This would be the first weekend that she hadn’t spent with them since Brian died. She’d be alone. She’d buried her head in the sand a bit about Don’s transfer, caught up with learning to swim and spending time with Patti and their new swimming club friends. Now it was staring her in the face.
‘Fancy a day out on Sunday to celebrate you learning to swim and getting your ears pierced?’ Patti asked as if sensing her thoughts. ‘I was thinking of getting the train into Birmingham, taking a look around the shops and having lunch somewhere nice.’
‘I’d love to,’ Sandra replied. She hadn’t had a wander around Birmingham City Centre for ages. Since before Brian died.
She was hanging her swimming costume and towel on the line when Don came to pick her up.
‘You’re early,’ she said in surprise. She wasn’t expecting him until five thirty, his normal time.
‘I finished at lunchtime, Mum. It’s my last day. I’ve got tomorrow off so that I can pack and move into the Cambridge flat.’ He glanced at the swimming costume on the line. ‘You’ve been swimming again?’
‘Yes, and I actually swam a few strokes today. I can’t believe it!’ She turned to him. ‘Your dad would have been so proud.’ Brian had always wanted her to learn to swim. He’d have been there, cheering her on today. And they’d have celebrated tonight with a nice bottle of Merlot, Brian’s favourite wine.
Don put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug. ‘He would. Well done, Mum.’
‘Thank you. Now, how are things with you? How was your last day at the office. I expect you had mixed feelings about that,’ she said sympathetically. And his last week with his family. He’d only be seeing them at the weekend now until the house was sold.
‘Yes, a bit, but I’m excited about this new job. Even though it will be hard being away from Laila and the children. And you.’
‘I know it will, dear, but you’ll be home weekends,’ she told him, although she had to admit that she was going to miss him dreadfully.
Kali and Rana were waiting eagerly for Sandra. ‘We saw you, Nan! We saw you swimming on your Insta,’ Kali said.
‘Did you?’ she asked, surprised.
Laila laughed. ‘They insist that we check your account every day to see what you’ve been up to. Congratulations, Sandra. It’s quite an achievement.’
‘It was. And I’ve had my ears pierced too.’ Sandra proudly showed them her new earrings.
‘You’re like us now, Nanny. Remember to keep them clean,’ Rana said. Both girls had their ears pierced a couple of years ago.
It was a lively but rather poignant meal, with everyone being extra cheerful. Don was leaving tomorrow, when the girls had finished school. Laila and the children were going with him for the weekend, then coming back on the train. It was sad to think that the little family would be split up for a while.
Life goes on and it’s a great opportunity for Don, she reminded herself.
They’d just finished dessert when Don’s phone rang. ‘It’s the estate agent,’ he said.
He left the table to take the call, coming back a few minutes later looking a bit shocked.
‘We’ve got someone interested in our house. They’re coming around tomorrow morning for another look.’
‘The couple from earlier?’ Laila asked.
‘Yes. Their house has sold too, so if they go ahead, it will be a quick sale. Unfortunately the house we liked in Cambridge has sold now but we’ll soon find another one.’
Kali and Rana jumped up and down in excitement. ‘We’re moving! Hooray we’re moving! We’re going to have a bedroom each and a trampoline in the garden.’
‘We promised them that so they would look forward tomoving. You know how anxious kids are about leaving their friends,’ Laila whispered.
Sandra nodded, her mind whirring. If these people made an offer, her precious family would be gone in a couple of months. Quicker than she’d thought. She’d be here alone. It really was happening. No Don, Laila and family nearby.
‘Look why don’t you come to Cambridge with us this weekend, Mum?’ Don suggested. ‘We can make room in the flat. There’s two single beds in the spare room. The kids can bunk up together and you can have the other bed.’
Sandra saw that look cross Laila’s face again, before she scooped up some dirty plates and took them into the kitchen. Clearly Laila wanted to spend the weekend just with Don and the children, as a family. Which was only natural. Besides, she had plans herself, didn’t she? She was going out with Patti.
She chose her words carefully, knowing that Don was fully expecting her to fall into his plan. ‘That’s a lovely idea and normally I would love to, but not this weekend, dear. I’ve made plans to go out.’
His eyebrows raised and his jaw slackened. ‘Surely you can cancel them?’
