‘Who, dear?’

‘Ben’s.’

‘You know Ben has gone, don’t you Daisy?’

‘I… I thought he would wait… say goodbye’

‘The taxi came and took him. He couldn’t wait apparently.’

Daisy turned to look at the window where the curtains were open just a crack. I could see the tears welling in her eyes.

‘Daisy’ I began. ‘You know as well as I do that you never really knew Ben. Think of everything that has happened: marriage, a baby, a fire, losing your friend and home. How do you think that affected a simple soul like my Ben? Hmmm?’

Daisy didn’t say anything, she just sat staring out of the window.

‘Sometimes, Daisy, knowing too much about someone too soon is a recipe for disaster. Do you know what I mean?’ I looked at Daisy and wondered if my words would impact her. They didn’t. She was in shock. I looked around the room. It needed a hoover and a dust whilst I thought about it and there was a musty smell lingering. I looked at Daisy who was the centrepiece to the disgusting mess all around her.

I began to frantically pick up some clothes of Ben’s which were lying at the end of the bed.

Daisy made a half attempt to lean over and retrieve a sweatshirt that was clearly not within reaching distance.

‘Just leave it, dear, I’ll do it. You need to save all your strength for you and the baby.’

I stood up straight and looked at Daisy who was eyeing me suspiciously. I knew I’d had little to say about the baby until now – the whole seedy affair had disgusted me, the way she had got herself pregnant so soon – but with one parent absent in body and the other in her mind, it was my job to step up and be the grandparent that this child needed me to be.

‘You’re a guest, Daisy. You just stay put and don’t worry. Everything is going to be just fine.’

I looked on at her curiously as I stood there with my arms full of clothes. I felt the irritation rise inside. Then I felt something familiar and I realised why Ben had fallen for her, because even in her depths of grief, the girl managed to look like a figure of elegance.

22

GRACE

At the second cooking lesson, Jenny was there as usual, in her place with Mikee by her feet. I watched Jenny from across the room; she was chatting animatedly to Emily whilst Mikee clung to her legs. I was captivated by her beauty but also at the prospect of having a friend. Someone I could call upon and vice versa. I had never had any sisters or brothers and just being near to Jenny made me feel something. She gave off a beautiful aura.

I looked on longingly. First at Jenny in all her golden splendour, then at the pair of them, mother and son; a tangled mess of love. I was lost in my admiration of her when suddenly Jenny was enthusiastically waving me over.