Chapter 3
Easing her small hatchback car into the only spot remaining in the Oak Park Care Home parking, Kate wondered how long it would be until the heavens opened. The Monday morning grey sky conveniently reflected her mood – she’d barely been able to sleep through Alf’s snoring and the puppy’s continual whimpering. Her body felt limp and she could hardly keep her eyes open.
Noting the time on her dashboard, she grabbed her well-worn shoulder bag and the Tupperware tub of birthday cake she’d brought for the residents and dashed towards the entrance – aware that she was already ten minutes late.
Oak Park director, Walter Steinbach, was discussing a matter with the reception staff as Kate tried to inconspicuously hurry past him. Not an easy task, given that all care staff were expected to wear the unflattering fuchsia-pink top and pants uniform that did little to enhance her mood or figure.
‘You’re late,’ Steinbach barked, in the voice usually reserved for non-compliant and unruly kindergarten visitors.
And you’re still alive? Kate felt like snapping back at him. With his hollowing facial features and the sparse few hairs that remained on his head, it was often said he was more ancient than the care home itself. It was just as well he rarely made an appearance.
‘Sorry, Mr Steinbach’ she found herself saying, ignoring his eagle-eyed stare of disapproval as it followed her towards the staff room. Only fellow care-worker Tina was in the staff room as she strode over to her locker to place her belongings and swap her trainers for comfy pumps. Kate exhaled, relieved that it wasn’t anyone else from the team. The last thing she felt like undergoing was in-depth questioning.
‘Morning, good weekend?’ Tina asked, pouring herself a coffee.
‘Yes, fine thanks.’ She closed her locker and readjusted her name plate on the front of her top. ‘Best get a move on. I’ve already had Steinbach on my case.’ Sighing, she opened the door and hurriedly made her way up to the East Wing.
‘Morning, Hilda.’ She tapped gently against the door, awaiting her usual instruction from the other side. Nothing came.
‘Hilda – can you hear me? Is it okay for me to come in?’ Kate asked for a second time, impatient. A faint, desperate rasping could be heard in response and she felt her pulse quickening anxiously as she quickly pushed open the door. ‘Hilda?’
What if this time it was genuine?
Hilda was propped up in bed, wide-eyed and pointing rapidly to her throat whilst continuing with the awful grating sound from her windpipe. Acting immediately, Kate grabbed a nearby glass of water and tilted back Hilda’s small head, instructing her to drink. After just a couple of sips, Hilda’s breathing returned to normal and she cleared her throat.
‘Thank you so much, dear Kate. I was afraid for a moment there that I was about to take my last breath.’ Hilda said in her usual crisp, clear voice. ‘It was a bluebottle, you see.’
Relieved, Kate thought to herself that she really must be out of sorts to fall for Hypochondriac Hilda’s latest stunt. ‘A bluebottle?’ She glanced at the little lady now lying angelically in her blue nightgown, her straight, grey, pixie-cut hair sticking up awkwardly in places.
Clearly recovered and bright as a daisy, Hilda threw back her floral duvet and shuffled her weight to the edge of the bed, gripping Kate’s hand as she struggled to stand.
‘Yes, it’s been in here the whole night buzzing away, keeping me awake. It was only as I heard you on the stairs and was about to call out that it flew into my mouth!’
Helping Hilda walk the short distance to the en suite, Kate returned to the dresser, selecting Hilda’s ‘Monday’ outfit.
‘Goodness, that’s terrible, Hilda. Especially as it’s the third time this has happened. What with the bumble bee and the spider last month…’
A small sigh came from above the washbasin, where Hilda was gently soaping her face with a flannel. ‘I know, dear. I am beginning to wonder if the Lord has other plans for me. Don’t forget the cockroach, either. It’s only a matter of time before those eggs it laid in my ear canal begin to hatch.’
Kate smiled broadly for the first time that day.
Hilda was patting her frail frame dry with a small towel as the first of the questions came unexpectedly. ‘So, dear Kate, you’re ever so quiet and we all know that it was your surprise party this weekend. Don’t keep me in suspense. Anything special happen, dear?’ she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Kate blushed and inwardly grimaced.
By the time she had helped Hilda to dress and guide her walking frame to the breakfast room to join the already nearly full tables, she had divulged the highlights of her weekend. She wasn’t one for lying – it wasn’t in her nature – but instead of focusing on the main disappointment, she instead concentrated on the few special markers. Namely, her new puppy, Sam, who she’d already grown to adore.
Just as she was about to continue her round, she smiled weakly as she saw a squat, rounded woman with flame-red hair approaching. Her heart sank a little. Fellow care- worker Tasha lived up to her Scottish reputation and fiery hair. She also had such a loose mouth Kate was in no doubt that the details of her party would be wormed out of her and circulated around the entire home before the first spoonful of porridge was even served.
‘Morning, luv, you look tired. I heard you were late – and Steinbach’s on the prowl today.’
Kate averted her glance from the care rota on the wall. She still had three residents to attend to for the breakfast shift. ‘Morning! I know, it was just my luck that he caught me on the way in.’
Tasha angled her body and discreetly took her electronic cigarette from her pocket and faced the wall, inhaling deeply. ‘So how’d it go? Did he propose? Where’s the ring – come on let’s have a look!’ Using her free hand, she reached out for Kate’s.
Feebly holding her own ringless hand out, Kate waved it in front of Tasha, trying to hide her embarrassment. ‘No proposal, unfortunately, but it was such a lovely party. I had a great time – Alf really did go to town on the thought behind it. Plus he got me a puppy.’
Tasha spluttered on her electronic cigarette vapour. ‘He got you a puppy? What the blooming hell did you want a puppy for?’ She looked at Kate with an incredulous expression.
Kate felt her face flush with heat and hoped her cheeks weren’t burning a bright- crimson colour. ‘Oh, he’s very cute. We’ve called him Sam. I happen to feel it was a lovely gesture. Alf’s already commented how much more of a family home it feels now we’ve got Sam – and I have to say I agree.’
Tasha replaced her cigarette in her pocket and raised an eyebrow mockingly. ‘Well, I suppose it’s good practice for you – all those pisses and shits you’ll be cleaning up will be great preparation for when you decide to have your own wee ‘un.’
Flinching at her choice of words, Kate raised a warning eyebrow as Steinbach appeared on the far side of the room. ‘Best get back to work. I don’t want to be caught out a second time today.’
Grateful to Steinbach for the reprieve, Kate felt her heart aching as Tasha’s words echoed in her mind.
