’t. I have to get the hall ready for the funeral.’ Lily looked around at the drab hall, the plastic chairs lined up in rows. ‘I wish I had more time to make it nice, but I don’t and there’s too many people who want to come to have it in a church.’
‘You never mind that. I’ll take care of it,’ Jasper said. ‘This is what I do. Leave it with me. I’ll call in the troops. Go and call Mrs Harris.’
‘Okay, I’ll call her now,’ said Lily, her heart beating faster. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Surer than sure – now call her.’ Jasper picked up Bernadette from Lily’s lap and held her as she stood up and called Mrs Harris back.
‘Hello, Mrs Harris? It’s Lily Baxter,’ she said.
‘Oh, Lily, I am so sorry about Violet. What a woman she was.’
Lily nodded, not trusting herself to speak, as the tears came so easily, especially when people were nice about Gran to her.
‘I’ve got some things she left for you here, if you want to come and get them.’
‘Are you open?’ asked Lily, looking at the time on the large clock on the wall.
‘I am open for you, dear,’ said Mrs Harris. ‘See you soon.’
Lily slipped the phone into her pocket.
‘I’m going to see her now,’ she said to Jasper, who was taking the order of services out of the box and placing them on the chairs that were lined up in rows in the hall.
‘Want me to walk with you?’ Jasper asked.
‘No, thank you though. I am grateful to you, Jasper,’ she said and she hugged him.
‘My darling, it is a pleasure. Now go and get Gran’s things and I will see you tomorrow for the service.’ He paused for a moment. ‘Are you sure you’re up to it?’
Lily nodded. ‘Yes, I’m okay, I want to do my best.’
‘And you will. I know whatever happens, you will always shine through, Lily Baxter.’
41
Lily hurried back to the cottage and turned on the heater and sat in front of it warming her hands, the papers in her lap.
Why on earth hadn’t Violet told anyone in the family her will was at the post office? But Jasper and Mrs Harris knew? Honestly, she thought, and she dialled her father’s number but he didn’t answer so she left a voice message.
‘Hi, the will was at the post office, apparently she told Jasper and said she was worried the cottage might burn down. Honestly, sometimes Gran’s thinking was so bizarre. Anyway, she’s left letters for us. I won’t read the will; I’ll leave it for you. Love you,’ she said and put down her phone. Mrs Harris had given her a manilla envelope filled with letters and the will inside, each one marked with a different date.
For Lily. Please read in order.
Some of the letters were old, on older stationery. Fifteen letters, all with dates on the front.
She opened the first one and read. The first summer she had spent with Gran alone at Pippin Cottage. As she read it she started to cry, deep racking sobs that were both painful and healing. She read each one carefully, remembering things she hadn’t thought of since they happened. Funny things, silly things, sad things, wonderful memories of a time that made Lily who she is.
She came to the one when she was fifteen. God she had been so torn that summer and Gran had seen it all. She had wanted to be with Gran but there was so much happening at home with her friends. What she would give to have that summer again and be more present with Gran.
And she came to the last one.
To my darling granddaughter, Lily, aged twenty-nine,
I am sitting at the kitchen table writing this to you when you’re at rehearsals.
If you are reading this, then I have taken my final bow and finally get to join Grandad, if you believe such things. I am unsure if I do but it’s helpful to think that there is something after all of this.
Try not to be too sad, darling, as we had such a wonderful time together, didn’t we?
