‘Great, thanks.’ She had her hands tucked into her baggy hoodie as usual and took the pills from her with her sleeve, like she had cold fingers. She pocketed the pills and turned to go.
‘Great, um, thanks again,’ she said with a smile and rushed out.
Maddie closed the door and leant against it, exhaled, then reached over and drew the chain again.
11
Maddie knocked on Peggy Aitkens’ door gingerly. Luke’s words from last night echoed in her head and she’d spent most of the night wondering if she knew Jade at all and how cautious she should be of her. What had Luke said? Borderline bullying? Maddie had seen her kicking on the door all those weeks ago and the way Peggy flinched whenever she saw Jade.
She needed to put some distance between herself and Jade perhaps. There were too many things that didn’t quite fit right – the volatility; the manipulation; the spitefulness. She felt like she was being quietly bullied and manipulated, but was helpless to stop it. Not seeing her would mean not spending time with Ben though and that was like a physical pain when she thought about it.
She still had Jemima though. Greg had said she could be a part of her life.
‘Who is it?’ a voice said from behind the unopened door.
‘It’s Maddie – from across the hall? I just wanted to check on you, make you a cup of tea maybe?’ There was no response. ‘I have a Victoria sponge I need help eating too.’
The door opened on the chain and Peggy’s cataract-cloudy eyes peered through the gap.
The door closed again and the chain slid back.
‘Come in. Wipe your feet.’
Maddie closed the door behind her and followed Peggy into a cluttered and stiflingly warm lounge. A floral couch and two armchairs were arranged around a surprisingly up-to-date flat-screen television. Every surface was covered with china and crystal ornaments, each one sparkling and dust-free. The patio doors revealed a bright and colourful garden full of herbs, vegetables and rosebushes in a late stage of flowering.
Maddie held out the M&S Victoria sponge and said with a smile, ‘I’ll put the kettle on, shall I?’
She opened tidy cupboards in the kitchen and found a teapot and two china mugs, along with plates and cake forks. She stacked everything on a tray and carried it through to the coffee table in the lounge where Peggy sat in her slippers, looking out of the patio doors.
‘You have a lovely garden, Mrs Aitkens,’ Maddie said as she poured the tea.
‘Thank you. Not too much milk for me – and call me Peggy. I’m not your teacher.’
They sipped quietly for a moment. ‘Have you settled in alright then?’ Peggy asked.
‘Yes, thank you. Still have a few boxes to unpack, but I’m getting there. I would love a garden like that though – mine is just a patch of mud.’
‘It takes time, especially if you’re working.’
‘Oh, I don’t work. I’ve taken some time off – I’ve had some… personal issues.’
Peggy nodded sagely. ‘Then gardening might help with that. It helps to keep my fingers busy. The devil makes work for idle hands.’
‘That is true. I’m thinking of setting up my own business. I think it is time I got back into work.’
‘That’s what Luke upstairs does. Lovely man, he is.’
‘Yes, I’ve met him. He seems really nice. I’m going to be doing some work for him, actually.’
‘He’s a good lad, keeps an eye out for me. Got a caring heart, that one.’
The conversation lulled as Maddie cut into the cake and handed a plate to Peggy.
‘Do you have children, Peggy?’
‘No, never had them.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t either.’
‘You should do something about that. It gets a bit lonely when you get to my age.’
Maddie smiled. ‘I think my time for that has passed.’
‘You never know what lies around the corner, my dear.’
A clock ticked comfortingly. Maddie looked around at the bookcases lining the far wall. ‘I see you like to read?’
‘A lot of those are my late husband’s. I started reading them after he passed away – I wanted to know what had stolen him away from me for hours on end. They were like a string of mistresses. And now I’ve read them all, some of them twice. They’re my love affair now.’
‘Well, if you ever need me to pick up some books from the library for you – or even accompany you there – I’m happy to. I love the library. I took Ben there the other day. You know Ben from upstairs?’
‘The little boy? He’s a sweet little one, isn’t he? I can’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt them.’ She tutted and shook her head before scooping up the crumbs on her plate with the flat of her finger. It was a strange thing to say and Maddie was a little lost for a response, but Peggy continued, ‘You should be careful of that woman upstairs. I’m not one to gossip, but she’s vicious, that one.’
‘Does she give you a hard time, Peggy?’
Peggy looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t want to speak ill of her behind her back.’
‘You’re not at all, but I’d rather know than not. The truth is I’ve been a bit concerned about her behaviour myself lately.’
‘I called the council on her once – a while ago – because I could smell marijuana coming from her flat. They didn’t find anything but she got a bit nasty after that. Started keeping me awake at night with her music, banging on the door in the early hours of the morning, that kind of thing. It stopped for a bit when Lucy and Luke moved in because they kept an eye out for me, but then Lucy moved away and every now and again, when I think it’s all over, she’ll do something just to remind me she’s there. Luke is good at keeping her in check though.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’
‘Oh, don’t worry yourself, dear. If I can live through Hitler, I can put up with the likes of her.’
‘But you shouldn’t have to!’
‘Aye, well, I just keep myself to myself.’ She drained her teacup. ‘The worst was when she smeared excrement all over my front door once. I don’t have any proof it was her, but someone had taken a baby’s nappy and rubbed it all over my door, the door handle, everywhere and then left the nappy on the mat.’
Maddie was horrified. How could anyone bully and torture a little old woman like that?
She needed to have a word with Jade. This was unacceptable.
As if reading her mind, Peggy said, ‘I don’t want you getting involved though, my dear. She’s a nasty piece of work and you don’t need the aggravation. She gets bored quickly anyway. Like any bully, she’ll find someone else to pester if we ignore her. In fact, she’s left me alone for a bit, so maybe she’s already got bored with me.’
Maddie sat quietly, unease trickling through her.
She had a funny feeling that she was Jade’s new plaything now.
12
Greg heard the doorbell ring. Jemima was perched on his hip, his hair stood up in tufts from where Jemima had been pulling it and he had Little Mermaid stickers all over his cheek. Gemma had gone to a Sunday morning yoga class. She was still annoyed about the other day and his lengthy ‘gym’ outing. She’d been treating him to the silent treatment ever since, so a bit of space from her iciness was welcome. If he thought about how much he had enjoyed being with Maddie that day, compared to Gemma’s attitude last night throughout a frosty dinner before she stormed off to bed, he knew what he would prefer any day of the week. Maddie had made it clear it was a one-off, but he had to admit that didn’t sit right with him.