Emmie 26

It was late afternoon when Emmie returned from an excellent Sunday roast. She switched on the fire, made a cup of tea and sat in her armchair with a sigh. She put down her cup and saucer and fell asleep, the result of the warmth, good food and a clear conscience. She awoke with a rather fuzzy head an hour later, paid a visit to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. Now for that pile of post.

The gas and electric bills she put on one side for payment, the NSPCC appeal would be considered later. The other appeals and adverts went straight in the bin. There were two personal envelopes, one from America and one UK. The UK envelope contained a card of Edinburgh castle with terse message " Will phone Sunday evening, Yas x".

The other letter was from Marie Louise in Florida. As Emmie read her head began to droop. The marriage was rocky and she wanted to come over for a breather: her words. She was bringing young Hayley with her.

The phone rang. " Hello Emmie ?"
" Hello Yasmin. What's the matter?"
" A bit of bad news, my dad has had a stroke, so I wondered whether I could stay for a while to be nearer? There are issues."
" Yes, I can imagine. All right, for a while, but my daughter is arriving soon and you will have to make other arrangements."
" Term is over here, so could I come on Wednesday?"
" Yes all right, bye."
Emmie needed to think.

Emmie went back to the letter. As she read the gloom deepened with the evening.

Troubles come, not as single spies but in battalions. She brushed away a tear.





JL Dec 9 15:45