‘Great idea,’ Sandra agreed.
Patti was pleased to see that her friend looked much brighter already.
‘Well now we’re both off to Spain, how about we treatourselves to some new holiday clothes?’ Patti suggested as they got off the train. ‘We’re definitely going to need sun hats. Mary and Keith were sitting outside in T-shirts! And they’ve got a fabulous swimming pool.’
‘It’s a good job I’ve learnt to swim,’ Sandra said with a grin.
They had a great time around the shops, both of them buying a summer hat, a couple of new summer dresses, shorts and T-shirts, and another new swimming costume.
‘We can take some fun holiday pics to post on our Insta account when we’re out there too!’ Patti said, as they walked into a restaurant for a late lunch. ‘Now, how about a bottle of wine to celebrate?’
Over lunch they used their phones to search flights to Spain. ‘I can’t believe how much the price differs from hour to hour, never mind day to day,’ Patti said. ‘We don’t want to go at silly o’clock just to save a few bob though, do we? Especially as Keith will be coming to pick us up over there. We can’t drag him out of bed in the middle of the night.’
‘Definitely not,’ Sandra agreed. ‘Ah here’s one, it’s only just over £100 return. We have to add luggage and seats onto that, of course, but it’s very cheap for this time of year. Ooh, it’s next Wednesday. I didn’t realise it was that soon.’
‘Is it?’ Patti asked. ‘That sounds perfect to me, it won’t give me much time to fret.’
‘What about your brother and sister-in-law? It’s only a few days away.’
‘They said they always keep the casita ready for guests. Why don’t you drop into mine when we get home and we can call them?’
19
SANDRA
Back at Patti’s house, Patti sent a WhatsApp to Mary to let her know that Sandra had agreed to come to Spain with her and to see if she was free to chat, then opened the fridge. ‘Fancy a glass of chilled rosé to celebrate our new adventure?’
‘Why not?’ Sandra said. Life was one long adventure and celebration with Patti.
Patti had just poured them a glass of wine each, when her phone rang. ‘It’s Mary,’ she said, pressing the button to accept the vid call, then sitting down at the table and motioning Sandra to do the same.
A friendly looking woman with a tanned face and grey curly shoulder length hair appeared on the screen. ‘Hi Patti, that’s fabulous news. I can’t believe that you’re coming over! And how kind of Sandra to come with you. Keith will be delighted, he’s inside watching the TV. Do you want to talk to him?’
Mary was standing beside a sparkling blue swimming pool. The sky looked cloudless and sunny, and was that an orange tree behind her head? Sandra wondered excitedly.
‘No, I’ll leave you to tell him! I’d better introduce you to Sandra.’ She held out the phone so that Sandra was visible on the screen too.
Mary waved cheerily. ‘Hi there. Thanks so much for accompanying this one, we’ve been trying to get her to come and visit for years!’
‘It’s a pleasure. Thanks for asking me. It’s so good of you,’ Sandra replied. Mary looked genuinely pleased that Sandra was accompanying Patti.
‘Nonsense, it’s lovely to have company. Now, when were you both thinking of coming?’
Sandra looked worriedly at Patti, was it too soon to go next week?
‘We haven’t booked yet but there’s some flights next Wednesday, great times and a good price. Is that too soon?’
‘Not at all. That’s perfect. The weather’s sunny and warm but not too hot. July and August can be scorching. And if I’m not wrong, that means you’ll be travelling just before the school half term holiday too, so the flights will be cheaper.’
Goodness, she’d forgotten it was soon going to be half term. She usually had the grandchildren for a couple of days, to share the load. Laila hadn’t mentioned it though, and they always worked out a schedule together well beforehand. Maybe she was having the time off to do a bit of packing, or they were all going to Cambridge to spend time with Don, seeing as Kali and Rana were off school. Should she check?
‘Look, I forgot it was half term coming up. Can I just message my daughter-in-law and check that she doesn’t need me to have my grandchildren any of the days? We’ll be away over half term and I often look after them in the school holidays.’
‘Of course, go ahead. Mary and I can carry on chatting here.’
Sandra sent Laila a quick WhatsApp to say her friend had invited her to go away with her to Spain so she wanted to check that Laila didn’t need her for childcare.
Laila replied.
