sort of boy to treat his mother badly. He’s a good boy.’
‘Eileen would disagree with you.’
‘Eileen likes a bit of drama.’
Marigold laughed. ‘You’re right about that.’ Then she remembered Cedric’s invitation. She hadn’t even had to look in her book. ‘Cedric’s unveiling Daisy’s picture tomorrow. It’s drinks so it must be around six.’
Dennis chewed happily on his ham and nodded. ‘That’s nice.’
Marigold felt good inside. She had remembered Cedric’s invitation. Usually, she only remembered things when she looked in her book.
That afternoon the shop was surprisingly busy. People came in and out and everyone liked to have a chat. Tasha was very helpful, gently reminding Marigold of things she’d forgotten, and taking care of the post office, which Marigold found the most challenging part of her job.
At quarter past five the telephone went. Marigold picked it up.
‘Mum!’
She recognized the voice this time. It was Suze. ‘Oh, hello, dear.’
‘Mum, what are you doing in the shop?’
Marigold was confused. ‘I’m working,’ she replied after a pause.
‘You’re meant to be here!’
‘Where?’
‘Here, at my fitting!’
‘You have a dress fitting?’
‘Yes, and you’re meant to be here.’
‘Well, why didn’t you tell me?’
‘I did. I called this morning. Have you gone mad?’ Suze’s voice quivered with fury. Marigold felt a stab of fear in her chest.
‘Did you?’
‘Yes, you know I did.’
‘But, I don’t remember—’
‘That’s because you don’t remember anything.’
Marigold was close to tears. ‘I’m so sorry, love.’
‘Well, there’s no point coming now. It’ll take you ages in the traffic and you’ll probably forget the way!’
‘I could get Tasha to drive me.’
‘Don’t be silly. It’s too late. It’s not going to be fun anymore. I’ll have the fitting on my own. But I want you to know you’ve ruined one of the most special days of my life.’ She hung up.
Marigold pressed the telephone to her ear. ‘Suze? Suze?’ The line was dead.
Tasha appeared. ‘Are you okay?’ she mouthed.
Marigold slowly put the phone down. ‘Did Suze call me this morning?’ she asked in a trembling voice.
Tasha nodded. ‘Yes, I think she did. Just as Cedric came in.’
Marigold swallowed and put a hand on the counter to steady herself. ‘I need to sit down.’
‘It’s okay. Come, let’s get you into the kitchen.’
‘No, I’m going to go out,’ she said suddenly, changing her mind. She grabbed her coat from the hook behind the door. ‘I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I just need some air.’
Tasha watched her leave. She hadn’t ever seen Marigold this upset. She bit the skin around her thumbnail and wondered whether she should go and tell Dennis.
Chapter 15
Marigold could barely see for tears. They blurred her vision and streamed down her cheeks. She dropped her head and hoped she didn’t bump into anyone she knew. Then she set off up the hill, the same route she took every morning in an effort to help her memory. Well, a lot of good that had done!
The guilt she felt for missing Suze’s big moment was like a dagger in her heart, twisting and turning and causing her unbearable pain. She hated herself for failing Suze. She hated her memory for failing her. There was nothing wrong with her devotion; if anything, she had too much of it. But there was everything wrong with her brain. How could she explain that to Suze? Suze, who was now furious and hurt and let down.
She marched up the path and allowed her unhappiness to come out in loud, rasping sobs. The doctor might tell her there was nothing wrong; her friends might try to reassure her that she was simply getting older; Beryl might say it was happening to all of them, that they were all getting forgetful. The truth was there was something wrong, she wasn’t just getting older and it wasn’t happening to all of them. It was happening to her and her alone. And now she had let her daughter down on one of the most important days of her life. It should have been a special day for mother and daughter. A moment to treasure for ever. The first sight of her little girl all grown-up and in her wedding dress. The thought of having missed it made her cry all the more. How could she have forgotten? How could she? She had remembered Cedric’s party!
Marigold walked along the clifftop with her hands in her coat pockets and watched the gulls wheeling in the early evening sky. The sun was a ball of fire, sinking towards the sea, catching the tips of the waves and scattering them with