Page 69 of The Second Chance Bus Stop

London

I get off the phone as I walk through Kensington Gardens on my way to drop off a box of chocolates to Hamptons. Mum tells

me the estate agent who helped her is called Eliza and wears sad footwear. I think that description will be sufficient. The

peonies, and the roses and irises are still blooming in flowerbeds behind the black railings but all I can think of is a grass

flower.

I write to her, the call not being nearly enough. What flower are you now?

I find Eliza right away and she seems to recognise me.

‘Edith’s son, hi!’ She is pretty and energetic, and I can imagine her in a promotional video for a new-build eagerly demonstrating

the hot-water tap.

‘I’ve got something for you. A thank you, for being there for her and being so kind,’ I say.

‘It’s no problem at all. She’s become a friend.’

‘I still have a hard time thinking of my mum as having friends.’

‘Oh, she has a lot. A whole village, I’d say. She’s become a bit of a legend around here.’

My mum. The woman who can’t be moved. Which brings me to the other reason I came to see Eliza.

‘I’ll have to keep that in mind when we look for care homes. She’s agreed to move, but only on the condition that you sell

her house and that the sale process involves many teas, coffees and chats. She has accepted she’ll lose Hornton Street and

the bus stop, but she hasn’t accepted that she’ll lose you and everything else this place gave her.’

Eliza smiles.

‘I’d be happy to. And we’ll stay friends. Tell her we can try for an open house-style viewing if she would like a bit of a

crowd and refreshments.’

I nod. It sounds perfect.

‘Did you know she set up a neighbourhood food bank while you were away? Milk, flour, eggs and, bizarrely, tape. She has regulars.

An open viewing will be just what she needs.’

As I leave the estate agency, my phone pings with Sophia’s name.

I’m currently a touch-me-not (Mimosa pudica) .

I google, and it turns out it’s a real ball-shaped purple plant.

The compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, but usually reopens a few minutes later , the description says.

A sensitive plant. I can work with that.