Down on Daffodil Lane. Rebecca Pugh

It’s wonderful to hear from you. In fact, I was just thinking about you and how you were getting on. How’s the cottage? Is it lovely? Rob mentioned he drove up to see you yesterday. He said you seem to be doing okay, so that’s good, and Geraldine wanted me to pass on a message too. She said there’s extra toilet roll in the airing cupboard upstairs, as well as fresh bed sheets.’

      Maria smiled to herself. ‘Okay, tell Geraldine I said thank you. I’ll make sure I remember in case of an emergency. The cottage is gorgeous, although in need of a bit of a spruce-up, like Geraldine mentioned. It’s a bit dull inside but nothing a good lick of paint won’t sort out. I’ve a few ideas in mind for the rooms.’

      ‘Oh, yes. Have you got started on that yet?’

      ‘Erm… Yeah. I’ve made a small start.’ She didn’t want Ellen to report back to Geraldine with a negative to that question. The truth was, she hadn’t yet found the motivation to get going. It was coming though, she could feel it. The longer she spent looking around the cottage, the more she wanted to add her own touch to the place. She made a mental note to get out and grab the bits and pieces she’d need. She had a feeling summer would pass by in the blink of an eye, so she really did need to make some sort of start on it, have the paint in the cottage at least. ‘I think you’d love it here,’ she said quickly, moving the topic of conversation along. ‘I was thinking to myself just yesterday about how I’m beginning to feel as if I am actually on holiday. I’m currently in the conservatory looking through the window and there are green fields for as far as the eye can see. There’s a posh coffee machine in the kitchen and I figured out how to work it this morning, so that’s a bonus. I can see myself becoming a little too attached.’ She wondered, briefly, why on earth Geraldine and her husband hadn’t moved here permanently. If it was Maria’s, she knew she certainly would have. She laughed, realising how alien it felt to do so. She wanted to laugh again, but thought it might seem odd so didn’t.

      ‘Oh, that’s fantastic news,’ enthused Ellen. ‘And are there things to do during the day? Shops? Cafes? That sort of thing? I can imagine you might get a bit bored with just the cottage to keep you busy.’

      ‘Well, seeing as you’ve mentioned it, there is a lovely little café me and Rob went to yesterday. Harriet’s Place, it’s called. Lots of shops too, so I have everything I need. In fact, once I’ve got off the phone to you, I’m going to get dressed and head back to the cafe. They serve the most delicious food, and you should see the cakes on offer too. Very yummy.’ She didn’t want to mention the job vacancy, mainly because she knew what Ellen was like. The tiniest whiff of something new and exciting for Maria to take part in would send her mother into overdrive and seeing as it wasn’t a definite yet, there was no point in bringing it up.

      ‘That sounds perfect. I’m so pleased you’re finding your way about, and you’ve the whole summer to look forward to, too. I have to admit, I’m slightly jealous. And how are you feeling?’ Ellen asked tentatively. ‘You know, about Mike? Has he tried to get in touch with you?’

      It was inevitable that Mike would crop up at some point so Maria decided to roll with it. ‘Of course he hasn’t. Why would he? The divorce is done and dusted now, isn’t it? There’s no need for us to be in contact. In fact, speaking to him is the very last thing I want to do. I’d rather leave him to it. It’s much better that way. I don’t want to stay stuck in the past. I want to move on. It seems like a long way away right now, but I really do think being here will help. You know, away from it all.’ She took a breath. ‘You haven’t seen him, have you?’ she ventured curiously. She couldn’t be sure that if Ellen had seen Mike, she would have been able to control herself and not give him a piece of her mind. Despite her poised and elegant manner, when it came to her children, Ellen could be ferocious. Maria supposed that was motherhood, not that she had any experience of that herself.

      ‘Well,’ Ellen began, ‘I did bump into his mother in the shop on the corner the other day but she ignored me, can you believe it? No apology, no “how’s Maria doing?” She walked right past me with her nose stuck in the air as if she had something to be proud about. I was half-tempted to give her what for, but I knew it was best if I didn’t. There’s no point in causing trouble. I know you want the whole thing to be forgotten about so I went on my way, sticking my nose in the air too. I don’t know how on earth she can act like that. It was her son that decided to…’

      ‘Let’s stop right there,’ Maria cut in, imagining the scene unfolding in the corner shop. In her mind, she could see Ellen and Mike’s mother brawling on the shop floor, milk and eggs flying everywhere. She had to hold back the laughter that was rising at the image of them both. ‘I’m sure she’s just embarrassed about the whole situation. She probably had no idea of what to say to you. Would you, if it had been the other way around? Anyway, it’s best that you carried on. As far as I’m concerned, it’s over now. So, the next time you see her, just smile and carry on. That’s the best thing to do. Let her think that her son is God’s gift to women. She can’t be feeling too proud really, deep inside, not after what he did.’

      Maria had never managed to bond with Mike’s mother, Felicity. The woman had always been very cold towards her, and Maria had often come away from visits to their home with the impression that she wasn’t good enough for their precious son. Oh, Felicity had been courteous enough, offering tea and cake, and smiling, if a little too brightly, but there had always been a strange undercurrent in the atmosphere, twisting and curling in the air like poison. Mike had always laughed it off whenever she’d raised the issue and told Maria that she was being ridiculous, and that his parents utterly adored her. She didn’t believe their feelings towards her went that far, but she’d always hoped that they’d at least liked her. She had a feeling now, looking back, that she’d been right in her instincts. Oh well, she wouldn’t be seeing Felicity again, so that was another bonus.

      ‘Yes, well, whatever happens, at least I won’t have to sit through another agonising hour of tea and bloody cake with the woman,’ Ellen declared with triumph.

      Maria snorted. She loved that her mother was on the same wavelength. She could remember one particular tea and cake session where she’d asked for two sugars rather than one, and Felicity had looked horrified. A comment had followed, a comment which Maria vaguely remembered as having something to do with her weight. She’d sipped her tea quietly and never mentioned the extra sugar again, despite how awful it had tasted. Trying to begin a conversation with Felicity had been like trying to do the same with a brick wall. She’d always been quite rude, Maria had found. ‘They were always a bit gruelling, weren’t they?’

      ‘Yes, they were, and between me and you, her Victoria sponge was awfully dry. Not pleasant at all. I think you’ve made the right decision, Maria. About the divorce, I mean.’ Ellen sounded sincere. ‘It feels like a cruel twist of fate that you’ve been put through exactly the same as what I went through with your father, but I would never have been able to trust him again either. Once a fool, always a fool – in my opinion.’

      ‘Thanks, Mum. I believe it was the best thing to do too.’ Maria took a sip of coffee before glancing at her watch and realising the time. It wasn’t exactly late but she wanted to head out early so that the café wasn’t buzzing with customers, leaving her without a table. ‘Oh, bugger. Listen Mum, I’m going to get dressed and head into town now. You don’t mind if I go, do you?’

      ‘No, of course not. Go on, off you go. Fill your boots!’ Ellen ordered brightly. ‘Enjoy your time away and don’t worry about a single thing. Just focus on you, okay?’

      ‘I will, I promise. Chat to you soon, Mum. Take care. Bye!’

      Maria ended the call and looked down at the handset with the fondest of smiles for just a few moments. She loved her mother dearly, she really did. Throughout the entirety of her life, Ellen had championed Maria in every single decision she’d made, which was a huge contrast to their father who couldn’t have given a damn about any of them. After the divorce, their father had buggered off abroad to Spain to run a greasy eatery alongside his new, much-younger fiancée. They very rarely heard from him. He hadn’t been back to England since he’d left. He still sent