It's Now or Never by Jill Steeples Page A

if he wouldn’t just carry on in the same way as he’d always done.
    Still, she’d known better than anyone what she was letting herself in for. And she’d told me they’d smoothed all those problems out so I hoped I was just worrying unnecessarily.
    I climbed out of the car and retrieved my shopping bags from the boot.
    â€˜Hi Gramps,’ I called moments later, letting myself in through the back door. ‘It’s only me!’
    â€˜Hello love.’ I walked into the kitchen but it wasn’t Gramps greeting me, it was Marcia – she was standing at the stove tending to a frying pan that was emitting the most wonderful aroma of rosemary and garlic.
    â€˜Oh,’ I said, unable to hid my surprise and disappointment at finding her there.
    â€˜I’m just making your Gramps some liver and bacon, I’ve got some sauté potatoes in here,’ she said shaking her pan, looking like a proper Mary Berry, ‘and some new season asparagus ready to go. It’s his favourite meal, but he tells me he hasn’t had it in years.’
    I looked over at the dining table that had been transformed by a white linen tablecloth with a pretty pink tea-light holder shining softly between the two place settings laid. It looked lovely and Marcia had clearly dressed for the occasion in a floral floaty dress and a pair of strappy sandals.
    â€˜That’s nice,’ I said, wondering why I hadn’t known about the liver and bacon thing.
    The dine-in for two ready meal of coq au vin, with chunky chips and garden peas, with a dessert of rich chocolate torte, hung heavy in the plastic carriers I was carrying in my hands. I considered whipping them away and taking them home with me, but eagle-eyed Marcia had already spotted them.
    â€˜So, what have you got there?’ she asked me, as Gramps wandered into the kitchen. He was wearing a pair of tan corduroys and a pink and white striped shirt, clothes I’d never seen before. He looked as though he’d just walked out of the pages of a catalogue for the older man. I suspected Marcia might be behind the fashion overhaul too.
    â€˜Hello love.’ Gramps hugged me. He even smelled differently these days. Fresh and outdoorsy. ‘This is a lovely surprise,’ he said, laughing as he pulled away, ruffling my hair with his hands. ‘To what do we owe this pleasure?’
    â€˜I didn’t realise I needed an invitation to visit my own granddad?’
    â€˜Don’t be silly. Of course you don’t. It’s just…’
    â€˜I brought you a couple of bits,’ I said, handing over the carrier bags.
    Marcia took a peek into the bags over Gramps shoulder.
    â€˜Ooh look, Harry, there’s a lovely bottle of wine in there. And a couple of delicious looking desserts too. We could have those after our dinner. How very thoughtful of you, Jennifer.’
    â€˜They’re not for you, Marcia,’ I said sharply, turning my back on her. ‘I was going to cook for you, Gramps. To celebrate the fact that it’s my last day at work tomorrow, but never mind. I can see you’ve made other plans.’
    â€˜Oh, what a shame. You should have told me and then we could have got something sorted. Why don’t you stay and have some dinner with us? I’m sure there’s enough to go round.’
    â€˜Of course,’ said Marcia, feigning delight, but I wasn’t fooled by her skills as an actress. I’m sure her dislike of me was every bit as strong as my dislike for her.
    â€˜I hate liver and bacon,’ I snapped. ‘And besides, I thought roast beef was your favourite meal?’
    When had I ever had to give Gramps prior notice before? I often turned up unexpectedly after work and whipped up a quick bowl of pasta for our tea. Tonight was meant to be special, but Marcia had put paid to that.
    â€˜You can have a couple of favourites,’ said Gramps, trying to appeal to my better nature.