Where the Memories Lie

 

spent six months doing volunteer work in India when he retired so he could help build schools and houses for poverty-stricken villages! He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s just confusing some story from another resident or a newspaper article he’s read, and thinks he’s done something when he hasn’t. Or he’s made it up. You know yourself that Alzheimer’s is capable of producing hallucinations and delusions.’ He paused for a second. ‘I’ll go and see him at the weekend with you, but, honestly, we’ve been here before with him talking about stuff that’s never happened.’

 

‘Yes, I know all that, but still, he . . .’ I trailed off, feeling ridiculous then for even bringing it up. Ethan’s voice sounded reassuring and confident and comforting, and he was absolutely right. Of course he was. ‘Yes, I agree. You’re right. He’s just confused.’

 

‘I’m always right.’ He laughed.

 

‘Hey, you’re living in a house full of women. The women are always right here. You’re only right when you’re asleep.’ I laughed back and changed the subject. ‘So, how’s the hotel project going?’

 

He groaned. ‘The directors keep changing their minds at the last minute, which results in yet more headaches and delays. And at night I’m sick of seeing the inside of this hotel room where I’m staying. The food isn’t as good as yours.’

 

I laughed again. ‘OK, so now I know you’re lying.’ I was an average cook at best, with a tendency to overcook. Well, I called it ‘overcook’. Someone else might say ‘burn’.

 

His voice softened. ‘I miss you, darling. And Anna. I wish this project was already over. Weekends with my favourite girls just aren’t cutting it at the moment.’

 

I smiled. ‘Miss you, too.’ Even though we’d been together twenty-six years, since we were seventeen, the love we shared was still strong. And the passion. I still fancied the pants off him.

 

I knew we were lucky in that respect. I’d known lots of childhood sweethearts who had broken up after they grew up and grew apart.

 

26

 

Where the Memories Lie It hadn’t happened with us, and I was really grateful for that. It hadn’t happened with Lucas or Nadia yet, either, although who knew what would go on after Nadia’s revelation. Was he really having an affair? How do you throw away all those years of history?

 

We chatted some more about the building project and Anna and what food we were going to take on the family picnic that weekend, and by the time I hung up it was just after 9 p.m.

 

‘Bedtime!’ I called down to Anna from the landing.

 

‘Yeah, coming.’ She trudged up the stairs and gave me a hug.

 

‘Night, Mum.’

 

She was as tall as me now. When had that happened? I snuggled into her, sniffing in the scent of the strawberry body spray she liked.

 

It was only recently that I’d had to stop moaning to get her to have a shower every day. Overnight, it was like she went from a smelly, dirty kid to a super clean freak. It would be makeup next, and bras, and boys. Oh, God.

 

‘Night, darling. Love you.’

 

‘Love you, too.’

 

I patted her back. ‘See you in the morning.’

 

I went downstairs into the lounge. Anna had left the TV on and the news was playing. I didn’t usually watch it; it was too depressing. Why didn’t they ever report anything good? Imagine the state of the world if every news channel broadcasted only happy news? The media manipulated everything, anyway, as far as I was concerned. Ethan didn’t agree. He liked to end his day watching the news. I couldn’t think of anything more nightmare-inducing. No wonder people had insomnia.

 

I flicked the TV off and something Ethan said sparked in my head.

 

Newspaper article.

 

Tom didn’t watch the news but he’d always loved reading it.

 

Judging from the newspapers still regularly left in a messy heap in 27

 

Sibel Hodge