‘Is everything all right?’ Joe asked, wondering if the man needed his help. Spotting his mother standing nearby for the first time, he asked her the same thing.
‘We’re fine,’ Faye explained. ‘Stan here was just showing me some exercises to help with my sciatica.’
‘I was just delivering that parcel for Faye,’ Stan said. ‘And asked why she was having difficulty walking. I’ve been demonstrating a few exercises I learnt at Pilates. Going to lessons has been an enormous help to me since I got sciatica. I was telling Faye that once she’s in less pain she should try doing this, gentle like. Then, when she’s better she should come to the classes at the parish hall. It only costs a few quid each time and I can’t tell you how much it’s helped me. I’m always happiest on a Wednesday when I’ve finished a class.’
Liking the idea and thinking of this as a way for his mother and maybe Roger to make a few friends on the island, Joe hoped to encourage her. ‘Sounds like a good idea to me, Mum. What do you think?’
She pursed her lips. ‘I might give it a go. No harm in trying, I suppose.’
An elderly lady he recognised as Mrs de la Mare walked up to them. ‘What’s happening here then?’ she asked. ‘Oh, Stan. You’ve not hurt yourself again, have you?’
‘No.’ Stan laughed, lowering his leg. ‘I was explaining to Faye here?—’
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to go into the house and sit down. My leg is rather sore standing here. Thanks for your suggestion, Stan,’ Faye said, smiling at them. ‘I’ll certainly give it some thought.’ She turned to the neighbour. ‘Nice to meet you.’
Joe gave a nod to the pair of them and followed his mother inside, standing by the open doorway to let Skye walk into the house. ‘Sorry about this,’ he whispered.
She seemed amused rather than annoyed, he noticed with relief.
As soon as they were in the kitchen, Joe put the bag of groceries onto the worktop. ‘Here you go, Mum. All safely delivered.’
His mother didn’t seem interested in what he had brought. He turned to see her smiling at Skye.
‘Now, who is this friend of yours, Joe, and why haven’t I met her before?’
* * *
Joe pulled an apologetic face at Skye as he drove them away from the bungalow an hour later. ‘Sorry about that. Mum is lovely but she can be a bit nosy sometimes, especially where I’m concerned.’
Skye grinned. ‘She only wants the best for you, I imagine. Isn’t that what most mothers would do if their child brought someone they don’t know to their house?’
‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘Anyway, I liked Faye.’
‘You did?’ Joe was surprised how happy her comment made him. ‘I’m glad.’
‘She’s such a character. She reminded me of Patsy a bit. Don’t you think they have some similar qualities?’
He thought about the strong, positive, fun woman who came to the island last summer with Melody. The grandmother and her granddaughter had made a massive impact on everyone connected to Hollyhock Farm.
‘Yes, I think you’re right,’ he agreed, slowing the car to an almost crawl as they reached the end of the traffic jam near Beaumont.
Once past the filter-in turn, the traffic began moving more quickly. Eventually, they reached Gorey, and Joe hoped Skye was going to enjoy the places he had planned to take her.
‘Look at that!’ Skye pointed through the windscreen at the majestic castle rising high above them as they drove along the road from Gorey village.
‘What do you think?’ Recalling Skye was used to seeing the grandiose Edinburgh Castle, he added, ‘I suppose you’re used to seeing castles in Scotland. I imagine this is nothing compared to those.’
She laughed. ‘In this instance I am impressed. That’s a pretty castle and it’s very imposing the way it stands so high above those lovely terraced houses below it on the pier.’
‘We can go in if you like, but I thought today we could just stop on the road and take some photos. Maybe go down to the small bay behind the castle green.’
‘I’m happy to do whatever you think.’
‘Fine,’ Joe said happily. ‘Then we’ll start our tour with that.’
Once down on the beach he recalled part of the movie that was filmed there in the fifties. ‘Do you know Rock Hudson filmedSea Devilsin this very bay in the fifties?’
