The Loner by Rachel Ennis

Author:Rachel Ennis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press

Chapter Eight

By 8.30 the following morning Jess had eaten breakfast, washed up, emptied the ashes, and re-laid the fire. As she folded dry clothes for ironing later, she mentally planned her day. Before she could phone the Record Office to book an appointment she had to look up the reference numbers of the documents she wanted to access. She had intended doing it last evening. Her heart lifted and memories made her smile.

She picked up the stack of towels and had one foot on the stairs when a knock on the front door stopped her. Turning back she opened it.

‘Rob! What a lovely surprise. Come in.’ Studying her son, Jess saw dark shadows under his eyes and tension in his shoulders. Sympathy vied with concern. But knowing how he hated ‘fuss’ she kept her tone light. ‘Busy weekend?’

‘Busy week, and the last two days have been hellish. Drunks, drug overdoses, and a three-car pile-up on the bypass.’

‘Sit down, love.’ Jess dropped the clean towels on the sofa. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

‘I won’t stop. I just wanted to tell you that Helen won’t be over for a couple of weeks.’

The groove between his brows and strain bracketing his mouth could be due to the demands of the A&E department in Cornwall’s largest hospital.

‘She’s not poorly, is she?’

‘No, she’s fine. Growing like a weed.’ He sank onto a chair and, resting his elbows on the table, rubbed his face. ‘I’m sorry, Ma.’

‘It’s OK, Rob. Really. Coffee or tea?’

‘I really shouldn’t stay.’

‘Tea it is. And a bacon sarnie.’ Switching on the kettle, Jess took bread from the bin and a pack of bacon from the fridge. ‘You could have phoned me about Helen. So I’m guessing there’s more.’ The Record Office would have to wait. She turned on the grill, slotted two slices of bread into the toaster, and opened a drawer to take out scissors and a knife. ‘You’re not ill, are you?’

‘No, just bloody tired. Stop fretting.’

‘I’m your mother. I’m allowed to fret. It’s in the job description. How’s Fiona?’ As a shadow crossed his face, Jess knew this was why he had come. Her heart ached for him.

‘She’s having a hard time at work.’

Jess laid bacon slices on the wire tray and slid the pan under the grill. As the toast popped up she lifted it out and propped the two slices against each other on the breadboard to cool, reaching into the fridge for the spread.

‘Why? What’s happened?’

‘The person who stood in for her while she was on maternity leave doesn’t want to go back to her old job. She’s being obstructive, making it difficult for Fiona to catch up with changes that happened while she was away.’

‘Oh Rob. I’m so sorry.’

‘That’s only part of it. We tried the hospital crèche. But the nurse in charge said Helen wouldn’t settle and cried a lot. That stressed Fiona out even more.’

Jess nodded. Her daughter-in-law had worked hard to reach her present position. Fiona had told her they needed both salaries so taking time out to be with Helen until she started school wasn’t an option.

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