Clearly trying to hide his amusement, Dan made way for her to enter and Annabel took a final deep breath as she stepped inside. While hovering by the doorway, she glanced around the room, relieved to find it void of any distracting medical machinery. In her mind, coming face-to-face with Dan’s mum felt nerve wracking enough, without having to contend with scary equipment like monitors, drips, andrespirators.
‘You can say hello,’saidDan.
She felt his hand in hers as he guided her towards his mother’sbedside.
‘Mum, I’d like you to meet Annabel,’ he said. ‘Annabel, this ismymum.’
As she looked at Dan’s mother, Annabel’s heart immediately skipped a beat. Maybe her befuddled brain and over-emotional temperament these last couple of months were to blame, but after everything she’d learned about the woman, she knew she should have realised. Whatever the reason though, she’d managed to miss all the clues – the fabulous clothing, the funny turn, and the daffodils, not to mention their meaning. Only now did everything make sense. Of course, her well-intentioned customer and Dan’s mum were one and the same person. How could they nothavebeen?
His mother beckoned for her to take a seat. ‘Lovely to see you again,’shesaid.
Annabel felt saddened. Her voice sounded a lot weaker than she remembered. However, with her nerves suddenly vanishing, she readily welcomed the invitation. After pulling up a chair, she sat down and took the sick woman’s hand. ‘And it’s lovely to see you too,’ she replied. ‘The flowers are still going strong, bytheway.’
‘You’ve met before?’askedDan.
After deciding Dan’s curiosity could wait, Annabel chose instead to keep her attention on his mother. She could see a slight twinkle in the woman’s eyes, probably because the two of them knew something that Dan didn’t. At the same time, she appeared a shadow of the lady Annabel had previously spoken to. She thought back to the day in the shop when she’d helped her over to the stool, her hand felt bonier than before and her breathing hadn’t just quickened since then, it now seemed dangerously shallow. No wonder she found it hard to speak. As she looked at her, it was clear she didn’t have long in this world and Annabel couldn’t help but question how so much could change in such ashorttime.
‘Don’t feel sad,’ said Dan’s mother. ‘You and I both know I’m lucky to make it this far. Not everyone gets thatchance.’
‘I know,’ Annabelreplied.
‘Excuse me,’ said Dan. He gave a cheeky wave in an attempt to catch their attention. ‘I might not know when or how you two ladies met, but in case you’ve forgotten, I amstillhere.’
His mother signaled he come andjointhem.
‘You’ll have to excuse my son, Annabel,’shesaid.
Dan drew up anotherchair.
‘Being an only child, he’s not used tosharing.’
Annabel smiled. She doubted that she could keep her own sense of humour up throughout a difficult journey like this and had to admire the both of them for keepingtheirs.
‘So,’ said his mum. ‘Was I right tointerfere?’
Annabel turned her head to look at Dan. With his confusion over what they were talking about there for all to see, she couldn’t help but let out a laugh. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Definitely.’
‘And you’ll look after him onceI’mgone?’
‘Of course, I will,’ Annabelreplied.
She gripped Dan’s mum’s hand even tighter and felt tears in her eyes as she wished she’d had more time to get to know this wonderfulwoman.
‘Thank you,’ saidDan’smum.
26
Annabel stood at the window.Her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, she stared out into the garden. The sun shone down making the pink, cup-like blossom of Gerry’s magnolia tree even more vivid; especially when set against the bluest of skies.So beautiful,thought Annabel. She acknowledged how, to the Victorians, this tree meant dignity and nobility. With the magnolia flower representing both decorum and pride, she couldn’t think of a more apt bloom for this motherandson.
She took in the solitary figure stood amidst its branches.Poor Dan. He missed his mum so much that Annabel thought her heart would break. She wished she could do more to ease his pain, but she knew from experience that she just had to be patient, only time could heal hiswounds.
She admired his bravery. For the most part, he’d managed to cope, putting on a strong front whenever the telephone rang or people stopped by to give him their condolences. He’d even been able to keep a calm head when dealing with the funeral director. Then again, thought Annabel, being so organised his mother had made all things official pretty straight forward. Be it in relation to her burial, her will, and her insurances, she seemed to have thought of everything. And, no doubt, to ensure Dan had less to concern himself with during this difficultperiod.
Then there’d been times like now, when he just wanted to be alone for awhile.
While respecting his wishes, sometimes Annabel would hear his sobs as he hid himself away in another room. On other occasions, there would be silence as he simply sat in quiet contemplation. In both these cases, Annabel felt powerless and she’d had to stop herself from rushing to his side. Thankfully though, he had shared some of his grief with her too, as if he’d instinctively known not to shut her outaltogether.
She wondered if she should go out and join him now. But as he began to pace up and down, he seemed to be talking to someone. Annabel smiled gently. If the neighbours saw him, they’d probably think his mother’s death had tipped him over the edge. But she knew from experience that he was chatting to his mother, talking about the day ahead and, no doubt, saying his lastgoodbye.
