Page 94 of Somewhere Only We Know

‘I hear ya,’ said Barb, chinking her glass against mine. ‘We could all do with a little mothering now and again.’

‘Will someone answer that goddamn phone!’ yelled a voice.

Barb’s sun-wizened husband pushed himself up onto his elbows and was scowling in our direction.

‘It must be mine.’ I levered myself out of the water and hurried to my sunlounger.

I’d had several missed calls from a number I hadn’t seen for a long time. My shoulders tensed automatically.

‘Hello Mum?’ I wrapped the towel around my waist as I answered.

‘Maggie, at last! I’ve been trying you for ages.’

‘I was in the pool,’ I said, calmly. ‘I didn’t hear the phone.’

She harrumphed. ‘All right for some.’

‘Did you call for a specific reason, Mum, or just to wind me up?’ I perched on the end of my sunlounger and sipped my ice tea, doggedly keeping my temper.

‘I know you’re having a lovely long holiday but I’m afraid I need you to come back and help me. I’m in a bit of a mess and there’s no one else I can ask.’

‘What do you mean, a mess?’ She was my mother and, regardless of our past history, of course I’d help her if she really needed me to.

‘I kept putting it off and putting it off and by the time I made an appointment the situation was too far gone.’

‘Oh Mum.’ I set my drink down on the table beside me and pressed a hand to my chest. ‘I’m so sorry.’

So she was ill. I felt awful for being so brusque, for not taking her calls or making an effort. And now it looked as if I might have left it too late.

‘Thank you. I’ve been trying to tell you about it, but you wouldn’t engage with me.’

‘I know, I know, I should have listened.’ I closed my eyes and shook my head sadly. When would I learn to tune into those around me and be there for them when they needed it? Maybe it wasn’t too late with Mum. Maybe I could make amends.

‘How are you feeling?’ I asked gently.

‘Wretched. Annoyed with myself. Hopeless.’ She sounded very down, and my heart went out to her.

‘Have you told Kat?’

‘God, no!’ Mum replied. ‘She’ll only worry, and she’s been busy with Sam anyway, he hasn’t been well. High temperature and whatnot, you know how kids are. I’m keeping well away if he’s got the lurgy.’

Poor Sam. I pricked my ears up; this was the first I’d heard of it. I’d send Kat a message immediately to check up on him. Probably wise of Mum to keep away though, if her immune system was already vulnerable.

‘Do you want to talk about it, Mum?’ I probed. ‘Your situation, I mean. I won’t push you on the details, if you’d rather not.’

‘There’s no need to rake it all up. The question is, could you come home and help me make arrangements?’

Did she mean as in final arrangements, a funeral, last wishes, and so on? The thought of another funeral sent waves of dread through me. This was a lot more serious than I realised. ‘Of course I will, Mum. Of course.’

‘Thank you, Magnolia, I knew I could rely on you. Eventually. And I’m sure you must have a fair sum saved by now.’

I was confused. What had money got to do with it? Not to pay for a funeral service, surely. It had to be because there was some sort of private treatment available, I realised. I didn’t have unlimited funds, but I’d do what I could, obviously. ‘Anything your doctor thinks might help is definitely worth considering.’

‘Doctor?’ She gave an exasperated huff. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Well, if you’re ill then—’

‘I’m not ill, for heaven’s sake,’ she snapped. ‘I’m in a financial muddle, that’s all. My lovely new car has been repossessed and I’ve got into arrears with the rent. I can’t bear the thought of eviction at my age, so if you could—’