Page 22 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

I went downstairs, irritated with myself. How could I reset my body clock? I found the kitchen. A note on the counter caught my attention:

I made pasta. Help yourself. Raven.

That was thoughtful of him. For a boarder, he was helpful. He hadn’t needed to do that, and I appreciated it.

The pasta was in the fridge. I reheated it in the microwave. When had my husband last made anything for me other than a piece of toast? I couldn’t remember.

After eating, I explored the house. It was much larger than it appeared from the outside, stretching backwards at least three times as far as it was wide. Downstairs, besides the kitchen, was a large, comfortable and surprisingly modern living room, a spacious dining room with one end converted into a study area, a bedroom with en suite that would be Aunt Ruth’s when she returned home, and a separate bathroom. There was also a guest bedroom. I exclaimed in delight when I opened another door off the hall. Instead of opening into a closet, a library with bookshelves on all walls and comfy armchairs in the centre of the room spread out before me.

A warm glow pulsed through me. I would love living here.

Upstairs was another separate bathroom, plus the rooms Raven and I had. The other doors were closed. I guessed they were bedrooms or other private rooms. I wouldn’t intrude, though I was curious.

Back in my room, I video called Rose.

‘Hello?’ Rose answered in a drowsy voice. Bleary eyes topped with last night’s mascara stared out at me.

‘You should see this place, Rose. Aunt Ruth has the most amazing house. It’s got a library!’

‘Mum, it’s only seven in the morning on a Saturday. I was out late. Did you have to call this early?’

Oops. ‘I only wanted to let you know I got here safely, love.’

‘That’s great, Mum, but you did text me. Next time, remember, there’s a huge time difference.’

‘I will. Is everything all right with you?’

‘Yes, everything’s good. Don’t worry.’ Rose yawned. ‘Is Great-aunt Ruth out of hospital yet?’

‘No. I’ll see her tomorrow before I start job hunting.’

‘Sounds great, Mum.’

We talked for a while. I could almost convince myself it was like being at home on the phone to my daughter, where she wasn’t far away, less than an hour’s flight. Almost. The call’s sound quality was crystal clear, and there wasn’t even a noticeable lag, but that was deceiving. She was no longer a short flight away.

When our conversation was over, anxiety swept through me. I was literally on the other side of the world from Rose. It wasn’t possible to be any farther away while being on the same planet.

Had I done the right thing by upending my entire life and moving to the UK?

***

I STAYED UP HALF THE night and slept the second half, anticipating this trick might reset my circadian rhythm, or at least give it a shove in the right direction. Now it was my Saturday morning. In Wellington, Rose would head out with her friends in a couple of hours for a Saturday night out.

After a quick breakfast, I checked the map to determine the way to Kingston Hospital. As luck would have it (or not), it was on the far side of town, too far for me to walk. My downstairs bits had recovered from the operation, but I hadn’t got back to my usual self energy-wise yet. Maybe I never would.

What were my options? Taxi? Bus? Eventually, I’d need a more permanent solution. Especially after I landed a job.

Raven strode into the kitchen. Once again, he wore an open-neck shirt that drew my attention. His deep brown eyes regarded me as he smiled shyly at me. ‘Morning, Heather. Sleep well?’

‘Morning, Raven. I didn’t sleep well at all. I didn’t realise jetlag was a real thing. It’s really got its grip on me. Do you have that problem when you’ve been flying?’

He stopped in his tracks and cocked his head as if he was considering his answer. ‘No. Can’t say I ever have.’

I fanned my face with my hand, as I was hot. ‘I’m going to visit Aunt Ruth. Can you tell me the easiest way to get to the hospital?’

‘You can drive. Ruth has a car you can use. The keys are on the sideboard in the hall.’ Raven sauntered towards the toaster and stuck two slices of rye bread inside.

‘Great, thanks.’ That was one minor problem solved. Now, why was it so hot in here? Was the toaster faulty?

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