interview those women.”
He still hadn’t done anything about Monika’s present. The Antiques Centre would be closed now, so it’d have to wait. Her birthday wasn’t until the end of the week anyway. He needed to think, but his head was full of clutter. Monika was only part of it; there was also his mother. She was old and frail. He saw as much of her as he could, but he still felt guilty about the situation. He knew this couldn’t continue. One day soon he’d get the call, and he’d feel even worse for not having done more. But at least he’d got her into the home, a good one. The residents were well looked after, Monika saw to that. He had no worries on that score.
* * *
Well looked after and kept warm. In fact the place was so hot the air hit him like a blow torch as he went through the front doors. It was a sauna. No fear of his mother freezing to death, not in here. Calladine walked down the corridor towards the sitting room, shuffling his overcoat from his shoulders as he went.
“Tom!” Monika greeted him, coming out of her office.
She was a few inches shorter than he, and struggling with her weight. Her dark hair was beginning to grey down the parting. She looked tired; like him she had a lot on her plate.
“You look beat.” She frowned, cupping his weary face in her hands. “Trouble?”
“Could be.” He nodded. “In fact, yes, big trouble, my instincts are telling me. I’ll look in on Ma, then finally I can get back home.”
Monika kissed him on the mouth and stroked his cheek. He put his arm around her waist and held her close for a moment. This brief moment of affection made Calladine uncomfortable.
What was wrong with him?
Monika was a good woman; he could do a lot worse. He should think more about settling down properly, and he’d known her for a good while. But was that enough? There was a time when their relationship had been vibrant; when she sparked something in him. But since their last breakup things had changed — she’d changed. She’d aged, and put on the weight. She carried it well because she was tall, but it was there nonetheless. He was a selfish prick. This woman was the closest thing he’d had to a girlfriend in years, and he had the temerity to be picky.
“She’s not been well today. Her legs are bad again,” Monika warned. “They’ve been bandaged, and she’s grumpy and a bit confused. I asked the doctor to see her, and he left some medication.”
“Her legs?”
“Cellulitis, Tom. It’s common enough in the elderly when they’re sitting around a lot.”
“Confusion . . .” He shook his head. “She used to be as sharp as a pin.” This was something he found hard to adjust to. He was aware that she was forgetting things more and more; he just didn’t want to admit that she was slipping further away from him.
“We’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry.” Monika was reassuring. “She’s in there.” She nodded towards the sitting room. “Watching the telly and drinking tea.”
“Look, I might be busy this week.” He was paving the way for his probable absence. “I’ll arrange something for your birthday though. I won’t forget, I promise. A meal at that Italian, the one that does the wonderful Carbonara?” he suggested hopefully.
“Suits me. Perhaps you’d consider staying over at mine too. Give a girl a proper treat.” She winked at him.
Calladine bent down and brushed her lips with his own. He smiled and nodded, but he’d have to think about that one. He knew already he’d make some excuse and duck out of it. He didn’t know what it was, but since they’d rekindled this relationship, he’d kept Monika very much at arm’s length.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, because he did. At one time he’d positively lusted after her. But that was a long time ago, when she’d been married to Ruth’s brother. Perhaps it had been a case of simply wanting what he couldn’t have. These days she was more of a friend, a comfort,
He still hadn’t done anything about Monika’s present. The Antiques Centre would be closed now, so it’d have to wait. Her birthday wasn’t until the end of the week anyway. He needed to think, but his head was full of clutter. Monika was only part of it; there was also his mother. She was old and frail. He saw as much of her as he could, but he still felt guilty about the situation. He knew this couldn’t continue. One day soon he’d get the call, and he’d feel even worse for not having done more. But at least he’d got her into the home, a good one. The residents were well looked after, Monika saw to that. He had no worries on that score.
* * *
Well looked after and kept warm. In fact the place was so hot the air hit him like a blow torch as he went through the front doors. It was a sauna. No fear of his mother freezing to death, not in here. Calladine walked down the corridor towards the sitting room, shuffling his overcoat from his shoulders as he went.
“Tom!” Monika greeted him, coming out of her office.
She was a few inches shorter than he, and struggling with her weight. Her dark hair was beginning to grey down the parting. She looked tired; like him she had a lot on her plate.
“You look beat.” She frowned, cupping his weary face in her hands. “Trouble?”
“Could be.” He nodded. “In fact, yes, big trouble, my instincts are telling me. I’ll look in on Ma, then finally I can get back home.”
Monika kissed him on the mouth and stroked his cheek. He put his arm around her waist and held her close for a moment. This brief moment of affection made Calladine uncomfortable.
What was wrong with him?
Monika was a good woman; he could do a lot worse. He should think more about settling down properly, and he’d known her for a good while. But was that enough? There was a time when their relationship had been vibrant; when she sparked something in him. But since their last breakup things had changed — she’d changed. She’d aged, and put on the weight. She carried it well because she was tall, but it was there nonetheless. He was a selfish prick. This woman was the closest thing he’d had to a girlfriend in years, and he had the temerity to be picky.
“She’s not been well today. Her legs are bad again,” Monika warned. “They’ve been bandaged, and she’s grumpy and a bit confused. I asked the doctor to see her, and he left some medication.”
“Her legs?”
“Cellulitis, Tom. It’s common enough in the elderly when they’re sitting around a lot.”
“Confusion . . .” He shook his head. “She used to be as sharp as a pin.” This was something he found hard to adjust to. He was aware that she was forgetting things more and more; he just didn’t want to admit that she was slipping further away from him.
“We’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry.” Monika was reassuring. “She’s in there.” She nodded towards the sitting room. “Watching the telly and drinking tea.”
“Look, I might be busy this week.” He was paving the way for his probable absence. “I’ll arrange something for your birthday though. I won’t forget, I promise. A meal at that Italian, the one that does the wonderful Carbonara?” he suggested hopefully.
“Suits me. Perhaps you’d consider staying over at mine too. Give a girl a proper treat.” She winked at him.
Calladine bent down and brushed her lips with his own. He smiled and nodded, but he’d have to think about that one. He knew already he’d make some excuse and duck out of it. He didn’t know what it was, but since they’d rekindled this relationship, he’d kept Monika very much at arm’s length.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, because he did. At one time he’d positively lusted after her. But that was a long time ago, when she’d been married to Ruth’s brother. Perhaps it had been a case of simply wanting what he couldn’t have. These days she was more of a friend, a comfort,
Similar Books
