A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,68
instead of finding the best? Does it make you feel better to bring people down all the time? I’ve always felt sorry for people like you because it seems to me you must be deeply unhappy underneath all that nastiness.’
She’s staring at me in astonishment, and it crosses my mind that she’s probably not used to anyone standing up to her. She’s a classic bully, who retreats if challenged.
‘Now, look here,’ she begins. But I sweep on, thinking of Nora’s devastated expression.
‘Are you really that nasty, vindictive person that people cross the road to avoid, Maud? Is that who you are deep down? Or are you bitter because life has treated you badly? You do realise that if you continue on in the same way, bringing people down, you’re going to be lonely for the rest of your life?’
‘I don’t need to listen to this,’ she blusters, finding her voice at last. ‘You know nothing about me or my life.’
‘I do, actually. I heard you in the graveyard talking to Harold. By all accounts he was a lovely man. But I very much doubt he’d think you were lovely, the way you are now with people who only want to help you.’
Her face twists in pain. ‘How dare you talk to me about Harold. You know nothing about my marriage. The fact is, we loved each other very much and now he’s gone. Do you think it’s easy living on your own after spending over fifty years with someone?’
I swallow hard. ‘No, it must be terrible. But that’s no excuse to go around distributing poison wherever you go, is it?’
‘I don’t even have my family around me for comfort now.’ She spits the words out, her eyes flaring angrily. ‘They moved to Scotland before Harold died, and I hardly ever see my grandchildren now. Do you know what that’s like?’
I sigh, seeing that she’s on the verge of tears. ‘Maud, I know that we all have challenges in life that we need to get over. But I also know that the worst thing you can do is to alienate the people around you. Look around you. There are a lot of people in pain, although you might not even know it because they don’t go around with ‘Poor Me’ tattooed to their foreheads. They get on with their lives and take strength from the kindness and love of friends and neighbours. Please don’t pit yourself against the world, Maud. Let people help you.’
She starts walking away, a furious look on her face.
‘You say you miss caring for your grandchildren?’ I shout. ‘Well, how about caring for the child that’s right on your doorstep? Nora needs help, Maud. She’s brave and she’s determined to be strong, and I admire her so much for that. She’s done nothing to deserve your contempt and your harsh words. You should be ashamed of yourself.’
She doesn’t even turn around; she just stalks on, her head held high.
‘Kindness, Maud! Have you ever heard of it?’ I yell. ‘It makes the world a better place. Not that you’d know anything about that!’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
I’m still shaking when I get back to the cottage after having it out with Maud.
I was incensed by her nasty remarks about Nora, but I can’t believe I yelled at her like that, in the middle of the street. I was way too hard on her. I keep thinking of the day I over-heard her at her husband’s graveside. Christmas can be such a hard time for people on their own. Maybe the approach of the festive season has made her more grouchy than usual. But there’s no point trying to apologise to her because she probably wouldn’t even want to hear it.
I make myself a bowl of pasta for lunch and eat it on a tray watching some TV. It’s hard to concentrate, though, and I quickly lose the thread of the programme I’m watching. I still feel bad about Maud.
Much later, just after nine, Krystle phones. She has Adam there with her, sorting out the smoke alarm, and it makes me realise something. Ronan was right when he said I should let Krystle do things for herself. In the past, I would have rushed home to help her, but because I didn’t automatically do that, she’s taken the initiative and sorted the alarm out herself – even if it did involve asking Adam to help. I need to stop my habit of always thinking she needs my help, like a baby bird