Read Online Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) by Mel Sherratt - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Mel Sherratt
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you’d pop over to see Nan in the morning.’
‘I won’t!’ The door slammed behind her.
Donna’s eyes skimmed over the familiar room, and the numerous photos of her family. They were the most precious things in her life. No amount of material things around her would replace them.
Unlike a lot of the families on the estate, she didn’t have much but what she had was clean and tidy. A navy blue settee was pushed against each wall, with a large bay window looking out on to the avenue. The settees had taken ages to pay for but they were hers now and the perfect colour to mix and match rugs and curtains in the latest fashionable colours to keep the room up to date. The large flat screen television had been a present from Sam: she hadn’t asked where it had come from.
Her mobile phone rang. She wondered if it would be Owen but anticipation turned to disappointment when she saw who it was.
‘What do you want?’ she said.
‘Don’t be like that.’ It was Sarah. ‘You know you love me really.’
‘Oh, all the time. Who hasn’t turned in now?’
‘Maxine – she’s rung in sick. You know I wouldn’t normally ask for help under the circumstances as I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but I don’t have anyone else to ask.’
Donna sighed. Why couldn’t everyone just get on with their lives and give her a bit of peace? But she knew Sarah would be feeling terrible for asking her, which meant she must be desperate. And they had helped each other out so much over the years that she didn’t mind so much. Donna could always do with a little extra money, too.
‘Pretty please!’ Sarah spoke into the silence.
‘Okay, okay. What time do you want me there?’
‘Half an hour?’
‘I’m not staying too late, though.’
‘Nine o’clock finish do you?’
Donna sighed. ‘I suppose so.’
‘Thanks – you’re a life saver!’
Donna put down the phone with another frustrated sigh. Why did she always give in so easily? She could do with a few hours to herself really. It was what she needed after running around after her family all the time.
She wished she could learn how to say no, but everyone knew her weak spots. Sarah’s comment was laughable. She wasn’t a lifesaver. She was a mug!
Chapter Ten
Donna ended up booking Wednesday off as a holiday from Shop&Save – not that she received much holiday pay, but she couldn’t fit everything in. She’d spent most of it on the ward with Sam, listening to him moaning about everything and anything until she had finally told him to stop feeling sorry for himself. But now she was feeling guilty for her outburst. After visiting Sam she’d done a bit of shopping and raced over to see Mary.
Since her condition had worsened, she tried to visit every day. With a nudge, Keera would visit once or twice a week, and Sam maybe once a fortnight, with a really big shove. As usual, most things were left up to her, especially the fetching and carrying.
Poplar Court was only a few minutes’ drive away on Leonard Drive. Donna had been thankful of this on the times that she had been called out by the warden to tend to Mum when she had been ill, or more recently, confused enough to keep pressing the emergency call-out button.
Only a few years old, it was a massive complex spread out over several acres, backing onto fields. The building itself was set out in an L-shape, housing one hundred and ten small self-contained flats, run by the city council, with shared facilities on the ground floor. There was a gym, hairdressers, small supermarket and coffee shop.
Once she had arrived at Poplar Court, Donna pressed her key fob up to the electronic remote panel, pushing the door as a buzzer went off. The flats accommodated elderly people, single or couples. Mary was on the second floor so for speed, Donna took the lift.
Mary’s flat was near to the end of a wide corridor. When she reached flat 209, Donna stepped into a windowless hallway with four doors
‘I won’t!’ The door slammed behind her.
Donna’s eyes skimmed over the familiar room, and the numerous photos of her family. They were the most precious things in her life. No amount of material things around her would replace them.
Unlike a lot of the families on the estate, she didn’t have much but what she had was clean and tidy. A navy blue settee was pushed against each wall, with a large bay window looking out on to the avenue. The settees had taken ages to pay for but they were hers now and the perfect colour to mix and match rugs and curtains in the latest fashionable colours to keep the room up to date. The large flat screen television had been a present from Sam: she hadn’t asked where it had come from.
Her mobile phone rang. She wondered if it would be Owen but anticipation turned to disappointment when she saw who it was.
‘What do you want?’ she said.
‘Don’t be like that.’ It was Sarah. ‘You know you love me really.’
‘Oh, all the time. Who hasn’t turned in now?’
‘Maxine – she’s rung in sick. You know I wouldn’t normally ask for help under the circumstances as I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but I don’t have anyone else to ask.’
Donna sighed. Why couldn’t everyone just get on with their lives and give her a bit of peace? But she knew Sarah would be feeling terrible for asking her, which meant she must be desperate. And they had helped each other out so much over the years that she didn’t mind so much. Donna could always do with a little extra money, too.
‘Pretty please!’ Sarah spoke into the silence.
‘Okay, okay. What time do you want me there?’
‘Half an hour?’
‘I’m not staying too late, though.’
‘Nine o’clock finish do you?’
Donna sighed. ‘I suppose so.’
‘Thanks – you’re a life saver!’
Donna put down the phone with another frustrated sigh. Why did she always give in so easily? She could do with a few hours to herself really. It was what she needed after running around after her family all the time.
She wished she could learn how to say no, but everyone knew her weak spots. Sarah’s comment was laughable. She wasn’t a lifesaver. She was a mug!
Chapter Ten
Donna ended up booking Wednesday off as a holiday from Shop&Save – not that she received much holiday pay, but she couldn’t fit everything in. She’d spent most of it on the ward with Sam, listening to him moaning about everything and anything until she had finally told him to stop feeling sorry for himself. But now she was feeling guilty for her outburst. After visiting Sam she’d done a bit of shopping and raced over to see Mary.
Since her condition had worsened, she tried to visit every day. With a nudge, Keera would visit once or twice a week, and Sam maybe once a fortnight, with a really big shove. As usual, most things were left up to her, especially the fetching and carrying.
Poplar Court was only a few minutes’ drive away on Leonard Drive. Donna had been thankful of this on the times that she had been called out by the warden to tend to Mum when she had been ill, or more recently, confused enough to keep pressing the emergency call-out button.
Only a few years old, it was a massive complex spread out over several acres, backing onto fields. The building itself was set out in an L-shape, housing one hundred and ten small self-contained flats, run by the city council, with shared facilities on the ground floor. There was a gym, hairdressers, small supermarket and coffee shop.
Once she had arrived at Poplar Court, Donna pressed her key fob up to the electronic remote panel, pushing the door as a buzzer went off. The flats accommodated elderly people, single or couples. Mary was on the second floor so for speed, Donna took the lift.
Mary’s flat was near to the end of a wide corridor. When she reached flat 209, Donna stepped into a windowless hallway with four doors
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