Will You by S J Crabb

Author:S J Crabb [Crabb, S J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-24T06:00:00+00:00

23

One hour and thirty minutes later, after the most excruciating journey, we pull up outside a house that I can only describe as belonging in Midsomer Murders. Crumbling bricks are decorated with trailing ivy holding them together and a garden that was once great wraps around the property. There is no sound other than birds singing beautifully in the old oak trees that dominate a garden that has seen better days. Briefly, I wonder why Aunt Alice doesn’t spend her money on herself because this house needs a complete overhaul.

We all pile out of the car and I’m just grateful to stretch my legs because even though there was a lot of room in the back of the car, I feel as if I was born there due to the interminable length of that journey.

I watch with amusement as Ariadne takes a selfie of herself and Godfrey and hashtags the life out of the picture for Instagram. #familydaysout #mylove #familymatters #lovemyman #memories are now plastered over cyberspace reminding the rest of the world what life’s all about.

James and Amanda lead us forward and knock on the large wooden door that hides under a crumbling porch.

However, the lady who answers the door is nothing like I imagined. Standing before us, beaming happily, is possibly the healthiest pensioner I have ever met.

Aunt Alice is tall and willowy and appears to be dressed in fitness gear. She is wearing lycra leggings with an oversized sweatshirt and her grey hair is held back by an Alice band. Her eyes shine with excitement and I find myself smiling with genuine warmth as she beams around at us all. “Welcome, come in, come in, don’t stand on ceremony.”

She ushers us inside and I look around with interest. Bare wooden floors, hold in place antique furniture that was probably once considered chic and designer. Now, however, it could use a good coat of Annie Sloan paint to bring it up to speed with the modern world. Dark panelling creates a gloomy entrance and the rest of the house isn’t much better.

As we follow her into her living room, I can smell the mustiness that comes with age as I take in the large tapestries on the walls and the silver polished candlesticks and photo frames set around the room. The settee is woven with intricate bird and flower designs and looks as if it holds all the dust of the past in its cushions. I wish I’d taken an antihistamine because this much dust is sure to bring out my allergies.

There are none of the modern conveniences we take for granted here. Old wall lights hug the walls, looking as if they are on their last legs, under their yellowing shades with fringing around them. The ancient TV that sits on a side table looks at us apologetically from the corner of the room and I wonder if it’s even a colour one. French doors lead to an impressive garden that looks as if it went to

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