‘What a terrible thing to say!’ she snapped. ‘I think your dad would be pleased that I’m getting on with my life, Don. He wouldn’t want me to grieve forever over him. If I was the one who had gone first, I wouldn’t like to think that your dad would shut himself away grieving. I would want him to have the strength to carry on living. To get some pleasure out of his days.’ She sounded more angry than she had intended to, but Don really was insufferable sometimes.
There was silence on the other side of the phone. Then Don said slowly. ‘I want you to be happy, Mum. I don’t want you to be shut away grieving, as you were. But I want you to be safe too. I don’t want to lose my mum as well as my dad. That’s why I want you to move with us, Mum. So we can help you and look after you.’
She sighed, her anger leaving her. ‘I know, love.’
After their call ended she stood there for a moment, lookingat the moon shimmering on the surface of the pool and scattering of stars sparkling in the inky night sky. Don’s words played on her mind. What should she do? It wasn’t a bad thing that Don wanted her to move by him, was it? A lot of parents complain that they hardly see their grown-up children, and here was Don wanting her to still live nearby. She should be grateful.
Except she didn’t want him to worry about her like that. And there was Laila too, surely she didn’t want Sandra there all the time? It was time Don concentrated on his own family, not feeling like he had to keep looking out for her too. And if she moved to Cambridge, they would be the only people she knew and the truth was, they would be too busy working to see that much of her. She would likely be lonely. Isolated in a strange area.
Patti and Mary both gave her sympathetic looks when she returned to her seat on the terrace. ‘I take it Don doesn’t approve of us going jet skiing either?’ Patti said.
Sandra rolled her eyes. ‘He doesn’t approve of me doing anything! And he’s still pressuring me to move with them. I really don’t know what to do. What if I move to Cambridge and I’m not happy there?’
‘If your son hadn’t mentioned you moving with them, how would you feel? Would you be wishing that you could go with them?’ Mary asked.
Sandra thought about this. ‘No. I probably would be wishing that they weren’t moving away, but it wouldn’t even have occurred to me to go with them. I love my home. I want to stay where I am.’
‘There’s your answer then.’ Mary looked up from stroking Rags who was lying on her lap. ‘Don’t let anyone else talk you into moving if you don’t want to. You might regret it and then you’re stuck.’ She put Rags down. ‘Come on, boy, let’s get you fed.’
Sandra noticed that Patti was watching Mary thoughtfully asshe went into the house. ‘Do you think your sister-in-law regrets moving to Spain?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know. They seemed really happy here at first but now that Keith won’t go anywhere it’s probably just pretty lonely for her.’
Mary looked a lot more cheerful when she came back out. ‘Well, ladies, are you all ready to go jet skiing tomorrow?’
‘You bet,’ Patti said. ‘I can’t wait!’
No, I’m dreading it, Sandra thought but she kept her feelings to herself. She didn’t want to spoil this for Patti. Besides, she would be fine, people went jet skiing all the time. There was absolutely nothing to worry about.
33
Patti and Sandra were sitting outside, sipping orange juice, the next morning when Mary came along, her face like thunder. Oh dear, it looks like she and Keith had had another argument, Sandra thought. And she could guess what about. Their jet skiing adventure. She half wished that Keith had managed to talk Mary out of going, she was dreading it herself. Patti really wants to do this, she reminded herself.
‘Want some?’ Patti held up the jug.
‘Please.’ Mary sat down beside them. ‘I know I’m a bit early, but I had to get out before me and Keith have a barney. He’s still trying to talk me out of jet skiing.’
‘I hope we aren’t causing trouble between you both,’ Sandra said worriedly. ‘Maybe we should cancel.’
‘Absolutely not! I want to do it, and I love you two being here. You’re both like a breath of fresh air. Honestly, I’d almost forgotten what it was like to have fun. I’m so pleased that you came to visit.’
‘Keith will come around,’ Patti said comfortingly. ‘The more things you do and come home safe, the more he’ll relax.’
‘I perishing well hope so!’ Mary picked up the glass of iced orange juice that Patti had just poured for her. ‘Right, let’s knock these back and get on the road. Before we lose our bottle.’
‘Are you driving?’ Mary asked with a grin as Patti opened the door to the driver seat.
‘Oops, I can’t get used to driving on the other side of the road!’ Patti said as she went around the car and got into the other side.
‘Me neither.’ Sandra sat behind Mary at the back, so that Patti could half-turn in her seat and talk to her. ‘Did it take you long to get used to it?’
‘Not really. All you have to remember is whatever country you drive in the driver is seated by the white line in the middle of the road,’ Mary told her.
‘I never thought of that!’ Patti replied. ‘Shall we put some music on? Get us in the holiday mood?’
‘Sure. I can only seem to get Spanish radio but there’s some CDs in the dashboard.’
Patti pulled down the dashboard cover and took out a few CDs. ‘Beatles, Abba or Party Selection?’ she asked.
