July 14
Tonight I find myself perched on the balcony of our cramped flat in Manchester, watching my motherinlaw, Mabel Whitaker, huddled on the cold bench outside the buildings entrance. Im tornshould I call her over? If I do, shell lift her weary face, shake her head and mutter something about staying a bit longer in the fresh air. She only steps out when the bench is completely empty; the chatter of her younger neighbours about council tax hikes, rising grocery bills and the like is a mystery to her. She spent her whole life on a farm in Yorkshire and has been forced to live with my husband James and me for the past two years.
Shes completely done with herself, I sighed to James, hoping hed finally honor her wish.
Not yet, he replied, the paperwork isnt sorted, we cant move her just yet.
Two years ago a fire gutted Mabels farmhouse, leaving only the foundation. Everything elseshed, chicken coop and the tiny greenhousewent up in flames while she was at the market selling cucumbers and tomatoes from her garden. A faulty appliance sparked the blaze; a strong gust of wind turned it into a fullblown inferno. She arrived home to nothing but ash. The locals still shudder when they recall how she ran across the sootcovered yard, covered in cinders, shouting in despair. She lived alone; the chickens survived, but the house was her greatest asset.
After Mabel suffered a stroke, James and I brought her into our home. For months she lay halfparalysed, then gradually began to shuffle about again.
Mom, please rest a little longer; youll hurt yourself walking so much, I begged.
No, Im getting stronger now. Soon Ill return to my cottage up north, she replied.
Everyone began to suspect shed lost her mind. Perhaps shed forgotten what had happened? We started probing her gently.
Do you think Ive gone mad? Mabel asked me with a wry smile. Of course notI remember the house burning, the hospital stay. Im thinking of moving in with my neighbour, Mrs. Doris, shes lonely too. Ill help her around, collect my pension and rebuild slowly. I know youre not welloff either, and Im taking my granddaughters room. Im a burden here.
No one wanted to mention that Mrs. Doris had just passed away and her house was now being fought over by relatives, each threatening legal action. Everyone feared a second stroke. Doris had been Mabels closest friend, not just emotionally but also because she lived next door. Mabel also had a beloved younger sister, Annie, who lives up in the Scottish Highlands where the climate is harsh. Her two sonsJames and the younger Davidare both often away; Mike, the oldest, is a merchantmarine constantly at sea.
What weighed on Mabel most was sharing the small room of her granddaughter, Lucy, a university student who rarely invites friends over. It seemed to Mabel that teenage girls ought to gather at someones house.
Grandma, were all on the internet now; we dont need to meet in person all the time, Lucy told her.
Whats that then? Mabel replied, bewildered. We cant even have a proper cup of tea together.
Besides feeling like she was crowding Lucy, Mabel didnt want to be a burden on James and me. She saw how tightly we were scraping by and tried to help with cleaning and cooking, but the effort left her exhaustedher left hand still trembled. When she learned of Doriss death, tears streamed down her face and she declared:
My dears, forgive me, but Ive made up my mind. Arrange for me to go into a care home. James, you have the power of attorney; I signed it at the hospital. Please sort it out. If it costs money, sell my plot of land. It may not fetch much, but any amount will do.
James, Natalie and Lucy were furious, yet Mabel kept nudging them toward the idea. James pretended to handle the paperwork and claimed hed sold the land, but the bureaucracy of the National Health Services residential facilities was a nightmare. He paid the director a sum, yet the director stalled, waiting for a slot to open. Autumn was near; they all longed for peace and for Lucy to have her study uninterrupted.
After her evening walk one night, Mabel stormed in and announced from the doorway:
James, if you dont take me to the care home on Monday, Ill get there myself. Ill go straight to the manager and demand a bedafter all the moneys already been paid. The state promised to look after me!
All weekend James was nowhere to be found. He finally appeared late Sunday, whispering anxiously with Natalie, then told Mabel that everything was settled with the homes manager and a room would be ready the next day.
Morning arrived and we piled into Jamess ancient Vauxhall Astra. Mabel was baffled why James was driving toward her old village when they were supposed to head north.
Mum, the roads been closed for construction, we have to take a detour, James explained.
We drove past familiar hamlets until we reached the spot where Mabels old farm once stood. She squeezed her eyes shut, unwilling to face the sight of the sold plot and the familiar fields. When the car finally stopped, the gates opened onto a brandnew redbrick house. Standing in the doorway, smiling, was her sister Annie, who had returned from the Highlands.
Mabel seemed to faint; the world swam. When she recovered, she clung to Annie, then to James, Natalie and Lucy, trying to explain how she had almost ruined the surprise.
Darling, no one was going to sell the land. We decided to build straight away, James said. We didnt tell you because wed already taken out a mortgage, and Mike sent a hefty sum to help with the development. Look at thisthree bedrooms, a large kitchen with a verandah, a dualsystem boiler, a proper shower and toilet. Annies already moved in; shes been fixing up the interior for months, waiting to see you. If youd held on a fortnight longer, the barn would have been finished with a chicken coop, but you refused to wait and wed have to scramble again when Mike arrived.
Mabel wept, then laughed, hugging her sister, son, daughterinlaw and granddaughter in turn, unable to decide whom to thank most. Who could have guessed such a secret plan? Their silence almost gave her a second strokefrom sheer happiness! What a joy it is to have family willing to move mountains for you.
