She and Eddie were on a clifftop road overlooking the sea, Bournemouth’s pier jutting into the English Channel to the west. He was pushing her along in a wheelchair, an oxygen cylinder on its back connected to her breath mask; though unhappy about the enforced helplessness of her situation, for now she had resigned herself to it. ‘She’s gone to Glastonbury, Nan,’ he told her. ‘Some archaeological thing.’
‘Oh, I see. Why haven’t you gone with her?’
He was still simmering from the previous night, but kept it to himself. ‘Because you wanted me to take you out for a walk,’ he said instead. ‘So here I am!’
‘But what if something happens to her?’
‘Like what?’
‘I don’t know, but things always seem to happen to you two. Like the last time you were here, and the Imax got blown up.’ She pointed at a tower crane inshore of the pier, marking the site where a group of Russian mercenaries had come to a fiery end. ‘They had to demolish it, you know. Which was marvellous, it was a hideous building! But I do worry.’
‘Well, there’s nothing to worry about at the moment. Far as I know, we haven’t upset any cults, there aren’t any ancient civilisations somebody wants to keep secret and nobody’s trying to kill us.’
‘That’s as may be, but I can’t help it. And I’m sure Nina would feel better with you there.’ They continued along the road for a short while before Nan spoke again. ‘What are you going to do today if Nina’s not here, then?’
‘You make it sound like I can’t do anything without her permission.’
‘You know what I mean – you’re a couple, you usually do things together.’
He hadn’t actually thought any further ahead than what he was now doing. ‘I dunno. Maybe spend the afternoon with you and Holly and Lizzie.’
‘Holly’s gone out with her friends.’ She looked back at him with a knowing little smile. ‘But I’m sure you and Elizabeth will have lots to talk about.’
‘Yeah, right.’ His relationship with his older sister was brittle enough at the best of times, and since she would certainly have called their father for a report on the previous night, Eddie didn’t doubt that she would have plenty to say on the matter. ‘But I don’t want to just abandon you.’
‘Oh, don’t be silly! You don’t have to hang around all day with an old goose like me. There must be other people you can see while you’re here. What about your friend, the Scottish gentleman?’
‘Mac?’ Nan had met him on a couple of occasions, most recently a party to celebrate Eddie and Nina’s first wedding anniversary.
‘Yes, him. He was very charming. Where does he live?’
‘London.’
‘Well, that’s less than two hours away on the train. You should call him.’
Eddie considered it. ‘You know, I think I will.’
‘You see? Your old nan still knows what’s best. You should always find the time to catch up with your friends – you never know when you’ll see them next.’ She pointed again, this time to a scenic overlook. ‘Oh, Edward, can you take me over there? It’s one of my favourite spots.’
At the height of the summer holiday season the clifftop was thronged with tourists, but people were good- natured enough to clear a space for an old lady in a wheelchair. ‘Will you help me up?’ she asked Eddie.
‘You’re supposed to stay in the chair, Nan.’
‘I’m not a cripple, Edward. Come on, give me a hand.’ She pushed herself from the seat.
Reluctantly, Eddie helped her to her feet, aware how light and fragile she felt in contrast to the firm and busy figure from his childhood. It was evidently a struggle, as she took several heavy breaths and forced back a cough, but she managed to stand and lean against the fence. ‘Thank you. Oh, look at that! Isn’t it lovely?’
It was indeed quite a sight. The air was clear, providing a panoramic view along the coast to Poole Harbour and beyond. The sea glittered under the noon sun, the long beach dotted with hundreds of sunbathers. Seagulls drifted lazily overhead, gliding on the warm rising air. ‘Yeah, it is,’ Eddie agreed, the view lifting his mood.
Nan regarded it in silence for some time, taking the sun on her face, before eventually lowering herself back into the chair. Eddie helped her sit. She coughed again, harder, then cleared her throat. ‘I’m glad I got to see it again. Especially with you. I do like the sea. You know, I’ve told Elizabeth that when I go, that’s where I want my ashes to be scattered.’
Eddie didn’t like the new turn in the conversation at all. ‘You can see it again whenever you want, Nan. And I’ll be back to see it with you before too long, don’t you worry.’
‘Oh, I’m not worried about me, Edward. I’ve had a good run. But your old nan is . . . well, starting to fall apart.’ She tapped the oxygen mask. ‘I don’t want to hang around if I have to be tubed up in some hospital. I’d rather just fall asleep and never wake up.’
He had heard her say similar things before, but always jokily. This time, though, it was almost in resignation. ‘Don’t talk like that, Nan. You’ll be around for a long time yet.’
She smiled up at him. ‘You’re a good lad, Edward, thank you. But I’ve done everything I wanted. I’ve got grandchildren, I’ve got great-grandchildren, and about the only thing I still want is to see you and Nina give me another one.’
‘Not sure when that’ll be,’ said Eddie, ‘but if that’s what it takes to make sure you don’t go anywhere, then I’ll see what we can do.’
Another smile behind the mask. ‘That’s nice. But it’s your world now. Nobody should stay around past their time.’
Her words made Eddie’s throat tighten as though he was being choked. He looked away, following his
