Which old woman do you think I am? I muttered, setting a steaming bowl of soup and a basket of fresh rolls on the kitchen table. Im only fiftyodd, with a bit of a sagging chin. Am I really that ancient?
Michael, my neighbour, swaggered in from the doorway, his battered flat cap hanging from a hook. Old woman, put something on the table, he shouted, Im so hungry I could eat the whole thing.
Mabel, never one to hide her irritation, snapped back, Which old woman am I to you? Im barely past fifty, not a crone.
He washed his hands, brushed past me and gave my lower back a light pat. And who says Im the lad? Your grandchildren are barely two, that makes you a granny. Im a granddad, and Im proud of it, he laughed, slurping his hot soup.
Keep that at home, not in front of folk, she retorted, eyes flashing. Yesterday, in the shop, you shouted granny, your clogs are in the way! and everyone burst out laughing behind us.
Michael snorted, It wasnt you, it was Mr. Michaelson who dropped his watch and paid the last few pence for it. He shouted so loudly I thought hed fall to his knees and start picking up the floor.
Mabel sneered, Did you buy a different watch for him then?
He shrugged, spoon still in hand, Never mind it.
She pressed on, No wonder your money never stays put, you spendthrift.
When Michael finished his soup and Mabel cleared the dishes, she hesitated before speaking. Michael, theres a story you ought to know. Anthony is arriving, and he isnt coming alone.
His face darkened instantly. Why does he need to be here? Whats his excuse? Go away, youre nobody to me. He tossed Nadine near the register office and drove off. Supposedly shed met his mate before the wedding. The poor girl wept, saying hed just stopped by for a cassette. And this nonsenseno ones backing him. Hes probably dragging someone else along, a citywide scammer. Call him, write to him, do what you like, but I wont see his face again, Michael growled.
Mabel bowed her head, guilt written across it. Im sorry, but theyll be here this evening
Michael slammed the door and, for the last time, said, Deal with them yourself then.
Mabel watched him go, sighed, and found a stonecobbled path ahead. The whole Nadine affair was over. When Anthony announced hed marry her, her heart sank. She never liked hershe seemed polite and demure, but something felt false. When Anthony left in a huff, she didnt mourn long. She was soon engaged to the same old friend. The moral was clear: no smoke without fire. Something was definitely afoot.
Mabel popped a pork pie into the oven. Michael would be back later; hed been out earning his keep. Shed missed her son terribly over the past eight years. Their daughter visited nearly every week, living not far away. Anthony, now older, had taken a toll on her spirit. She wondered how long this would last, and hoped she and her husband wouldnt fall out again.
Anthony arrived just as Mabel had stopped waiting. Michael spent the whole evening teasing her. Watch the window ledge, lovethose curtains will need replacing soon, he chuckled.
Anthony, my boy, Mabel burst onto his chest, tears streaming, my dear son.
She didnt spot the little girl with a backpack until a moment later. Oh, whos this? Whats your name? Mabel leaned down.
The child extended a tiny hand. Im Emily, she said shyly. And you are?
Mabel straightened, looking at her son, then at the girl. Who are you to him?
Anthony set his bags by the door and took a seat. Meet her, Mum. This is Emily, my wife Olivias daughter.
Mabel smiled, pulling the child close. Call me Gran Tess. Youre my granddaughter, after all.
Emily looked up at Anthony. Uncle Anthony, is it true? Is this lady really my grandma?
He nodded wearily. Yes, it is.
Emily gave Mabel a polite hug. Hello, Grandma.
At that moment Michael stepped out of the kitchen. Didnt catch thatwhos the uncle and whos the granddaughter?
Their son jumped from his chair, extending a hand. Hello, Father. And forgive me for the way we spoke before. I was young and hadnt seen life clearly.
Michael grinned, And now youve got a proper look at it?
Anthony sighed, Fully.
His father wrapped him in a firm embrace. Welcome home, son, he said, eyes glistening.
Mabel let out a relieved sigh as the tension eased. After a late dinner, when Emily was already asleep, Anthony finally explained everything.
When I left, I was angry. You didnt know the whole truth, and I didnt want to let Nadine down. I went to see her that night, just to say goodnight, but I found her in the bushes with Victor, and she shouted that she loved him. I walked away, spitting, and left.
That was then, he continued. I drove to the city to my mate Peters place and tried to earn a quick buck until the money ran out. I ended up working as a security guard in a shop. The cashier there, Olivia, was a tiny, frail thing. One day a customer complained about the change, and she broke down in the storeroom. I was there drinking tea and asked, Want me to sort it out for you? She smiled and said, If everyone behaved like that, the shop would never make a profit. Trouble always finds us. I told her, Youve got to get used to it, stop whining. She replied, Im being evicted with my daughter, I have nowhere to go. I asked, How old is your daughter? She pulled out a photo, beaming, Three. While Im on shift, neighbour Mrs. Liza looks after her. Shed take us in, but her son wants the flat, so shes selling it. And my wages wont arrive until next week. She sank back to the till, head lowered.
I didnt fall in love with her at first sight, Anthony said, I just felt sorry for her. It was obvious a scoundrel had cheated that naïve girl and left her with a child. I felt for her, and after my shift I offered her a room in the student hall I was renting. She was hesitant at first, probably scared, but eventually she agreedshe couldnt stay on the streets with a child.
So we lived side byby, swapping chores. She cooked, I washed. We took turns on shift. The child, Emily, was a breezeserious for her age, must have gotten it from her father. After six months we were a proper family.
Two years ago Olivia fell ill. We fought as best we could, but half a year ago she passed. A month before that I adopted Emily so she wouldnt end up in a childrens home. She still calls me Uncle.
Olivia was honest about having a real father whod abandoned her. We fought hard, didnt speak for a week, until she finally told me shed grown up in a foster home and never knew her parents. At eighteen she was ousted from a stategranted flat. Since then she swore to always tell the truth.
Im back because Peter helped me find a decent jobgood pay. Emily has nowhere else to go. I cant take her with me. Could you look after her while Im away earning? It would be a blessing, I swear, Anthony implored, eyes pleading.
Michael and Mabel exchanged a look and answered together, Of course, keep her with us for a week. Let her get used to us before shes thrown into the deep end.
And so Emily settled with her grandparents, feeding the chickens and trying to help Mabel wherever she could. She was terrified of Granddad Michael until he gave her a huge plush bear. She clutched it, laughing, and declared, Granddad Michael, now theres also a bear named Michael!
When their daughter arrived with her own little granddaughter, no extra nannies were needed; she could play and push the stroller herself. Three months later, when Anthony returned from his work abroad, Emily was the first to spot him and shouted, Granddad, Grandma, Dads home! Hooray! and threw herself into his arms.
The adults wept, and Emily finally saw the family she belonged to.
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