A frown crossed Becky’s forehead. ‘You’ll be a bit lonely there without them, Mum. You see a lot of them, don’t you? And you know how much you love the kids.’
‘I do, and I love living near them. But I love it here too. And what if Don is offered another promotion and has to move away again? I can’t keep following them around, Becky. I’ve got to think about this carefully.’ She edged herself up on her right elbow. ‘I bet he’s phoned you and told you that I’m being “awkward” and will you help him persuade me to see sense.’
Becky grinned. ‘Spot on. I know what a fusspot Don is, but I can see his point. I worry about you, Mum. Truth be told, I hate to think of you on your own in that big old house since Dad died.’ Her voice wobbled a bit. ‘It’s always reassured me that Don isn’t too far away and can get to you quickly if you need help.And it is nice that they want you to move by them. A lot of parents complain that their grown-up kids don’t bother with them.’
‘I know. And I am grateful, really I am, but I have to do what’s best for me. I can’t allow myself to be railroaded into a decision I might regret. It’s a big upheaval.’
‘Of course not, but please think it over carefully.’ Her eyes met Sandra’s through the screen. ‘I know it’s a lot for you to leave that house, Mum, it holds so many memories for you. We had some happy times as kids and it’s great to come back and visit you there. But it might do you good to start afresh in a smaller, more modern place.’
At least Becky understood how precious this house was to her and that she didn’t want to erase all the memories. Although, even she seemed to think that Sandra should move on.
‘Look, if you feel like you want to get away from it all, you can come over here. Stay as long as you want. We’ve got plenty of room. You’ve got an open invitation.’
Sandra knew that Becky and the family had been looking forward to seeing her and Brian this year. ‘I will when I’m a bit stronger,’ she said. ‘I promise.’
‘Good. Now what have you been up to?’
Sandra sat up straighter, grimaced at the image of herself in the bottom corner of the screen and ran her hand through her hair in an effort to tidy it.
‘Mum! Is that a tattoo on your arm!’ Becky squealed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
‘What?’ Fourteen-year-old Honey ran over to join her mum on the video. ‘Let me see, Nan!’
Sandra held her arm up straight so that they could see her tattoo, which was still red and raised.
‘Cool! And it looks like you’ve only just had it done! Whatdoes it say? I love the butterfly, but I can’t read the words,’ Honey asked.
‘It says “Embrace change, love life”,’ Sandra told them. ‘Which is what I intend to do.’ Then she remembered the Insta photo. ‘Are you on Instagram?’
‘Yes, we have a family account. Why?’ Becky asked.
‘My friend Patti had a tattoo as well, she had hers done on Saturday and Paul, the tattoo artist, took a photo of us both when I had mine yesterday. He said he was going to put it on his Instagram account.’
Honey’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. ‘You’re on Insta? Nan, that’s so cool. I’ve got to see that! What’s the name of the tattoo studio?’ She grabbed her phone.
Sandra told them. Honey tapped away then shouted, ‘I’ve got it!’
‘Let me see.’ Becky peered over her shoulder. ‘Oh, Mum, that’s a smashing photo. You both look great.’ She glanced up. ‘Have you seen it?’
‘I saw it in the tattoo shop but I don’t have Instagram.’
‘I’ll screenshot it and send it to you after this phone call then you can see the caption as well.’ Honey’s face almost filled the small screen.
‘Thank you, love.’
‘Now who’s Patti? I can’t remember you mentioning her before.’ Becky’s face appeared on the screen now.
‘She used to work at the supermarket with me years ago but then she moved away.’
‘The cashier with the loud laugh?’ Becky asked.
‘That’s the one. Well, she’s moved back into the area. She’s just recovered from cancer, and she’s so upbeat, so determined to live her life. It got me thinking, your dad is gone but I’m still here. He would want me to pick myself up and carry on living.’
‘He definitely would, Mum. You’ve got to live your life for both of you now.’
‘That’s what Patti said.’ She told them about Patti having a tattoo to celebrate recovering from cancer. ‘We’ve both come up with a bucket list of things we want to do and visiting you in Australia is top of mine.’
‘Really! That’s great, Mum. It will be so lovely to see you. It sounds like you’re picking yourself up now.’
