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‘Yes, he is great . . . I’m very lucky, I know.’
Nicola chuckled. ‘Yes, we would all like a Steve in our life.’ Nicola was a single parent whose husband had upped and left after deciding that neither island life nor family life were for him.
‘How’s your dad?’
Kirsty exhaled then took another drink from her cup. ‘Honestly? I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. He’s been managing okay since Mum passed . . . but . . .’
‘Have you noticed a change?’ Nicola worked as a nurse at the local GP practice and her mum had lived with dementia, so she was a good friend to talk to this about.
‘Not massively,’ she said. ‘Just a few small things.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s started acting differently.’ She frowned. ‘He’ll say things completely out of character. I can’t even think of an example so perhaps I’m imagining it.’
‘Anything else?’
‘He doesn’t seem to grasp things in the way that he used to. And there are a couple of times we’ve been out, and he’s become confused and a bit disorientated.’ She paused. ‘I keep thinking about the story you told me about your mum and the strawberry sauce . . .’
‘When she wanted to know why we were having ketchup with our ice cream cones?’
‘Yes,’ said Kirsty. ‘The other night I was going to get the sauce out the cupboard to have with our dessert and I stopped myself in case he thought it was ketchup. Isn’t that stupid? There was no reason why he would have but I just didn’t even want to give him the chance to say it.’
‘Oh, Kirsty, it does sound like you’re analysing everything that he’s doing.’
She shrugged. ‘It’s hard not to as I feel so responsible for him. Yet other times it’s all fairly normal and he’s just Dad. You know my dad—he’s always had a sense of humour—but I’m almost waiting for him to start saying things that are totally inappropriate and lose his filter completely.’
‘Okay. Look, it does sound like there have been some changes since we last spoke. It’s maybe worth bringing him in to see the GP. It’s best to catch anything early — if there is anything, of course?’
‘Yes, I’ll suggest that again. I just need to tread carefully.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘He doesn’t like me making a fuss. You know how stubborn he is.’
She nodded in agreement. ‘Yes, and he is doing incredibly well to live on his own.’
‘That’s what I’m worried about.’
‘Try not to worry too much and don’t catastrophize quite yet, Kirsty. Remember you’re under huge amounts of stress just now and worrying about your dad . . . well, things feel bigger than they are. One step at a time. Most of all, remember that he’s still your dad.’
‘You’re right. Thanks for listening. You’re a good friend.’
Nicola patted her arm and stood up. ‘I am such a good friend that I’m going to get you another coffee.’
Kirsty smiled gratefully as she watched Nicola walk across the road and slip inside the door of the bakery. She sat contemplating for a moment and watched the birds swooping into the water.
‘If only life was that simple, eh?’ she said to Nicola when she returned with the coffees.
‘Well, there’s nothing to say it can’t be,’ she said. ‘Look I’ve bought buns too. Let’s just make thisoursimple for the moment.’
‘Aw thanks. Enough about me and my woes, Nic. Tell me about you. What has been happening and how is Jamie?’
‘Loving student life and being away from home,’ she said.
Nicola’s sole focus for a long time had been her son Jamie and Kirsty knew it was hard when he left to go to university on the mainland.
‘I’m a bit gutted that he’s not back for the summer but glad he’s off exploring.’ She smiled. ‘At least he’s given up asking his dad when he can take him to the next game at Ibrox. I’m just glad he’s out making a life for himself.’
‘You must really miss him?’ Kirsty bit into the iced bun, savouring the sweet taste.
‘Of course,’ she said, the tears pooling in her eyes. ‘But I need to get on with it. I always knew he would leave one day, and yeah, it’s been hard. But because I know he’s happy then I don’t feel quite as bad as I thought I would. Plus, I get to go and spend weekends in Dundee which is a bit of a novelty.’
