As soon as Nora entered Oak Leaf Residential Care Home, and before sheโd even reached the reception, she saw a frail elderly man wearing glasses whom she recognised. He was having a slightly heated conversation with a nurse who looked exasperated. Like a sigh turned into a human.
โI really would like to go in the garden,โ the old man said. โIโm sorry, but the garden is being used today.โ
โI just want to sit on the bench. And read the newspaper.โ โMaybe if youโd signed up for the gardening activity sessionโโ
โI donโt want a gardening session. I want to call Dhavak.ย ๎ขis was all a mistake.โ
Nora had heard her old neighbour talk about his son Dhavak before, when she had dropped o๏ฌย his medication. Apparently his son had been pushing for him to go to a care home, but Mr Banerjee had insisted on holding on to his house. โIs there no way I can justโโ
He noticed, at this point, that he was being stared at. โMr Banerjee?โ
He stared at Nora, confused. โHello? Who are you?โ
โIโm Nora. You know, Nora Seed.โย ๎ขen, feeling too ๏ฌustered to think, she added: โIโm your neighbour. On Bancro๎ย Avenue.โ
He shook his head. โI think youโve made a mistake, dear. I havenโt lived there for three years. And I am very sure you were not my neighbour.โ
๎ขe nurse tilted her head at Mr Banerjee, as if he was a confused puppy. โMaybe youโve forgotten.โ
โNo,โ said Nora quickly, realising her mistake. โHe was right. I was confused. I have memory issues sometimes. I never lived there. It was
somewhere else. And someone else. Iโm sorry.โ
๎ขey resumed their conversation, as Nora thought about Mr Banerjeeโs front garden full of irises and foxgloves.
โCan I help you?โ
She turned to look at the receptionist. A mild-mannered, red-haired man with glasses and blotched skin and a gentle Scottish accent.
She told him who she was and that she had phoned earlier. He was a little confused at ๏ฌrst.
โAnd you say you le๎ย a message?โ
He hummed a quiet tune as he searched for her email.
โYes, but on the phone. I was trying for ages to get through and I couldnโt so I eventually le๎ย a message. I emailed as well.โ
โAh, right, I see. Well, Iโm sorry about that. Are you here to see a family member?โ
โNo,โ Nora explained. โI am not family. I am just someone who used to know her. Sheโd know me, though. Her name is Mrs Elm.โ Nora tried to remember the full name. โSorry. Itโs Louise Elm. If you told her my name, Nora. Nora Seed. She used to be my . . . She was the school librarian, at Hazeldene. I just thought she might like some company.โ
๎ขe man stopped looking at his computer and stared up at Nora with barely suppressed surprise. At ๏ฌrst Nora thought that she had got it wrong. Or Dylan had got it wrong, that evening at La Cantina. Or maybe the Mrs Elm in that life had experienced a di๏ฌerent fate in this life.ย ๎ขough Nora didnโt quite know how her own decision to work in an animal shelter would have led to a di๏ฌerent outcome for Mrs Elm in this life. But that made no sense. As in neither life had she been in touch with the librarian since school.
โWhatโs the matter?โ Nora asked the receptionist.
โIโm ever so sorry to tell you this, but Louise Elm is no longer here.โ โWhere is she?โ
โShe . . . actually, she died three weeks ago.โ
At ๏ฌrst she thought it must be an admin error. โAre you sure?โ โYes. Iโm afraid I am very sure.โ
โOh,โ said Nora. She didnโt really know what to say, or to feel. She looked down at her tote bag that had sat beside her in the car. A bag containing the chess set she had brought to play a game with her, and to keep her company.
โIโm sorry. I didnโt know. I didnโt . . . You see, I havenโt seen her for years. Years and years. But I heard from someone who said that she was here . . .โ
โSo sorry,โ the receptionist said.
โNo. No worries. I just wanted to thank her. For being so kind to me.โ โShe died very peacefully,โ he said, โliterally in her sleep.โ
And Nora smiled and retreated politely away. โ๎ขatโs good.ย ๎ขank you.
๎ขank you for looking a๎er her. Iโll just go now. Bye . . .โ