‘This is no time to make jokes. The movers are here. We’re finally going home.’

‘They’re only getting ready to move David in. He’s coming this afternoon with his own furniture.’

‘And we’re moving out. See for yourself. They’re carrying the furniture right down the stairs outside this room.’

‘It’s a beautiful morning,’ Diana said. ‘Why don’t you come out in the garden? Look, it says right here on your board “garden”.’

Constance took the board and stared at it for a long moment.

‘I’m tired of this,’ she said finally. ‘It gets in my way.’

‘It helps you remember,’ Diana said.

Constance took the cellophane and lifted it up. The day’s instructions vanished. Then she looked at Diana with a defiant grin. Diana laughed, loving the freedom of that gesture, but it reminded her, too, that Constance also conferred authority and could withdraw it on any whim.

Constance looked down at the suitcase.

‘Where are we going?’

‘We’re not going anywhere,’ Diana said. ‘I’ll put that away.’

She removed the few clothes, a random mixture of her own and Constance’s and put the suitcase back in the closet while Constance stood watching her.

‘Well, tell me where we are if you think you’re so smart!’ Constance demanded.

‘Come into the garden, and I’ll show you.’

Even in the garden Constance walked about looking at the shrubs and flowers as if they were in a little park. Diana could recognize a garden of Constance’s wherever she had designed and cared for it. At the moment Constance couldn’t, though it was her own. But she was less agitated here away from the activity in the house.

‘I like this,’ she said finally, smiling at Diana, ‘but isn’t it time to go?’

At that moment, Mike opened the new door and called to them, ‘We’re on our way. Don’t forget to fix the front door when you come in.’

‘Thank you, Mike. I’ll be right there.’

‘You seem to know all these people by name,’ Constance said.

‘Yes, they’re my great-nephews.’

Constance looked at her oddly. ‘Do you think you’re related to everybody?’

‘There certainly are more of my relatives around than we’re used to,’ Diana agreed. ‘Come on. I’ll make us some lunch.’

Diana persuaded Constance to rest after the meal, but shortly the noise of David’s furniture being moved in disturbed her, and she stood in the doorway of their bedroom peering out at the sound of approaching footsteps and then ducking back behind the door before anyone could see her there.

‘Constance, I know you’re there,’ Mike called out in a teasing tone.

She glared at him through the crack in the door.

He called again on his way back downstairs.

‘I’m not hiding from you,’ she said, showing herself to him. ‘You’re nothing but a great, silly boy.’