Part 4 (1/2)

'And Simon's all right with this au pair thing, is he?'

Karen wiped Peter's mouth and replaced his empty plate with a bowl of mashed banana which she began to spoon into his eager mouth. 'We've come to an agreement. He's been complaining that the house isn't as spick and span as it was before, and he says he's fed up with convenience food although we only have ready-meals very occasionally. Adrey will do the housework and some of the cooking as well as taking care of Peter, so he could hardly argue on those counts.'

'Can you afford it?'

'As long as I'm working, yes.'

'And what about your privacy?'

'We're going to make the spare room into a bedsit.'

'And suppose you don't like each other or she proves to be unsuitable? Once she's here it'll be difficult to get rid of her, won't it?'

Karen had the grace to look slightly embarra.s.sed. 'As a matter of fact, she came over last weekend for that very reason and we all got along very well. She's a lovely girl, very practical and down to earth. And most important, Peter seemed to take to her right away.'

'I see, so it's all set in stone, then?'

'Oh, don't be offended, Mum. I didn't want to tell you until we were sure it was the right way to go.'

'Until you were sure it was the right way to go,' Susan corrected. 'I'm still not convinced that Simon approves of your plan. It doesn't sound like his kind of thing at all to me.'

'Well, it'll have to be and that's that!' Karen said. 'Anyway, I reminded him that if the spare room was occupied we wouldn't be able to accommodate Louise any more.' She smiled. 'It was my trump card and it seemed to seal the deal.'

'I suppose that means I'll have to put her up.'

Karen wiped Peter's mouth, took off his bib and lifted him out of his highchair. 'There you are, darling. Off you go and play for a while till bath time.' As he scampered away she looked at Susan. 'I had a text from Louise last week. It seems she got that part she was hoping for in this new musical show so I don't think we'll be seeing her again for a while.'

'A text, eh? That's more than I got not so much as a phone call or a postcard. Did she mention anything about Christmas?'

'Not a thing.'

'Well, at least that's a relief.' Susan stood up. 'I'd better be getting home. It's dark so early these evenings and the buses get full up at the rush hour.'

'I'd run you home but Simon's not in yet and I can't leave Peter.'

'Of course you can't. I wouldn't dream of putting you out.'

Karen shot a quick look at her mother as she walked to the door with her. 'Mum, please don't think we're not grateful for all you've done since I went back to work. I couldn't have managed without you. But you know, you're not getting any younger and an energetic toddler must be tiring for you.'

Susan bridled. 'I'm not ninety, Karen. If Peter had been too much I'd have said.'

Karen bit her lip. 'I'm not sure that you would. Anyway, you know what I mean, Mum.' She laid a hand on Susan's arm. 'You should be enjoying life making new friends, joining things.'

'Like bingo or a sewing circle, you mean?'

Karen chuckled and gave her arm a push. 'If that's what turns you on!'

Susan laughed in spite of herself. 'Well, I hope this new scheme of yours turns out well. But if it doesn't you know where I am. I'm not one to bear grudges. At least, not where my grandson is concerned.'

Karen kissed her cheek. 'Thanks, Mum. You're a real treasure.'

Susan queued in an icy drizzle for fifteen minutes before a bus finally turned up. As she climbed aboard, she saw that it was standing room only and she gave a resigned sigh as she grabbed a strap.

'Please, do have my seat. I'm getting off soon.'

A distinguished-looking man with thick silvery hair was easing himself out into the crowded aisle beside her. He wore a belted trench coat and carried a furled umbrella. Susan looked up into the smiling brown eyes and felt herself blush.

'Oh well, thank you very much but there's really no need. I'm not going very far.'

He inclined his head. 'I insist.'

Susan sank gratefully into the seat and smiled up at him 'Thank you.'

Although he didn't speak again, Susan was acutely aware of him standing next to her in the crowded bus and to her surprise as she stood up at her stop, she saw that he was already alighting onto the pavement. Turning and noticing her, he held out an arm to help her down.

'Please, allow me. Do you have far to walk?' he asked.

Susan shook her head. 'I live in the flats; Snowden House. It's on the next corner.'

'Then please share my umbrella. I'm going the same way. I'll walk along with you. You can't be too careful after dark these days.' He looked down at her with a wry smile. 'Listen to me! No doubt you're wondering why you should trust a man you've never set eyes on before.'

Susan felt herself blus.h.i.+ng again and was grateful for the dusky half-light.

'Not at all. You're quite right and I'm very grateful. You hear of so many muggings and handbag s.n.a.t.c.hes that I don't venture out much in the evening, this time of year.'

'Very wise. I don't normally use the bus but my car is in for servicing today so I don't suppose you've ever set eyes on me before.' He smiled down at her.' I've noticed you on several occasions though,' he confessed as they walked along the pavement. 'I've seen you with a little boy in a pushchair, at the corner shop and occasionally in the park.'

'That's Peter, my little grandson,' she told him. 'I take care of him while my daughter is at work. She's a teacher.' Suddenly she remembered that her services had just been discontinued and added, 'Well, that is to say I used to take care of him.'

'Used to?' He looked down at her. 'But surely he's too young for school?'

'My daughter and son-in-law are getting an au pair; a Dutch girl. Karen, my daughter, thinks I'm past it.'

He laughed out loud. 'Good heavens, these young people! Past it, indeed. The very idea!'

They reached the corner of the street and the entrance to Snowden House.

'This is me,' Susan said. 'Thank you so much for seeing me home. There aren't many gentlemen around nowadays, more's the pity.'

He looked up at the small block of flats. 'It looks very nice but I'm afraid I couldn't bear to live in a flat,' he said. 'I love my garden too much.'

'I've only been here a year,' she told him. 'And I miss my garden too. One of these days I'm going to buy myself a nice little bungalow with a garden.' Remembering Karen's bombsh.e.l.l she added, 'Now that I won't be taking Peter out, I won't get enough exercise. I don't like going for walks by myself and I hate those jolly hockey sticks keep-fit cla.s.ses.'

'I run a gardening club at the local college,' he told her. 'I know you don't have a garden yet but you'd be very welcome to join ready for when you get one.' Reaching into an inside pocket, he took out a card and handed it to her. 'The details are on there along with my telephone number. Think about it and give me a ring.'

Susan stared down at the card, unable to make out any details in the rapidly fading light. 'Thank you. It sounds really interesting. But surely you'll be closing for the Christmas break soon?'