A Summer to Remember

She pushed her trolley into the next aisle hoping that, by scanning the shelves, her memory would be jogged and that they’d all actually be able to eat that night.

Olivia always did her shopping on a Wednesday. Nina, on the other hand, had never experienced the pleasure of a supermarket when one was able to move freely through it and not spend longer in a queue than you had spent actually choosing your items. And, also unlike Olivia, Nina had her list with her.

It was the strangest feeling being in a supermarket when she should have had her feet tucked firmly under a desk and her ear glued to a telephone, having orders barked at her by Hilary Jackson. However, now she was unemployed, she became acutely aware of the cost of things and had to make sure that she only got the absolute essentials.

As she turned into the next aisle in the hope of finding a jar of pesto sauce for under a pound, she almost crashed into a trolley that had been left at right angles for all and sundry to trip over and into.

Nina grinned as she saw the contents: two bottles of wine, a slab of parmesan and copies of Hello! and Country Life. She could just imagine the sort of person who’d own such a trolley. Barbour and pearls, she thought. Land Rover and Labrador sort. This woman wouldn’t have to hunt for three-for-two offers or dented tins that had been reduced. Oh, no.

Nina looked down the aisle and gasped. It was her: no Barbour today – it was far too warm – but little pearl earrings, an old-fashioned piecrust blouse and a long loose skirt in a Liberty fabric, which might have made her look terribly middle-aged and dowdy but which, in fact, looked wonderfully regal on her and marked her out as part of the country set. Her red hair was cut sharply and blow-dried to perfection, and her flawless skin was made up with the absolute minimum of make-up.

She watched the woman bend down to reach for a bottle of tomato sauce. It was the next item on her own list and she walked towards the shelf. Leaning forward, the strangest sensation hit Nina – via the nostrils. The most heavenly scent enveloped her and instantly transported her back to her past. An image of a beautiful white Georgian mill house by a river in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. A house that had been hung with heavy printed curtains and filled with huge log-like pieces of furniture in oak. And the two young boys she’d looked after.

It was Mrs Milton.

Nina watched for a moment, just to be sure, smiling at the memories that were resurfacing, before summoning up the courage to speak.

‘Mrs Milton?’ Nina’s voice was quiet, but obviously startled the woman.

‘Yes?’ she said, turning around in surprise.

Nina cleared her throat. ‘I don’t know if you’ll remember, but I used to babysit for you. I’m Nina Elliot.’ Nina watched in amazement as the woman’s face beamed, her eyes crinkling at the edges.

‘Neena! Gracious! I don’t believe it. Are you all right?’

‘Yes, very well, thank you.’

‘No – I mean – after what happened.’

‘Pardon?’ Nina was puzzled. How on earth could Mrs Milton have heard that she’d walked out of her job?

‘Dominic – the car – he told me all about it.’

‘Car? But I don’t have a car,’ she said.

‘No – his car. You know – he nearly ran you over. I was terribly worried. Silly boy.’

Nina’s expression remained one of complete bafflement but then the cogs of her memory slowly turned, releasing the image of the stern face at the traffic lights, the car horns, the panic, the half-recognition.

It had been Dominic. Little Dommie Milton whom she’d once tucked up into bed; the little boy who’d once woken her up because of a nightmare involving giant sunflowers. This same little boy had nearly run her over.

‘Oh, yes!’ Nina exclaimed, ‘But I didn’t know it was him. I mean, I thought I recognised him, but—’

‘But you’re okay?’

‘Yes! Absolutely fine. It was my fault really,’ Nina said. ‘I just wasn’t thinking straight, but I’m fine, thank you.’

‘What a relief. Honestly. He goes around in a dream, that boy. He really shouldn’t be behind a wheel at all. Well, other than a potter’s wheel.’

‘Gosh, how is everyone?’ Nina asked with a smile, trying to imagine the young boys who would all be grown men now.

‘Oh, very well – very well,’ Olivia enthused. ‘Billy’s working in London as a pilot and taking off all over the place. Alex has had about twenty different jobs since graduating and can’t seem to settle to any one of them, and Dommie’s just graduated from art school and is preparing for his first art show in Norwich.’

Nina beamed a smile. ‘You must be so proud of them all.’

‘Oh, I am!’ Olivia said. ‘And you wouldn’t believe it but Dudley and I have our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary this summer,’ she said, as if not quite believing it herself.

‘Oh, congratulations!’

‘Thank you,’ Olivia paused and then her forehead crinkled, ‘only there’s so much to organise! We’ve never thrown such a big party before. We’re having a marquee set up in the garden and a band and balloons and flowers – the works! It’s almost as much fuss as our wedding day.’

‘It sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun,’ Nina said, remembering the times she’d joined the Miltons for lunches and dinners at the mill and how splendid they’d made even the simplest of meals, with the great table set with silver, glass and fine china. She couldn’t imagine how splendid an anniversary party was going to be.

‘And you must come along, Nina! We’d love to have you as our guest,’ Olivia said. ‘Now, would you mind awfully if I looked in your basket? I’ve come out without my shopping list and I’ve gone completely blank. I can’t remember a single thing we need.’

‘Of course I don’t mind,’ Nina said, trying not to grin as she remembered the wonderful forgetfulness of her former employer.

Olivia looked thoughtful. Milk, bread, a tub of margarine, a small box of nasty-looking soap powder, bananas and an economy pack of tissues.

‘See – I haven’t got any of those. TOILET PAPER!’ Olivia shouted, startling a passer-by before taking off into the next aisle, leaving Nina to stand guard over her trolley. She really was a case. Nina had never managed to work out how she could host a dinner party for twelve and bring up three boys, but never know where to find her lipstick.

‘Here!’ Olivia said, returning with two bumper-sized packs of toilet paper. ‘Thank goodness I ran into you. My head is spinning so much with everything at the moment that the simplest things seem to elude me. Anyway, I simply can’t believe how many years it is since we all saw you. There’s so much to catch up on.’

‘Yes,’ Nina said, trying to remember exactly how many years it had been since she’d last visited the mill. She’d stopped babysitting for the Miltons after going to university, and that was ten years ago now.

‘So, what are you doing with yourself these days?’ Olivia asked her.

Nina bit her lower lip. It was the question bound to be asked sooner or later, but she hadn’t had time to prepare an adequate answer, not thinking she’d ever meet anyone she knew during a weekday trip to the supermarket.

‘Secretarial work,’ she said. ‘Actually, I’ve just finished a job that was – well,’ she paused, ‘it wasn’t right for me and I’m trying to find something that fits, you know? Something where I can really make a difference and feel valued.’

Olivia nodded. ‘Well, you were always valued at the mill. You were our favourite babysitter. You had such a way with our boys. You deserve nothing but the best,’ Olivia said, smiling kindly and then her eyes seemed to glaze over for a moment. ‘Goodness,’ she said. ‘I’ve had the most wonderful idea. You said you’re looking for a job?’

Nina nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said warily.

‘Then I might just have the very thing for you,’ she continued, her eyes widening. ‘How about popping over to the mill tomorrow morning. Are you free?’

‘I am,’ Nina said.

‘Excellent!’ Olivia said. ‘Oh, how exciting this is. I can’t believe it. First, Dommie nearly runs you over and then I run into you! I tell you, this is fate, Nina. It really is. Now, don’t forget about tomorrow – mid-morning?’

Nina nodded, wondering what on earth Olivia had in mind for her.

‘Oh, God! I’ve forgotten the mince!’ Olivia suddenly exclaimed, grabbing her trolley and executing a quick three-point turn, narrowly avoiding the tins of custard. ‘See you tomorrow, Nina!’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Milton,’ Nina called after her, watching Olivia waltz away with her errant trolley.

Grabbing a bottle of tomato sauce in a brand she’d never heard of, but that was offering twenty per cent free, Nina felt a definite skip in her step as she headed towards the check-out. She was going to visit The Old Mill House. With the river rushing by it and buttercup fields and bluebell woods on the doorstep, it was a little piece of paradise in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. It had been years since she’d been there, years since she’d even thought about it, but it had always held a special place in her heart. It would be wonderful to see it again – wonderful to see the boys again. Perhaps, Nina thought, this was the very door she’d been looking to open.