We sat down and started to play. ‘I will never forget your nana Edith, Rachel.’
‘I know that, Grandpa,’ I said, surveying the dire hand of cards he’d dealt me.
‘We haven’t been here in Harp Brook that long, but I already feel like a new man,’ Grandpa said, studying his cards. ‘I have my energy back and it’s been fun to have a laugh and a giggle with you and Layla. Yesterday at the Tea Dance, I felt like a young man again.’ He looked up from his cards. ‘Rachel, I want to say thank you.’
‘I haven’t done anything.’
He shook his head. ‘You’ve done more for me in a couple of days than your aunty Karen and uncle Rob have done for me in years. Back home, I feel ancient and alone. Here, I feel alive and ready for adventure. Dorothy and I have a future together.’
‘Grandpa, I don’t want you to rush into anything with Dorothy. Take it slowly. You’ve only known her for five minutes.’ I was sounding more like a mother talking to her lovesick teenage son than a granddaughter to her grandpa.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Connor and Kate were facetiming me from Happy Beans Café after work. ‘How’s everything going in Harp Brook?’ Connor gushed in a mock-posh voice. ‘Are you lady of the manor yet?’
I sat down on the edge of my bed. It was nice to see their grinning faces. Their timing was perfect. It was early evening and I’d come upstairs to have a little break from Grandpa.
‘So,’ said Kate, ‘are you relaxed and chilled out? Hang on – have you cut your hair?’
Connor gasped. ‘Wow – you look sassy and chic!’
I let out a nervous laugh. ‘Thanks. I like it shorter.’
‘Right, tell us about your break so far?’ Kate asked.
‘We’ve been here four days and I’ve broken almost every rule.’
They both laughed. ‘When you’re on holiday, rules must be broken,’ cried Connor.
‘This is not a holiday though,’ I groaned and gave them a detailed account of the events so far.
Connor scratched his head. ‘Crikey, Rachel, you and Grandpa Eric have been busy.’
Kate giggled. ‘I would have paid good money to have been a fly on the wall when you were chatting up the handsome but annoying builder with Eric behind you holding up a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs.’
I tried to lie. ‘He’s not handsome.’
They both burst out laughing.
‘Nice try,’ said Connor. ‘We know you, Rachel. So, it’s kinky times for the newlyweds.’
‘I feel guilty for telling you about the handcuffs. That’s Maddie and Frank’s private business,’ I explained. ‘I am going to be in so much trouble when he finds out about the suit.’
‘What are you going to do about Eric and Dorothy?’ asked Kate. ‘Harp Brook’s answer to Romeo and Juliet.’
I shrugged. ‘No idea. The snow has been a godsend as we can’t go out anywhere, but Grandpa has spent the day telling me about his love for Dorothy.’
‘Does your family know any of this?’ Kate asked.
Connor nudged her. ‘Rachel’s not going to casually update the family WhatsApp with, “Having a great time, Grandpa is in love with a local woman called Dorothy. I’ve allowed the cleaner to move in. We’ve torn one of Frank’s designer suits and Grandpa found a pair of Frank’s pink handcuffs which he waved about in front of the builder. Merry Christmas, fam!”’
Kate chuckled and nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Janice would go crazy on her sun lounger.’
‘Grandpa claims he feels like a new man down here in Harp Brook.’
Connor chuckled. ‘You need to watch Grandpa Eric.’
I nodded. ‘It’s like having a teenage son who is in love with his new girlfriend.’
