Helena had planned to say a dignified goodbye, with a speechshe had carefully prepared, but she took one look at her beloved neighbour and burst into tears.
‘What’s happened?’ Margery asked, shocked. ‘What is it, dear? Are you ill, you don’t look yourself at all…’ She wrapped her arms around her, pulling Helena close and patting her softly on the back. Helena crumpled into Margery’s embrace, unable to stop the tears that coursed down her cheeks.
When she finally regained a modicum of composure, Margery ushered her into the kitchen and sat her down with a cup of tea.
‘There, there,’ she passed her a tissue box. ‘Tell me all about it…’
Helena was grateful that Johnny was out, not wishing him to see her in such a state. She sobbed her way through the whole sorry tale, the truth of her relationship with Noah, the panic in realising he had left her, her failure to track them down, her calls to the police begging for help, the injustice of it all. She knew Margery would understand how much she missed them both, especially Raffy. Fighting not to lose control completely, she explained how the tenancy agreement had come to an end and how she was being forced to move to a new room in a new town.
Margery was stunned. ‘That utter bastard. You poor thing… I can’t believe he just left you like that.’ She shook her head, as if trying to wrap her brain around everything she had just heard. ‘So… this new place, you’re on your way there now?’
Helena nodded.
‘Would you like some company?’ Margery took her hand. ‘We could go together if you like?’
‘That’s very kind,’ Helena smiled. ‘But I’ll be okay.’
‘Are you sure? After everything you have done for me, it’s the least I can do.’
‘No, really. I’ll be fine.’ Helena was lying but she couldn’t bear Margery seeing her tiny room, how depressing it all was.
‘You will be alright, my dear,’ Margery said, giving her hand a tight squeeze. ‘I promise you that. Right now, I know everything seems catastrophic. But, with time, youwillbe alright. I remember not being able to imagine a way forward after Jeremy died. ButI found a way, and so will you. You need to be strong; you will start climbing your way out of this mess before you know it. And one day, there will be someone else, I am sure. Someone better. Someone kind. Someone who treats you the way you deserve to be treated.’
‘I can’t imagine there ever being anyone else.’
‘I’m sure.’ Margery smiled. ‘But there will be…’
Helena nodded. She sniffed and blew her nose on one of Margery’s tissues, reluctant to leave the cosy haven of her kitchen.
Unsteadily, she pulled herself up to her feet.
‘Right, I had better get going.’ She attempted a wobbly smile.
‘Do you have a telephone number for your new place?’ Margery asked.
‘I doubt there’s a landline. But you’ve got my mobile number, haven’t you?’
‘Let me see.’ Margery located her address book, a battered floral Filofax, and flicked through the pages. ‘Here, let me write it down now.’ She found a pen and wrote down the number as Helena dictated it. ‘And what’s the address?’
Helena gave it to her.
‘And you have my number?’ Margery asked. Helena nodded.
Margery looked so concerned it almost set Helena off again. She forced a smile in a bid to stop her friend from worrying. ‘I’ll be okay,’ she said as Margery pulled her once more into a warm embrace.
‘Are you sure? You know you are always welcome here, any time of day, or night for that matter. We have the box room, now finally box-free thanks to you – the futon would make a good bed.’
‘That’s very kind of you Margery, but you don’t need to worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll come and see you soon.’
Margery opened the front door. ‘Do you promise?’
‘I promise.’
‘And you’ll call if there’s anything I can do?’
‘I will.’
‘I’m going to miss having you next door.’
