Page 29 of Merrily Ever After
Emily
28 NOVEMBER
‘Morning, Dad!’ Emily called when she let herself in.
‘Who’s there?’ Ray Meadows appeared from the living room, bleary-eyed and still wearing his pyjamas and dressing gown.
‘Your daughter, Emily,’ she said, kissing his cheek. ‘Who else is going to call you Dad, eh?’
He blinked several times and nodded. ‘Didn’t know you were coming.’
He meant that he’d forgotten. She’d spent hours here last night and had told him multiple times to expect her this morning. She felt a pang of sadness; he’d declined rapidly over the last few weeks. It was hard to keep a smile on her face sometimes and not let him see how upset she was.
‘Well, it’s a nice surprise then, isn’t it. I’ve brought you a fresh sausage roll from the bakery.’ She held out the paper bag. The pastry was still warm and smelled delicious and she hoped that the aroma might help tickle his taste buds into action. She was sure he’d got thinner in the last couple of weeks, and he didn’t have any weight to lose. Still, from now on, he’d have all his food cooked for him and wouldn’t have to rely on memory to eat regularly.Springwood House was expecting him at lunchtime. All she had to do was get him and his belongings there.
Emily felt like she’d been living in the eye of a tornado for the last week. Once she’d contacted Gail to confirm her dad’s place at the home, everything had moved very quickly. But not a moment too soon; he’d got himself into trouble this week for walking out of a shop without paying. The security officer was very understanding about it and the supermarket manager had agreed not to press charges, but it had meant dashing out of work again to the rescue. She’d stayed late at school to make up for lost time, but it wasn’t ideal. Alison needed her there when school was open.
Ray took the bag from her and peered inside. ‘Not hungry. You woke me up. I’ve not been asleep long.’
He seemed to sleep whenever and wherever he liked these days. The other evening when she’d called round after school, she’d found him asleep on the bathroom floor on a pile of towels.
‘Save it for later then,’ she said, leading him into the kitchen and putting the kettle on.
He pulled out a chair and sat at the table. Immediately contradicting himself, he tucked into the sausage roll. She watched him fondly while he demolished it in four bites.
‘I thought we’d go for a walk, Dad,’ she said, brushing the crumbs off the lapel of his dressing gown. ‘Perhaps go to the park and get a coffee from the café? It’s chilly, but the sun is out and if we wrap up—’
‘I can’t leave the flat.’ He looked hopefully into the bag. She regretted not buying more than one sausage roll. ‘I’m waiting for Emily.’
He didn’t recognise her, she thought with a pang, as she put a cup of tea in front of him.
‘OK, well, after you’ve drunk this, why don’t you go and get washed and shaved ready for when she arrives?’
It took some negotiation, but finally Ray was persuaded into the bathroom. She left him to it and went into the living room and waved to her mum, who was waiting in her car outside.
Two minutes later, Tina was at the front door. Emily put a finger to her lips and indicated the bathroom, from where the sound of running water was accompanied by a low tuneless hum.
Tina looked around her, taking in her ex’s living arrangements. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed. ‘Let’s get some windows open, let some fresh air in. Does he know what’s happening?’
‘No. I don’t think he’d take it in,’ Emily replied with a sigh. ‘We talked about it in the week, when his mind was clear, but he’s not with it today. My plan is to take him out of the house while you pack the car for me. Then, when we get back, I’ll tell him he’s got a doctor’s appointment or something and hopefully he’ll go along with it and get into the car. I feel bad about deceiving him, but I don’t want to cause him too much distress either.’
Tina nodded. ‘OK. You’d better give me the tour then before he gets to the end of whatever song he’s warbling.’
Emily quickly showed her where everything was. ‘The big furniture stays with the flat, but that’s OK because his new place is furnished. It’s smaller things to make him feel at home that we need. His footstool, cushions, pictures. Oh, and his records. The manager of Springwood House has said he’ll be able to play them there. And anything else you can think of.’
‘Pillows?’ Tina suggested. ‘I know I sleep much better on my own pillows.’
Emily nodded. ‘Good idea. All his bedding. I managed to pack a couple of bags of his clothes while he was dozing last night. But if you could pack the last few bits, like the stuff on his bed that he was wearing yesterday please, and his slippers. Oh, and another jacket.’ He didn’t own a lot. In fact, going through her dad’s meagre things had made her feel quite sad.
‘What about all his personal stuff, papers and whatnot?’ Tina asked, pointing to a small chest of drawers. ‘Do you want any of that?’
Emily hesitated. Would he want anything other than his wallet today? she wondered. She decided against it. The main priority was to make the transition from this home to the next as painless as possible. ‘Leave them, once I’ve got him settled, I’ll come back and have a proper sort-out.’
‘Understood.’ Tina nodded. ‘I’m proud of you, love.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’ Emily hugged her. ‘And thanks for agreeing to help. Just having someone with me so I’m not in this alone means a lot. Especially when I know it can’t be easy for you.’
‘It does feel odd. But a lot of water has gone under the bridge since your father and I were together.’ Tina smiled sadly and glanced at the saggy old armchair in front of Ray’s ancient TV. ‘I’ve found happiness with Ian, I’m not sure your father has been so lucky.’
