Page 37 of Lessons in Life

‘And, for heaven’s sake,’ Lisa continued the one-way argument with herself, ‘Sorrel isn’t sixteen yet. Far too young to be starting with porphyria.’ And, she reassured herself, once she’d thrown up, Sorrel had appeared much better and, rather than staying at home, which Lisa had said she should, she’d insisted on Lisa dropping her back at school. Said she justhadto get back to school as she was sitting mock GCSEs in the next couple of days.

‘Oh, my little girl.’ Lisa put her hand to her face and realised she was crying. Bad enough talking to the roses, but now actually crying was not a good sign. And hell, she didn’t appear to be able to stop. She fished for a non-existent tissue, wiping her eyes and nose on her shirt sleeve.

‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine, thank you.’ Lisa sniffed and turned, trying to smile at the newcomer who’d appeared almost silently at her side. ‘Oh, Eloise. Hello.’

‘Have we been introduced?’ Eloise looked puzzled. ‘And Granny won’t be pleased that you’ve been at her roses, you know.’ She handed over an embroidered handkerchief. ‘Here you are. Nothing’s ever as bad as you think it is.’

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‘There’s mildew and leaf spot on the winter pansies,’ Eloise said, bending down to remove a couple of the affected leaves.

‘You’ll get your hands dirty,’ Lisa replied, giving a few final sniffs and putting Eloise’s hanky up the sleeve of her shirt. ‘I’ll wash this and get it back to you. Thank you,’ she added.

Eloise waved a hand dismissively. ‘I’ve a drawerful in my bedroom at home. Do keep it…’ She broke off as Bex appeared at their side, a rather lovely camel cashmere coat over her arm.

‘Ah, Eloise, there you are. Come on, we’ve got all the board games out. Clarissa needs a partner for Snakes and Ladders.’ Bex held out her hand.

‘Just like at prep school on wet playtimes.’ Eloise gave Bex such a look, Lisa wanted to laugh.

‘She’s OK here with me, Bex.’

‘Oh, it’s far too cold to be out here.’

‘I’m not a child,’ Eloise said indignantly. ‘Although if I stay in this place much longer, I’ll have reverted to being one. Pass me my coat, would you? I’ll stay and help the gardener. I think the state of Granny’s roses have upset her.’

Bex glanced across at Lisa, taking in her tear-strewn face. ‘You OK, Lisa? Jess said you hadn’t been well.’

‘I’m absolutely fine and more than happy to have Eloise out here with me. Mind you, I think she could do with an old coat and some gloves if she’s going to get stuck in.’ Lisa took Bex to one side as Eloise continued to examine the pansies. ‘She seems absolutely…with it, Bex. And she’s only what? Early seventies? Why on earth is she in a care home for the elderly, for heaven’s sake?’

‘Dementia. I gather Eloise set the kitchen on fire when she left a pan on the stove and forgot about it. She’s been wandering the streets; the police have had to find her and bring her back on a couple of occasions. I think the idea is that she’s here to give the husband a bit of a break. He’s almost eighty and not in good health himself. According to him she’d become too much for him. Aggressive even.’

‘And her children?’

‘Not sure. One lives in Australia, I believe. There’s a daughter, although I think there’s a problemthereas well.’

‘A problem?’

Bex gave a subtle indication with her hand that the problem was alcohol.

‘Oh, right. It all seems a bit strange to me. Anyway, leave her out here with me. She seems to know what she’s doing and I’ll bring her back in when she’s fed up or if she gets too cold.’

‘You sure? I’ll get Bianca to bring out an old coat. There’ll be one somewhere.’ Bex patted Eloise’s arm and headed back down the garden to the house.

‘So, do you have children, Eloise?’

‘I have four.’

‘Four? I’ve three myself.’ Lisa turned back to the roses.

‘Don’t think Granny won’t be after you.’ Eloise raised an eye. ‘She hated cutting anything back too much.’

‘Granny?’

‘Yes, of course. She lived here until Daddy took over the mill and we moved here when Grandpa Frank died. Mummy refused to have Granny living with us – they never got on – so Granny agreed to move to a much smaller house in the village. A lovely cottage down by the duck pond. But, only on the condition that she be allowed back to do the garden.’

‘Oh?’ Lisa didn’t turn, realising that Eloise was much more likely to talk if she wasn’t being barraged with questions.

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