Nothing Left Unsaid by Janey Godley

Author:Janey Godley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

CHAPTER 16

2019

Day ten

Sharon

The weather had settled a bit. I woke up early and got some emails and press releases done, then I spent an hour with my accountant working out my and Steven’s pension details and tax situation. I was just preparing for what might happen and I needed to know my financial situation. I had a lovely chat with Louise and Poppy and ordered some online shopping. I can’t keep living on ‘meals for one’ and it was time to make some Senga Soup, as we called it. After a quick visit to the bin shelter to organise the recycling, I headed off to the café for my daily fix of caffeine – and Clyde.

As I arrived at the coffee shop, Clyde held out a small blue plastic box with clips on the side. ‘I’ve been thinking how I can help, so here’s a wee packed lunch for you,’ he said. ‘I don’t want you to feel you’re alone in this.’

What a nice man, how kind was that? I didn’t know what to say.

‘Thanks, Clyde, that’s really kind of you. You shouldn’t have, honestly,’ I said, and I could feel a flush creep up my neck.

‘Hey, we’re neighbours now, we help each other. It’s just some cold meat sandwiches and a scone,’ he said.

‘He’s never made me a sandwich and I live next door,’ an old man with a bunnet, sitting at the window, said loudly.

‘Archie, do you want a sandwich?’ Clyde shouted over to him.

‘Naw, I’m just saying, you have to have nice legs to get treated well round here.’ Archie laughed and started coughing loudly into a hankie.

Clyde shook his head, handed me my recyclable cup full of coffee and held the door open for me. ‘See you later,’ he said.

The hospital car park was so busy, it took ages to find a space.

Mum was sitting up and looking out of the window; for a woman who was dying she seemed to be outliving everyone else on her ward. She’d seen off two old men in the rooms either side of her and the old lady in the nightgown who shouted at everyone.

Shirley gave me a smile and brought me in a coffee refill. ‘She was asking for you today,’ she said as she tucked Mum’s hair away from her face. Shirley was my hero she was always full of chat with Mum when she looked after her.

I gulped back tears, but sure enough Mum was gripping my hand with a degree of renewed strength. Shirley continued, ‘Someone else came to visit last night – a lady called Philomena? Your mum was asleep so I sent her home again.’

I looked at Mum and stroked her hair. ‘Mum, Philomena was here, remember her? She used to do the football cards and kept chickens? All your pals are like wee hens, Mum, they are all coming home to roost and rally round their pal.’

She opened her eyes and stared at me. ‘Where are Bunty and Isa?’ she asked. It was so good to hear her speak, I almost missed what she’d said and I just stared at her.

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