AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Yes.’ The girl flutters eyelashes that are coated in layers of mascara. ‘Er, you are?’
‘I’m Jack. I live next door.’ I’m taken aback slightly.
‘I’m her granddaughter. It’s nice to meet you,’ she says in a hurry, her confidence evaporating as she disappears.
Seconds later, Gertie comes to the door. ‘Ah, Jack. Come in. I apologise about my granddaughter. Honestly, I don’t know what she was thinking. She should have invited you in.’
‘Really, don’t worry. I thought I’d better come over and inspect the damage.’
Gertie smiles. ‘You are kind, but there’s no need. Two goats couldn’t possibly have done much harm.’
‘We both know that isn’t true,’ I say wryly.
‘Just to put your mind at rest…’ Pulling on ancient boots and a coat that looks almost as old as she is, Gertie follows me outside. ‘Between you and me, you seem to have caused some consternation.’ She nods back towards the house.
‘Oh?’ I look at her, bewildered.
‘I’m talking about teenage girls, my dear.’ Gertie shakes her head. ‘I know how cool they are these days, but I don’t think teenage hormones will ever change.’
Glancing back towards the house, I catch sight of two faces at one of the upstairs windows, recognising Gertie’s granddaughter, who’s with another girl with red hair. Turning back to Gertie, I’m not sure what to say where teenagers’ hormones are concerned.
‘Right. Here we are.’ As we survey the damaged veg patch, there’s an entire row of flattened leeks, the earth scattered with dug up potatoes, and Gertie tries to play it down. ‘Naughty, aren’t they? But it really could have been much worse.’
I shake my head. ‘It shouldn’t have happened.’ There are cloven hoofprints leading up the middle of her veg patch, a ripped-up clump of marigolds that haven’t flowered yet. ‘If you make a list of what they’ve eaten, I’ll replace them.’
‘Jack,’ she says firmly. ‘It’s nothing more than a few vegetables. They needed eating. And as for the marigolds, they grow like weeds. There really are more important things in life.’
It’s typical of Gertie not to make a fuss. Plus, of course, as we both know, she’s right and with a few hours to spare, there’s something else on my mind.
Back home, I stoke up the wood burner and open my laptop to continue my search for Rose’s beau. But like last time, I scroll for ages, finding nothing.
Close to giving up, after making a mug of coffee and sitting back down, I persevere a little longer, when out of the blue on page twenty-five of a google search, I find a name. Clicking on the document, as I read it, my heart sinks.
‘I’ve found the man Rose has been looking for,’ I tell Tilly at work the next day.
She looks relieved. ‘That’s great news! Rose will be so pleased! And in the nick of time…’ she adds more soberly. It’s no secret that Rose’s days are running out.
‘I’m not so sure.’ I pause. ‘Mitchell died, Tilly. About a year ago. How do I tell her?’
She’s silent, and a thoughtful look crosses her face. ‘She’ll take it well. Knowing Rose, it’s probably already occurred to her.’
When I reach Rose’s room, the curtains are drawn back and her eyes are closed. Standing there, I notice the paleness of her skin, the slightest movement of her chest.
‘Hello, Rose. How are you today?’
As she hears my voice, her eyes open before she turns slightly towards me. ‘Tired.’ Her voice is faint.
My eyes wander over to a huge vase of roses and palm leaves. ‘Lovely flowers. You’ve had a visitor?’
‘My daughter – she brought them.’
‘Is she still here?’ The last thing I want is to betray Rose’s secret.
Rose’s eyelids flutter. ‘She left a while ago.’
Mentally preparing myself, I turn back to Rose. ‘Rose? I think I may have found something about Mitchell.’ Knowing hope is the only thing keeping her holding on, my voice is guarded. But after being entrusted with her secret, I owe it to her to tell her the truth.
‘Tell me.’ Rose seems frailer than ever today, her skin paper thin, stretched over jutting cheek bones, but as she speaks, there’s still a light from somewhere deep inside her.
