Page 92 of The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge
‘She certainly does,’ she’d laughed.
And so it proved. Nancy had rejected a plan to take her to hospital once the boat reached the staithe. Instead, her rescuers had reluctantly agreed to drive her to Springfield Cottage. There, Cara received her while Stef and Ted made their way back by road.
Ted, Stef thought as she returned the photograph album to its place on the shelf, had been brilliant today. Once Nancy had gone, not only had he waded into the house to check that her menagerie were indeed clear of the water, but he managed to phone the emergency number for the visitors’ centre to warn Josh about the flood and to arrange for the creatures to be collected and looked after. Josh,sounding unusually concerned, had promised to start out at once.
Ted had brought Stef back to the cottage, then gone off to sort out pumping equipment. Now, following reports that the water levels had fallen, he and his business partner Liam were at Dragonfly Lodge seeing what they could do to rectify the damage. Cara was in the kitchen, making a huge lasagne for supper. Aaron, who’d arrived at breakfast time, had been running errands ever since. He’d accepted an invitation to stay overnight, and no, he didn’t mind sleeping in one of the bunks.
‘I wonder when I’ll be able to go home,’ Nancy said dreamily.
‘I don’t know,’ Stef replied. The old lady had not taken on board the momentousness of what had happened and the likely state of her house. It was the shock, she supposed. Aaron would have to have a serious talk with her.
‘I can guess what you’re all thinking.’ Nancy was sharper than she’d let on. ‘That I should move.’
‘We’ll know more about the extent of the damage when Ted gets back.’
Nancy gave her a long, mournful look. ‘I think it must be bad. All the furniture downstairs will be wet. And some of the books.’
Stef bit her lip. ‘I expect a lot can be dried out.’
‘That might take time.’ Nancy spoke quietly, as though to herself. ‘We’ll see.’
Before Stef could question her further, her mother came in to ask if Nancy wanted more tea.
Nancy smiled. ‘No, thanks. I’ve had enough to float a battleship. And we don’t need any more boats launched today!’
‘I quite agree,’ Stef said fervently while her mother laughed, then they looked up at the sound of a car outside. ‘It’s Aaron,’ Stef said. ‘I’ll go.’
When she opened the front door, he was right there close and their eyes locked. She felt her cheeks grow hot and had to look away. ‘How was it?’ she murmured as she admitted him.
‘The cattery’s lovely,’ he replied. ‘Not cheap, though.’ He went in to greet his grandmother, who sat up, concerned. ‘Tabitha looked perfectly happy,’ he assured her. ‘It’s really a cat hotel if you ask me!’
‘That is marvellous.’ Nancy relaxed.
As she spoke, the mass of Ted’s van darkened the window. It was Cara’s turn to answer the door and all eyes turned to Ted as he entered the room.
‘There’s good news and bad news,’ he said, his face solemn. ‘The good news is the water’s gone down. There’s no more rain forecast and the tides won’t be as high. But.’ He sighed. ‘Less good is the damage. It’s not just your furniture and your books. The walls are old plaster and it’s sodden. You’ll want to let your landlord know. He’ll need to sort it out.’
‘I’ve already phoned his office,’ Aaron said quietly.
There was silence for a moment as Nancy digested all this. ‘I see,’ she said finally. ‘Thank you very much, Ted, you’ve been ever so kind.’
After supper, at which she sat toying with her food with sadness in her eyes, Nancy excused herself and said she’dlike to go to bed. Cara went up with her to make sure that she had everything she needed. Ted and Aaron helped Stef with the washing-up, then Stef asked Aaron if he’d like to walk Baxter with her.
‘Of course,’ he said, reaching for his jacket.
It was a beautiful evening, the world still fresh from the rain. Fleeing shreds of grey cloud streaked a sky of purple and gold. Baxter, energized by the evening scents, pulled on his lead, then stopped suddenly to sniff at something, causing Stef to bump into Aaron. She laughed as she apologized, but Aaron merely smiled. He was distracted this evening, not fully present, and they walked on in silence.
‘What are you thinking?’ she asked eventually.
‘Oh, you know, what to do about my grandmother.’
‘Mum’s really happy to look after her for the moment.’
‘I know. She’s being immensely kind. You all are. But what will happen next? What if I can’t persuade her that it’s time to move?’
‘It’s only just happened, Aaron. It’s too soon for her.’
‘But I can’t keep coming up and down the motorway. It isn’t sustainable.’ She felt his frustration.
