Page 90 of Waiting for a Bright New Future

“Happy Birthday, dear Shayne, Happy Birthday to you!”

The singing finished and Shayne took a massive breath, filling his cheeks with air until he looked like a hamster. And then he blew. Moving his head slowly around the cake to ensure that he caught all the candles.

“Three cheers for Shayne!” Stuart called. “Hip hip . . .”

“Hooray!”

Across the room from him, Lillian’s face was alight with childish joy and she waved her arms in the air as though she was at a football match. Next to her, Jayne was fighting a frown.

Afterwards, when the cake had been cut and wrapped in pirate serviettes and each boy despatched with the correct parent, Stuart made coffee and served up the remainder of the cake to the adults. Shayne and Eunice bickered gently over the pile of presents that Eunice wanted to investigate but Shayne wanted to keep for himself.

Florence looked pale and tired, but she was smiling. “Nothing got damaged.”

“You were brilliant.” Stuart smiled at her.

“Three cheers for Florence!” Lillian said.

The children started hip-hipping and Jayne frowned again.

It was dusk outside but the bouncy castle was still there, waiting to be deflated and collected.

“I think we should go,” said Jayne.

This time Lillian frowned. “Those weren’t invented when I was a little. Do you think I could . . .”

“No.” Jayne was standing up, motioning towards the hallway.

“Just for a minute.”

“You’ll break a leg, Mother. And then where would you be?”

“Not much worse off than I am now.”

Florence and Jim were watching the exchange without offering an opinion. Stuart could see his own longing reflected in the eyes of his mother-in-law-to-be. He’d never bounced on a giant inflatable either. If he kept hold of Lillian, perhaps she’d be safe. He imagined the joy on her face. But Jayne was her next of kin, she was in charge and she’d hate him if he went against her. But, maybe, he actually knew better than Jayne in this case. He had more experience of caring for older people. He knew that the quality of those final years was of at least equal importance to the quantity of years.

“I’d like to try it out too,” he said slowly. “Lillian, perhaps we could hold each other up?”

“I’m game if you are?” She sparkled.

Jayne bristled but said nothing.

Stuart offered his arm to Lillian and they went out of the French doors. He bent down and removed his own shoes and Lillian’s. The grass was damp and cold through his socks. Jayne had followed them, hovering.

Lillian had to go onto her knees to climb onto the castle. Stuart stayed close behind her so that she couldn’t slip back off. They both crawled into the centre of the inflatable, beneath the rain canopy and well away from the edge. He was surprised how agile the old lady was and wondered if this was the pay-out from the years of yoga classes that she’d attended in a younger life. She was smiling at him.

“Let’s try standing up,” he suggested, slowly becoming upright himself and finding his balance. It felt like standing on a listing ship with a deck that was soft and sank a little with each foot movement. He bent so that Lillian could hold both of his arms as he brought her up into a standing position.

They stood, connected like ballroom dancers about to steam their way to victory inStrictly. Her arms were thin between his fingers and he was suddenly aware of her frailty and the recklessness of bringing her onto the castle. He could suggest they’d done enough and should dismount gracefully but he wanted this joy and youth to remain on her face and in her mind for as long as possible.

“You be the driver.” He raised his voice over the hiss of the machinery keeping the castle inflated. “I’ll walk backwards. You set the speed and tell me if I’m about to bump into something.”

She grinned. Relishing the opportunity to control a tiny part of the life that was left to her. She was leaning forward, all her weight on him as she experimentally shuffled each foot in turn. It was like bearing the burden of an angel. He moved his feet backwards carefully over the undulating canvas. If he went over, both Lillian and his future would go down with him. Jayne wouldn’t marry the man who injured her mother.

“Watch out!” Lillian’s words were snatched at by the inflatable’s hiss.

Stuart glanced over his shoulder, the wall of the castle was inches from his back. He turned slowly, arms still outstretched and concentration fully focused. Their movements were far removed from the boys throwing themselves around but their own personal joys in the moment were greater. Together, synchronised, smiling, they managed a small circuit of the inner castle. Then the applause showered.

He hadn’t noticed the others come outside. Jim was filming, Florence was clapping and Shayne and Eunice were being held back by Jayne. This time he was grateful for her caution — two children bounding onto the castle would have knocked him and Lillian off balance, like a bowling ball against skittles.

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