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“We have a section of business and legal to the right at the back,” Alice said briskly, more than happy to change the subject.
“Ah, good,” said Delia. “There’s some family law texts I’m having trouble locating; I thought you might have second-hand copies.”
“Quite possibly. The students bring in their textbooks when they’ve finished their degrees.”
“Wonderful!”
Alice watched Delia’s high heels tip-tap determinedly to where she’d pointed. She was gone so long—a good half hour—that Alice actually thought she might have left the shop, until she landed a big pile of textbooks with a triumphant smile on Alice’s desk.
As Alice added up the prices, Delia leaned over the desk conspiratorially. “I’ve been offered a position with Hatchers, the biggest family law firm in Perth.”
Alice made sure her fingers didn’t falter. “Really.”
“I’m so excited, I think I could burst. I haven’t quite plucked up the courage to tell Geoff yet. It’s all such a mess with Miranda filing for divorce and that girl being pregnant—”
Alice’s eyes widened. “Pregnant!”
Delia shook her head. “I know, I know. And now, Archie looks like he’ll be going out on his own. Not sure how big the offer was to get him to agree… the three of them were squirrelled away in a meeting for hours, but… it’s going to rip a hole in the firm.” Delia laughed hollowly. “Anyway, I started to think aboutmyneeds in all of this. And realised I have to work or I’ll go insane. There’s only so much organising hockey tournaments and baking cupcakes for school fetes a woman can cope with. By your fourth it’s a bit likeGroundhog Day.”
Alice nodded, even though she could never imagine feeling like that about her children. But really, who was she to walk in another woman’s shoes?
Delia pulled out her credit card. “Geoff and I will need to have a serious talk. I am going to stand my ground no matter what he says.”
“You must. Absolutely,” Alice agreed. Delia may be whippet-thin, but she had metal in her bones after all. “Good luck with telling him.”
“Oh, don’t worry.” Delia smiled sweetly. “I’ll win.”
As she turned on her heels to leave, she looked younger, more vibrant somehow; there was none of the wistfulness in her eyes Alice had noticed when she met her. As if Delia’s life had suddenly become an adventure. It struck Alice as the look of a woman who had finally had the courage to follow her heart.
As Delia reached the door Alice called out, “Oh, Delia, I forgot to mention, I’ve found you a copy ofNorth and South.”
Delia turned with a perplexed frown.
“The book by Elizabeth Gaskell,” Alice explained. “We discussed it at the cocktail party. Would you like it?”
Delia hesitated. Glanced down at her bag bulging with family law books. “You know what, Alice, I’ll give it a miss. I’m not going to have time to read novels for a while.”
And with a wave she was gone.
* * *
The house looked stunning. Even Aaron could appreciate the lengths Andrea had gone to.
The flower arrangements were gargantuan; streamers cluttered the usually simple walls, his and Oliver’s picture board stood on an easel in the drawing room. Yes, he was proud of his efforts. The only worry was his hope that Gran wasn’t having a forgetful day and would remember who everyone was. But apparently, Andrea had told him, reminiscence therapy really helped to ground people with dementia.
He hoped he’d done Gran’s life credit.
Dad was in a great mood, helping cut egg and cucumber sandwiches, his big hands working with unusual finesse under Andrea’s careful instructions.
Mini quiches. Cheese and pineapple on sticks. Tiny prawn cocktails with fanned out avocado drenched in bright pink sauce. It was retro heaven. Good on Andrea. She had a knack of making things special.
Then the guests started to arrive. All ages, but mostly over eighty. He hadn’t realised how many friends Gran had. How many people adored her. He guessed she’d done bring and buy stalls at Christmas and Easter, and she’d campaigned tirelessly for better road safety after Mum’s death. She’d given her unconditional love to all who crossed her path and now they were all here to give back to her.
Aaron’s chest filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling. He took a breath. He was beginning to get used to this emotion stuff.
Finally Gran arrived, leaning on her stick, dressed in lilac and looking remarkably like the Queen.
Aaron strode over and kissed her.
