A New Clean Start

A family's seaside break breathes life into a quaint cottage that comes with a secret past...

- JANE CORRY

If life gets you down, wash the kitchen floor. It gives you a new clean start!”

It had been one of mum’s favourite sayings. But I never thought I’d be doing it for a living,” Judy said to herself not for the first time as she added an extra sparkle to Gladys’s lino.

Not that long ago, she’d been about to graduate from college and achieve her dream of being a teacher. But then she’d met Geoff and before she knew it, Judy was expecting.

Of course, she wouldn’t change her life for the world. 10-year-old Amy and 8-year-old Hayley were the most important people in her life. As for Geoff, she’d rather not think about him. But she’d survived divorce and was just about standing on her own two feet again.

“How did Hayley get on with her school project about insects?” asked 82-year-old Gladys watching from the doorway on her walking frame.

“She got a star!” replied Judy proudly. Thanks for asking.”

Then again, Gladys a fairly new client always took time to ask about Judy’s life. In fact, she was the highlight of Judy’s working week with that twinkle in her eyes. She would have made a wonderful grandmother. Sadly,” she’d told Judy, that wasn’t an option for me.”

There were times when Judy would have liked to have asked her more, but she didn’t want to pry. Interestingly, there weren’t any photographs of family to dust. Maybe she was estranged from them...

“Isn’t it lovely that summer is here now?” Gladys said cheerfully when they sat down together for a coffee break. Judy had brought some of the tray bake cakes she made for the children.

“It is,” she agreed. I love it when the evenings are light. The girls and I often go for walks after school.”

Gladys’s eyes looked wistful for a moment. We used to do that.”