The Things You Didn't See(23)

‘You probably don’t remember me, but I was at school with Ash and Cassandra. I’m a student paramedic, and I was part of the team that dealt with Mrs Hawke on Saturday morning.’

Janet Cley’s cheeks sunk even lower as her mouth turned downwards in sympathy. ‘Poor Maya. I just can’t get me head around it. I’m so glad the ambulance arrived in time. Thank you for savin’ her.’

Holly slid her hands into her jacket pocket. ‘I didn’t do much, I’m afraid. But I’ve been visiting her hospital room, and I did think of something that might help. May I come in?’

The woman hesitated. ‘Ash ain’t here right now. He’s workin’ with the pigs – allus gets up early, that boy.’

‘It’s actually you I came to see. I have a favour to ask.’

Her hand fluttered to her neck. ‘I wasn’t expectin’ visitors. The place is a mess.’

‘Just for a few minutes, Miss Cley. I promise, I’m not here to judge the state of your home.’

Holly entered the cottage and closed the door behind her.

The cottage stank of boiled meat and the room was so cold that Holly stiffened. Janet lowered herself onto the dusky-pink sofa, which registered her slight weight with a twang. Beside her was a low table on which lay a plate covered in foil, the source of the smell.

‘Pheasant, from Friday’s shoot,’ said Janet, tapping a finger on the foil. ‘Ash made my lunch afore he went to work, but I’ve hardly been able to touch a bite since Saturday mornin’. He says I need to get me strength up, but I’m tougher than I look. He’s a good boy. So, you were friends with him at school?’

He wasn’t a boy any more, he was in his thirties. School was a long time ago. ‘I was a few years younger, so no. He knew my brother Jamie.’

‘Jamie the Yank?’ she said, her face souring.

‘Yes, my dad was in the American Air Force, so we lived on the base.’

Janet Cley coughed into her hand and Holly felt a sharp stabbing pain within her own chest. Her synaesthesia often helped her intuit things, and this woman needed medical attention. The urge to wrap Janet in a blanket and get her to a doctor was almost overwhelming.

‘Are you okay, Miss Cley, or would you like me to call your GP?’

She shook her head quickly. ‘I don’t need no doctor.’

‘You must have had quite a shock, discovering Mrs Hawke on Saturday morning. I believe you’ve known her for many years?’

She waited as Janet caught her breath. She was obviously nervous at being interviewed.

‘I were just a girl when I started as their housekeeper, only seventeen. I used to live in, until Ash got older and we needed more space, so then they give us the cottage.’ She became suddenly defensive. ‘It’s not a freebie or anythin’, it’s part of me contract. I go to the farmhouse, all weathers. I’ve never had a day off in me life, except for when I had Ash, but soon as I was on me feet I was back workin’, seein’ to things around the place just like always.’

‘Sounds like hard work,’ observed Holly, thinking that Maya’s accident would have given Janet her first chance for a proper rest. But the woman nudged her chin slightly higher, with obvious pride.

‘It’s no bother, two babies in the house. S’no more work than one, and Maya had just had Cassandra when I moved in. I’m a workhorse, that’s what Hector allus says. We all are – him, me and Ash – the three of us together. We’re a good team and we look out for each other.’ She was looking tearful again.

Holly thought it was odd that Janet had barely mentioned Maya, and sensed her feelings ran deep but wouldn’t easily be revealed. ‘Cassandra was telling me how much her mother loves your baking. That’s why I’m here, actually. To ask if you’d mind cooking something for her?’

Janet screwed up her features in confusion. ‘She’s in a coma, ain’t she?’

‘Yes, but apparently her other senses may still be active. She may be able to smell your baking. The staff think it will help if her senses are stimulated by things she likes.’

‘She allus likes what I make.’ Janet gave a grim smile. ‘Shame if no one eats it, but there you go. I’d be happy to do anythin’ for her, just like always. I’ll set about it now.’

‘Thank you.’

Janet pushed her weak frame up from the sofa and Holly followed her to the small kitchen. As Janet began to crack eggs and measure flour, Holly watched as if hypnotised from a kitchen stool in the corner. Janet seemed lost in a world of her own, talking quietly as if ordering her thoughts.

‘I’ll make scones, she likes ’em best, and if I put candied cherries in, they’ll smell nice and fruity. She likes ’em of an afternoon, with a cup of green tea – though she’d prefer Earl Grey, but the green is healthier so she stomachs it. Maya really belongs to another time: she’s a proper lady. But she inherited the farm when she was young and it was failin’, so Hector was a godsend to her. He was workin’ there, you know, as a farm labourer?’

Holly had picked up on this – he was a working man of the soil, but Maya was educated and owned the farm.

‘Do they have a strong marriage?’

‘Oh goodness, yes!’ Janet seemed shocked that the question was even asked. ‘Livin’ together, workin’ together, for nigh on forty years. I think she thought she were too good for him at first, him not havin’ book-learnin’ like her, and of course he was younger too – just twenty-three to her twenty-seven years when they met. They was both too young for all that responsibility.’