Page 10 of Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society
‘Rev gave me a ring,’ Shirley says, putting her hands on her hips and glancing around the room. ‘He said we should look in on Elizabeth who lives on Elizabeth Street. I said that would be easy to remember.’ She grins.
It’s been a while since Elizabeth has said her address to anyone. When Jon found the house he believed its location meant it was destined to be their home; he didn’t reckon on his wife having to put up with jokes from almost everyone she gave her address to.
‘Nice place,’ Shirley continues. ‘I knew the previous owners. Couple of blokes. They tricked it out. Chintz and whatnot. You’re a bit more …’ She nods slowly. ‘Refined.’
‘My husband’s taste,’ Elizabeth says.
The house is the way Jon wanted it, which is the way she wanted it. It’s a dedication she made, to herself and to him, over the past couple of years.
Shirley’s face drops. ‘Sorry, pet. I didn’t mean to bring him up.’
Elizabeth can tell Shirley knows all about Jon. All about his death, that is. Which means Barbara must too. For a second Elizabeth feels exposed, to think these strangers know something so personal. Then she feels relieved, because she doesn’t have to break the news.
‘You didn’t,’ she says. ‘I did. But I don’t …’ She frowns again. ‘I don’t know what you can do about the garden.’
‘Well … everything!’ Barbara smiles and there is kindness and radiance in it.
‘We’re the Sunshine Gardening Society,’ Shirley says, looking quite pleased about it.
‘Sorry – the what?’
‘We’re a society of lady gardeners who give people a hand,’ Shirley says. ‘Been going on since the fifties. There’s just the two of us at the moment so we’re a bit flat out. When we heard about you, though, we decided to drop some of the other jobs. Temporarily, that is. This is a good project.’
Elizabeth thinks over what she’s said. If this garden is a project – and she doesn’t deny that it would be – they’d be here for a while and paying for gardeners isn’t something she can contemplate. She doesn’t have an income, and the payout from Jon’s life insurance will barely cover her and Charlie’s living expenses. Not even once she finds the job she’s determined to get because she must: she can’t live like this forever.
‘Oh … I …’ She swallows, trying to figure out how to say it without being rude.
‘We’re volunteers,’ Barbara says, smiling again. ‘Just in case you’re wondering.’
‘I … I was.’ Elizabeth smiles weakly in return.
‘We only work on weekends,’ Shirley says. ‘And since there’s just the two of us it’ll be slow. Unless …’ She arches an eyebrow. ‘You’d like to help us with it?’
‘I don’t garden,’ Elizabeth says quickly.
Shirley chortles. ‘I didn’t either. Come on, let’s see what we’re dealing with.’
‘Hi,’ Charlie says, appearing at Elizabeth’s side. He can be shy sometimes yet he’s visibly curious about these strangers, his mouth open and eyes alight.
‘Hello, young man,’ Shirley says. ‘I’m Shirl. Who are you?’
‘Charlie.’ He dips his head then grins, looking up from underneath his fringe.
‘This is Barb.’ Shirl nods towards her companion. ‘Would you like to come to the garden too, Charlie?’
He nods, still grinning, and Shirley looks enquiringly at Elizabeth.
‘Through here.’ Elizabeth leads them towards the kitchen, which has glass doors instead of a wall looking out onto the garden.
Shirley whistles. ‘She’s a big ’un.’ She glances at Barbara, who is smiling enigmatically.
‘What a treat,’ Barbara says. She holds out her arms in a slight V. ‘It’s been beautifully organised.’
Elizabeth looks and sees only mess.
‘Was it like this when you moved in?’ Barbara goes on.
‘No. It was a jungle then. My husband …’ Elizabeth’s voice catches as she remembers the glee on Jon’s face when he saw it, his excitement as he told her everything he could do with such a great big plot of land. ‘My husband cut that all back then designed the garden he wanted. He was out here a lot.’ She smiles but it’s brief, because while the memories of Jon bring her joy, the remembrance of his absence means it’s short-lived. ‘He was sick for a couple of years. It became harder to look after it. And I …’ She shrugs limply.
