Page 23 of The Old Gals’ Bucket List

Laila invited Sandra around for dinner the following evening, so that she could see the children before she went on holiday, Don was away in Cambridge so it was just the four of them.

Kali and Rana were full of questions about Spain and what Sandra would be doing there.

She showed them the photo of Keith and Mary’s house, that Patti had sent her.

The children were wide eyed with wonder as they gazed at the photo on her phone screen.

‘There’s a swimming pool!’ Rana exclaimed.

‘And oranges growing on trees!’ Kali pointed to the oranges hanging from the branches.

‘Yes, and lots of other fruit too. I’ll send Mummy some photos when I’m there, so you can see what I’m doing and where we go.

I’ll bring you both a present back,’ she promised, hugging them both.

‘And I want to hear all about your trip to London, and see lots of photos. You are going to have a fabulous time with your Nani and Nana.’ She used the Indian names for maternal grandmother and grandfather, that she had heard Laila use.

‘I’m sure you’ll both have lots of fun.’

‘We will, I hope you do too. It will do you good to get away, give you time to think things over,’ Laila told her.

‘That couple made a formal offer for the house today. I’m talking it over with Don later tonight but am pretty sure we’ll accept it.

The house we liked has come back on the market and these are cash buyers, so we should be able to move in a couple of months.

You can come and stay with us whenever you want and if you eventually decide that you want to move, we can find you a little bungalow nearby, with a small garden. ’

Sandra nodded. ‘I will miss you all but…’

‘But it’s a big move and you’re not sure that you’re ready to make it?’ Laila said softly.

‘I’ve lived here so long. It will be such an upheaval…

I’m still giving it serious thought, but I don’t know if I can do it.

’ She had to think long and hard about this.

Maybe Laila was right, going on holiday to Spain, taking her away from the situation, would give her the perspective that she needed.

Patti had suggested the same, she remembered.

Later, when she was back at home, suitcase packed, passport in her handbag, she felt a surge of excitement. Tomorrow, she was going on an adventure.

Don phoned to wish her a safe journey. ‘Keep in touch, Mum. Make sure you message me every day. I’m worried about you travelling by yourself like this.’

‘I’m not by myself, I’m with Patti, and we’re staying with her brother and his wife,’ she said for the umpteenth time.

‘I know but you’re thousands of miles away from home.’

After reassuring him that yes she would be careful, and keep in touch, and yes she would think about putting her house on the market when she came back, Don ended the call, saying he had to prepare for an important meeting in the morning.

She could almost see the frown in the middle of his forehead, worrying because she was going away with someone he didn’t know and was thinking of remaining in Worcester when they’d moved to Cambridge.

Don didn’t like change, it was a wonder he’d accepted this job, he liked things to stay the same and to have all his ducks in a row.

She knew that he was fretting about her and she felt a little guilty about that.

‘You’re not doing anything wrong, you can’t live your life how Don wants you to,’ she reminded herself.

A text pinged.

Patti

All packed?

Sandra

Yep. Can’t wait! Have you got your passport?

Patti

In my bag.

Sandra

Good. How are you feeling?

She knew that Patti was anxious about the flight.

Patti

My stomach is in knots but I’m going to do it. You know what they say, Feel the fear but do it anyway!

She admired Patti for her sheer grit. They were both taking the train to the airport tomorrow, not wanting to leave either of their cars in parking for two weeks.

It was a straightforward journey, changing over at Birmingham New Street station to the airport, which was perfectly manageable with only a 10kg case and hand luggage.

Hopefully it would give them both chance to relax rather than have to deal with the heavy traffic on the motorway.

Despite reassuring Don that she was perfectly fine she was a little apprehensive about the holiday, after all she had only reconnected with Patti a few weeks ago and didn’t know her brother and sister-in-law at all.

It will be all right, Sandra told herself.

You can do this. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

That they didn’t get on, and she lost her friendship with Patti too.

You’re good with people, you can be diplomatic, you had years of experience working in customer services, just take yourself out of any difficult situation, she told herself. Anyway, think positive. You’ll probably all get on and have an absolutely fabulous time.

She felt lighter, happier than she had done for a long while and even though grief for Brian still frequently hit her, bringing on a fresh wave of anguish, she was coping much better. She walked over to the sideboard and picked up the photo of Brian in the frame.

‘I’ll always love and miss you, Brian, and I know you’d want me to live my life. To make it count for both of us.’

She could imagine him now, a twinkle in his eyes. ‘You go for it, Sandra. Good for you,’ he’d say.

He’d always wanted her to be happy. She blinked the tears from her eyes. When Brian had died it had seemed impossible to be happy without him, but now she was ready to try.