How Laura Lewis Met Richard Brown

Chapter Fourteen

Sunday was usually Richard’s favourite day of the week. A time to lounge around the house with Henry. Eating toast, drinking coffee and reading a good book. When the weather was nice, he’d take Henry off to the playground or for a walk to the Cottage Bun.

Today was a different kind of Sunday.

The weather had turned colder and the persistent rain battered against the windows. The weather very much reflected his mood. He’d wanted to spend Sunday alone with Henry and his thoughts. He hadn’t had much time to think about Sally all week. He felt guilty that she’d been pushed to the back of his mind. He wanted to sit at the kitchen table, surrounded by her notebooks, old photographs and his memories.

But he could do none of these things as they were not alone.

While he stood in the kitchen making a pot of tea and buttering slices of toast, he could hear the low murmur of voices coming from the living room. He could hear Tracey chatting to Henry, and Megan joining in, although he couldn’t hear the words.

Richard placed the teapot on the tray and added cups, the set that Sally had chosen with the vouchers they’d received as a wedding present. Brightly coloured patterns of blue, yellow and orange danced before his eyes. Sally had loved them, saying they made her feel happy, brighter.

Richard swallowed down the memory, adding the stack of toast and a glass of juice for Henry.

‘Need a hand?’ Jack asked, popping his head around the kitchen door.

Richard lifted the now full tray. ‘No, I’m fine. Although you can bring in some biscuits if you like. They’re in the cupboard above the kettle.’

Jack sauntered into the kitchen, around Richard, and found the biscuits. He followed Richard back into the living room and sank down onto the couch, clutching the two packets of chocolate-chip cookies.

‘Are they for me?’ Henry asked, his eyes wide at the thought of eating all those biscuits.

‘You can have two, but only after a slice of toast,’ Richard told him.

‘Here, let me do that for you,’ Tracey said, taking the pile of side plates from Richard. ‘I’ll be Mother.’

Richard squeezed in next to Henry on the two-seater couch and gave him a slice of toast.

‘Well, this is nice, isn’t it?’ Tracey said, passing Richard a cup of tea.

‘It is, Tracey,’ Megan said. ‘All of us together. It’s a good thing.’

Richard couldn’t help but notice that Megan was glaring at him while she said this.

He sipped his tea.

He hadn’t invited them round. He’d got up early to go and visit Gertie. Megan had offered to sit with Henry while he was gone, but when he returned, Tracey opened the door and Jack was playing on the Xbox with Henry.

Tracey had said that they needed family time. To talk about Sally.

Richard just wanted to put his feet up and have a snooze with Henry snuggled by his side. To remember Sally in his own way. The whole situation was forced. Plus, he was worried about Gertie. She still looked tired. Was still in bed. He’d feel better when she’d seen the doctor tomorrow.

‘You okay, love?’ Tracey asked. ‘You look lost in thought.’

‘Is it Gertie?’ Megan asked.

Richard nodded. ‘She just seems so small, lying in bed, like she’s almost fading away.’

‘It’ll just be a winter bug, that’s all,’ Tracey said. ‘She’ll soon bounce back.’

‘I’m not so sure.’ Richard placed his cup on the coffee table. ‘I think she’s slowly going downhill. There’s something not right. She’s lost so much weight.’

‘Henry, do you want to show me your new dinosaur?’ Megan asked.

Henry jumped up in delight and ran out of the room.

‘I’ll let you talk,’ she whispered and followed Henry upstairs.

Jack shifted uncomfortably on his seat, as if preparing to bolt from the room, but Richard noticed the look that Tracey gave him. Silently telling her son to stay put.

Richard suddenly felt uneasy. What did she want to talk about? He sighed. ‘I’m worried, of course I am, but she’s in the best place and I know that Laura and Linda will keep a close eye on her.’

‘Of course they will. I’ll try to pop in and see her myself tomorrow as well,’ Tracey said gently.

‘She’d love to see you,’ Richard said.

The two women had remained firm friends after Sally’s death. Tracey tried to visit at least a couple of times a week, usually when Richard was working late at the school.

Tracey shifted forward on her chair.

Jack coughed and wriggled around some more before shooting Richard a warning glance.

Richard reached for the remote control on the table and turned the stereo off. Tracey clearly had something important to share with him.

Maybe she was no longer able to look after Henry for him? Maybe she wanted more free time for herself? He couldn’t blame her. He’d relied on Tracey’s good nature for far too long.

‘I need to say something and then when it’s said, well, it’s been said, and if you want to forget all about it then that’s fine. But it’s been on my mind and I don’t feel right in keeping my thoughts a secret.’

Richard just stared, wide-eyed. What on earth was she going to tell him? Whatever it was, it was serious. He opened his mouth to speak, but Tracey silenced him with a shh and a wave of the hand.

‘I need to say this while I have the courage, because if I don’t say it now I never will.’

Richard closed his mouth. He looked at Jack who shook his head slightly, warning him to simply listen.

Tracey spoke. Her voice calm and steady, and her words slow.

‘Sally would want you to be happy, you know. She wouldn’t want you stuck in the past.’ Tracey sighed and her shoulders slumped. ‘By God, I miss her every day. She was my only daughter, but life goes on. We go on. And I know she would want you to be happy.’

Richard fought the urge to stand up and walk into the kitchen. Away from her words.

Her look of pity.

‘I really don’t think you’re coping, Richard. And I don’t think I’ve helped matters. It’s been a difficult time for me too. Sometimes I’ve been selfish. Wanting to grab on to the past. To never let it go. But it’s not healthy. Not for any of us.’

Richard nodded. Absorbing her words.

‘Listen, Richard, don’t take this the wrong way, okay. I love you as a son. And I think you need help. Professional help. Perhaps it’s time to see a counsellor?’

Richard shook his head, dismissing her. He knew he needed to seek help. Talk to someone. Gertie’s words had drummed that into him. But he didn’t want to tell Tracey that she was right.

Tracey sat back in her chair and let out a slow, deep breath.

‘Well, I’ve said my piece. I’ll say no more about it.’

Richard nodded. ‘I’ll make us another pot of tea.’

‘I’ll help you.’ Tracey began to gather the cups and place them on the tray.

Richard put his hand on hers, moving it gently away from the tray. ‘I’m fine. I’ll do it.’

Tracey nodded and sat back down.

‘Have you met the new care assistant?’ she asked after a few beats.

Richard halted in his tracks to the kitchen.

‘Yes,’ he said without hesitation. ‘We’ve spoken a few times now.’

‘Gertie can’t stop talking about her, apparently. She seems like a nice woman.’

‘I don’t really know her,’ Richard said, now desperately wanting to escape to the safety of the kitchen.

‘You should invite her out for a drink,’ Tracey said.

Richard didn’t reply. He carried on walking towards the kitchen.

* * *

Jack passed the pint over to Richard. ‘Here you go.’

The two men were sitting in the snug of the Fox and Hound, having made a break for it while Tracey and Megan took Henry to the playground and then for a snack at the café.

Richard had breathed a sigh of blessed relief. After Tracey had made her speech and basically told him that he needed to start dating again, and that Laura would be the perfect woman for him, he had felt the need to get the hell out of his own house and away from her.

Why did she feel the need to interfere in his life? He was happy with Henry. He didn’t need to be pushed into a relationship he wasn’t ready to commit to. He didn’t even know this Laura woman. For all he knew she had a husband or partner somewhere, and even if she didn’t, she’d have no intention at all of dating him. They had to stop interfering in her life too.

‘What a day, eh?’ Jack said, after sipping half his pint in seemingly one breath.

‘Yep, what a day.’ Richard took a generous gulp of his own pint.

‘I forgot crisps. You want crisps?’ Jack asked.

‘No. I just want to sit for a little while, you know. Enjoy the quiet.’

Jack chuckled. ‘I know exactly what you mean. No problem, mate. I need some quiet, too, to be honest.’

The two men sat side by side. Sipping beer. Each lost in their own thoughts.