Free Peppercorn Street by Anna Jacobs

there. That’d make so much difference to her life.
     
    On Sunday morning, Winifred’s nephew rang. ‘I’m back in England a bit earlier than I’d expected. How are you keeping, Auntie Win?’
    ‘I’m fine, Bradley.’
    ‘I thought you might like a little trip out to the garden centre this morning.’
    ‘I’d love that.’
    ‘I’ll pick you up in about half an hour, then. And afterwards you can tell me if you’ve anything that needs fixing. Think about it.’
    Pleased at the thought of an outing, she went to get ready and waited in the front room so that she could see his car arrive and not keep him waiting. He was a busy person but he did make an effort to see her every time he came back to England.
    But it was two hours before he arrived and when she asked him what had delayed him, he looked at her in puzzlement. ‘I told you two hours.’
    ‘No, you said half an hour.’
    ‘You’re getting a bit forgetful. Doesn’t matter. I won’t tell anyone. You’re looking better than last time. You’ve stopped trying to do the gardening now, I hope?’
    ‘Yes.’ She waved a hand at the front of the house. ‘Can’t you tell?’
    ‘The house is too much for you.’
    ‘Please don’t start that again. I shan’t change my mind about moving.’
    As he started his car, he hesitated then said, ‘I’ve met someone new.’
    ‘Oh? You mean a woman?’
    ‘Yes. We’re going to move in together.’
    She didn’t approve of the way young people lived together without being married, but she didn’t say that. Who cared what old people thought about the world anyway?
    ‘Can I bring my new lady round to introduce you? I think you’ll like her.’
    ‘Of course you can.’
    They had a pleasant half-hour at the garden centre and she bought herself a new house plant, but she could see that Bradley was getting a bit impatient by then. Well, he had no real interest in gardening. Suppressing a sigh, she suggested they go home. ‘I’m sure you’ll be ready for a piece of cake now.’
    He brightened. ‘I’m always ready for a piece of your cake, Auntie Win. What sort is it this time?’
    She wished he wouldn’t talk to her in that tone, jollying her along sometimes as if she was a child. She didn’t say that. At least he came to see her.
    Bradley ate a huge piece of her walnut cake but Winifred wasn’t hungry. She was still thinking about all the beautiful plants she’d seen so briefly and wishing there had been time to see more.
    When he’d finished eating, he looked out at the garden and shook his head. ‘I’m not going to have time to do anything this break, but next time I’m in England I’ll find someone to sort out your garden. Maybe we should have some of it paved, or covered with gravel. What do you think?’
    She hated gravel and searched her mind for a reason not to have it. ‘Not gravel. It’s a bit chancy to walk on. I don’t want to risk a fall at my age.’
    He repaired a drawer handle that was loose, frowned at her fridge and suggested buying a new one.
    ‘Oh, I think that one will do me for a while yet.’
    ‘You don’t want to risk it shorting out and starting a fire. Old appliances can be dangerous.’
    ‘This one’s never given me any trouble.’
    He wasn’t fooled. ‘Not got enough money to spare for a new one?’
    ‘Stocks and shares haven’t been doing very well lately, so I have to be a bit careful. What do they call it? Asset rich and cash poor?’
    ‘Your stocks will rise again. Don’t rush to sell them, give them a year or two. I’m sitting on mine, keeping a careful eye on the stock market. And the offer’s still there. I’ll manage your stocks for you if you want.’
    ‘Oh, I think I’m doing all right. I enjoy keeping an eye on the prices in the newspaper.’ She didn’t say the other obvious thing: she might not have a year or two left. She tried always to stay cheerful and positive, especially when Bradley was around. So many old people moaned and