Chapter Fourteen The Darkest Hours

Finally, we all got inside. Helen, myself, Deano and Lorraine – we had also been joined by the housekeeper, a stout elderly lady, who was busying herself boiling a kettle on a large range cooker. Helen and Deano were very familiar with her, and jokes were being cracked at her expense, which she took in good humour, the smile never far away from her crinkly mouth. One thing for sure- if wrinkle cream companies wanted a new model – she was a great ‘before’ advertisement. But to take them away would be to remove a part of her intrinsic character. So rare to find such a happy person, especially this time of night.

She was talking to Helen about not disturbing her grandfather any more tonight, there would be plenty of time in the morning to see him. I heard he ask if Margaret would be coming ‘with that brute of a husband ‘ and wondered how she knew about Derek – or if that were who she was talking about, what was the connection?

Talk then moved on to where everyone could sleep, and did she have enough beds made up? Did I want to call my husband and tell him I was safe? The house phone was just down that corridor, and a finger was pointed down a dark hall, that made me shiver just to look there. Deano laughed to see my shudder and then he and Helen began to relay stories about sneaking down for midnight snacks, but Mrs Pipe – the housekeeper- always knew who had been down most because the little flour trails underfoot always led back to the culprit’s bedroom. Out came the elaborate methods of getting Mrs Pipe off of the scent, walking to each others’ bedrooms, then sneaking inside to ‘borrow’ a pair of socks so the journey forth to their own rooms would go undetected.

It was gone one in the morning before any of us got any sleep, and I had felt myself yawn way before then, but had stifled it. I had texted a message to say I was okay and where I was, but had had no response, and could only hope the message had been received.

But it seemed all guests had not yet arrived and what felt like minutes after I finally shut my eyes, I was rudely awoken by headlights shining in an arc across the bedroom. I had not realised I was at the front of the house and was a little disorientated. The loud banging at the door was not enough to make Mrs Pipe cross – I had gone in search of a glass of water and I could hear her talking as she walked along a passageway below.

I heard her exclaim that Margaret should have used her keys – and what a good idea to car share with  Mr Edison, much better for the environment, save on those carbon footsteps. Then I heard Maggie’s voice correcting her in a tired voice. After more discussion about Maggie being in her ‘old room’ and Mr Edison being shown to a guest room, but please keep it down a bit – quiet was once again restored.

I got into the bed and once again had just got off to sleep when yet more headlights swept across the room – I could only hope this grandfather had his room at the back of the house and was a heavy sleeper. Poor Mrs Pipe – still the unshakeable housekeeper could be heard trudging the hallway towards the front door, but as a huge surprise, I heard a voice asking to see me, and before too long there was a gentle knock at my door, and Mrs Pipe announced my ‘guest’.

I was certainly taken aback to see my husband poke his head around the door, and immediately asked if everyone was okay at home. Before he could answer I was half dressed and ready to be off and headed to hospital bedsides if need be. He reassured me everyone was fine, his sister had the kids and that the reason he had not responded to my text was that he had been driving. I sat down on the edge of the bed, and somewhere in my consciousness a spark was ignited. But it had been a long day, and we could deal with whatever it was in the light of day. Which surely would not be far away – the night seemed to have gone on forever.

We settled ourselves down after a quick call to my sister in law to let her know all was well.

Which it was – for a while………….