Grandpa rubbed his face. ‘I don’t understand Karen’s fascination with this hairdresser as she has always had short hair. It always looks the same to me.’ He yawned. ‘The train was bearable although I did sit next to a woman who told me that we’re going to have a white Christmas. She reckons the snow could be bad in some places.’
I gasped. ‘Snow?’ This was the last thing I needed.
Grandpa nodded. ‘It is going to be worse in the south. Isn’t that where we are going?’
With a groan, I picked up my cup and took a sip. ‘I hope Maddie has wellies as I have a feeling I’ll be spending Christmas searching for her dog in the snow.’
Grandpa frowned. ‘Rachel, we are Maddie’s Christmas dog sitters. We’ll both be looking for Humphrey in the snow if the little rascal runs away.’
I recalled the list of rules Aunty Karen had put on the WhatsApp chat about caring for Grandpa. One of which was that he couldn’t go outside for long in cold weather. ‘Aunty Karen has given me strict orders on keeping you indoors, Grandpa.’
The smile on my grandfather’s face began to evaporate. ‘Rachel, I might be eighty years old, but I am not a delicate antique.’
‘I must look after you, Grandpa.’
He took another sip from his tea. ‘What else have the family said?’
‘They’re worried about you. Don’t worry, I am going to make sure you have a relaxing Christmas. You can put your feet up and eat the meals Aunty Karen has suggested I cook for you. And you can watch your programmes and sleep whenever you want, while I go off searching for Humphrey.’
‘I don’t want to have a relaxing time,’ he barked, his voice tinged with what sounded like annoyance. ‘I don’t want you to be my Christmas carer, Rachel. I love my daughters, but they are wrapping me in cotton wool.’
‘Sorry, Grandpa.’
He smiled. ‘I’m eighty years old. I still live by myself. I cook my meals – albeit by shoving them in the microwave. I creak a lot going up and down the stairs and sometimes I need Karen to run me up to the supermarket. Occasionally in the summer, Robert and I will go to the cricket. I’m doing okay, I think.’
‘Oh… Mum said Aunty Karen cares for you every day.’
Grandpa erupted into a proper belly laugh. ‘She calls in a few times a week but that’s it. I think she’s telling porkies to your mother who lives in Tenerife and has no way of knowing what’s really going on.’
We both tucked into our finger sandwiches. He held one aloft and studied it. ‘I remember years ago when you and Maddie were little. Your mum would give your nan and me a list of what to feed you whilst she went on holiday.’
I grinned. ‘We had to eat crusts, brown bread, and vegetables.’
He chuckled. ‘The second your mother’s car left the drive I told your nan to rip up the list.’
‘Maddie and I loved coming to stay as we would eat biscuits, lollipops, jellied sweets, chips, and white bread sandwiches with no crusts.’
‘How are you, Rachel?’ he asked. ‘I have been worried about you after what happened to your lovely friend, Olivia. Every day I think about how you’re doing. No one should have to lose a friend like that at your age.’
Biting the inside of my mouth to stop myself from crying I nodded.
‘The family are also worried about you,’ he explained. ‘I don’t use that thing they call… ummm… Whatsit… Whats…’
‘WhatsApp, Grandpa.’
He clicked his fingers. ‘That’s the one. Anyway, they all talk about you a lot on there. Bev told me.’
I laughed. ‘Aunty Bev told you?’
‘She’s glad they never talk about her on there,’ he quipped.
A giggle escaped from my lips as he winked at me.
‘Aunty Bev and her wild party days are always being discussed on there.’
We both laughed and carried on eating, talking, and reminiscing. An hour later I noticed he was yawning a lot, so I suggested he go into my bedroom for a nap. Once the sounds of Grandpa’s snores drifted into my flat I forced myself to enter Olivia’s bedroom.
Kate and Connor were right yesterday. I couldn’t sleep on the sofa with a leaking ceiling and the dripping sound. With Grandpa in my room, I would have to sleep in Olivia’s room.
