“The renovations are nowhere near where they should be by now. Although I’m not surprised considering the amount of tea these builders drink.”
Hannah headed for the sink and, unscrewing the bottle lid, proceeded to fill it from the tap. “Theyareallowed a break, Mum.”
“You would say that. Time wasted isn’t coming out of your pocket.”
“Did you ring for a reason?” Hannah asked, tightening the lid back on. “Or just to complain?”
“To ask you a favour actually.”
“Go on.” Hannah hoped she wasn’t about to get a request to join Janice’s team of painters and decorators.
“Remember Aunt Dorothy? Tall, well-built woman. In her seventies. The one with a ginormous smile.”
“Of course.” Having spent many a childhood summer holiday at Dorothy’s down in Norfolk, Hannah couldn’t believe Janice would think she’d forget. “I’m still sad about missing Uncle Denis’s funeral.”
Hannah recalled how she’d not been able to attend thanks to Beth and Archie being sick. They’d picked up some bug and could hardly get to the bathroom for a glass of water, never mind down to the kitchen to feed themselves. Even if Hannah had driven there and back in one day, she wouldn’t have dreamt of leaving them home alone for twelve plus hours. Although, reminded of all the running up and down the stairs she did for them, Hannah couldn’t help but think saying goodbye to Uncle Denis would’ve been easier.
“That’s her.” Janice lowered her voice. “Well, she’s just turned up.”
“What do you mean, she’s just turned up?”
“In a taxi from the train station. She landed five minutes ago.” Janice sighed. “Not uninvited, of course. It’s just everything’s been so chaotic around here these last few months, I completely forgot we’d arranged it. At the time, it seemed the right thing to do considering she’d just buried her husband. I wanted to give her something to look forward to. Then we decided on the extension and as you know, the rest is history.”
“She must have rung to check her stay was still on?”
“That’s the thing, she did. Except your dad didn’t think to tell me that.”
“And you want me to step in and do what exactly?”
“I simply thought with the kids away and you rambling around that big old house of yours…”
Hannah whipped her phone off the counter, hastily took it off loudspeaker and put it to her ear. “No, Mum. Absolutely not.”
“Hannah, I wouldn’t ask if I had a choice.” Janice’s desperation came through loud and clear. “But this place is a deathtrap right now. Like I said, the builders are nowhere near finishing up. The last thing I want is Aunt Dorothy tripping over a rogue hammer and breaking a hip.”
“I get that, Mum, but what am I supposed to do with her?” Hannah might be a dab hand at looking after teenagers but caring for the elderly was outside her skill set.
“Stick her in front of the telly with a fig biscuit and a mug of tea. She’s brought her knitting with her. She’ll be in pensioner heaven.”
Hannah shook her head, hoping to goodness Dorothy couldn’t hear. “Mum, as much as I’d like to help, I’m gonna have to pass.”
“Why? It’s not like you have anything else on. The kids aren’t there.”
Hannah pursed her lips, wishing people would stop saying that. “Actually, I’m going to be busy for the next few weeks.”
“Doing what?” The surprise in Janice’s voice was indisputable.
“I’ve signed up for a sponsored run.”
“Excuse me?”
Hannah knew what was coming. “You heard.”
“But, Hannah, you can’t…”
“Run for a bus?” Hannah asked, repeating what Beth had said when she learned of Hannah’s intention.
“Exactly. I mean, I know I keep on at you to get up off your bum and do something, but athleticking wasn’t quite what I had in mind.”
