I tell Dad next morning over breakfast that I’m planningto go out with Madison that night.
But he seems distracted. He keeps looking over my shoulderas if he’s expecting someone.
‘The postman!’ He breaks off in the middle of a sentence, anintense gleam in his eyes. Scraping back his chair, he’s at the door evenbefore the rather surprised postman. He takes the letters and comes back intothe kitchen, and I watch him sifting quickly through the mail, still on hisfeet.
And then I realise.
‘Oh, Dad, it’s your birthday,’ I wail, feeling terrible.‘How could I have forgotten? It’s a special one as well. Sixty. Honestly, mybrain is worse than useless these days.’
He shakes his head, dropping the mail onto the table, and Iget up and he gives me a big bear hug as I whisper into the warmth of hisjumper, ‘Happy birthday, Dad.’
And then it hits me.
He was hoping for a birthday card from Mum.
I guess because it’s a milestone birthday, he was hoping shemight remember and acknowledge it.
‘Oh, Dad.’ I cling to him tightly, a tear escaping. ‘I’m so,so sorry.’
‘It’s all right, love,’ he murmurs. ‘I really wasn’texpecting you to remember.’
‘I didn’t mean that. I meant I’m sorry that...’I trail off miserably, not wanting to make things worse by actually mentioningMum. But he must have guessed what I was going to say because he sort of slumpsa little.
My throat is aching. My dad is a big man but suddenly I feellike the parent.
*****
I feel terrible about forgetting Dad’s birthday, but whenI go onto the Barnham Books website, I’m relieved to see that the book I waslooking at for him is still available. It’s a lot of money but Dad deserves it.Hopefully, it’ll make him smile after the disappointment of hearing nothingfrom Mum.
I want to cancel my night out and cook Dad a special celebrationdinner, but he insists I should still go out as planned.
‘Actually, I’ve got some work to catch up on. I’ve got a preliminarymeeting with Max first thing tomorrow morning.’
‘The auditor?’
He nods. ‘It has to be done.’
I peer at him, noticing the dark shadows under his eyes. ‘Youlook tired, Dad. You’re working too hard. Tell Max it’s your birthday and youneed a night off.’
‘I’ll take some time off once they’ve finished the audit.’
‘You promise?’
He laughs. ‘I promise. Now, you’re going out tonight andthat’s an order!’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It feels strange being out of the house for the firsttime since the ghastly taxi ride. But I’m determined not to be defeated byanxious thoughts as I drive to Sunnybrook and park by the village green.
Stay positive! You’ve taken your tablets, you’ve got yoursnack to eat at seven-thirty (I check my bag one more time) and everyone knowsyou’ve been ill so they won’t be surprised if you have to leave early. Everything’sgoing to be fine!
Madison arrives and parks behind me, and we set off on foot,skirting the village green to the café. Passing the bus stop, Madison says asurprised hello to a woman waiting there. And after a brief exchange of news,she turns to me and says, ‘Martha, this is Anna, a friend of Mum’s.’
I smile and we shake hands, and Madison says, ‘Anna,Martha’s a writer. Quite a brilliant one, actually.’
I laugh. ‘That’s very kind of you, Maddy, but I think you’reexaggerating my talents a little.’
‘Ooh, what do you write?’ asks Anna with a friendly smile.
