Moving On by Rosie Harris Page A

take a stroll or go out for a meal either from the Major or one or two other bachelors who resided there and she had no intention of causing any jealousy.
    Jenny found her time fully occupied and although as the weeks slipped by she missed Karen, she never really felt lonely. There was always a great deal going on in Merseyside Mansions in addition to the Wednesday coffee mornings.
    If she felt she needed outside stimulus she could always take a walk along the promenade to New Brighton. She also enjoyed going to Vale Park to listen to the band and did so most Sunday afternoons, whether on her own or with one of the other residents.
    As the summer faded and the crisper days of October were followed by the fogs and rains of November, Jenny spent more and more of her afternoons in the communal lounge enjoying the company of other residents.
    As she listened to the tales about their families and the get-togethers they’d enjoyed with them, it made her more and more aware that she hadn’t seen Karen for months.
    She knew that since she had sent Karen her share of the money that had resulted from the sale of the house in Warren Point, she had moved to a new flat on the outskirts of Liverpool and, one Sunday afternoon, feeling rather bored, Jenny decided on impulse to pay her a visit.
    She might be out or entertaining some friends, she thought, as she caught a bus to Seacombe and from there the Royal Daffodil ferryboat over to Liverpool.
    When she reached Liverpool Pier Head she checked on the address and then asked one of the bus drivers if he could tell her which bus she ought to take to get to Calderstones Park.
    As the bus travelled through the city and out into the suburbs the houses grew bigger and looked more and more expensive. When she reached her destination the house seemed to be so grand that Jenny began to wonder if she had the right address.
    Having come so far I may as well ring the doorbell and find out, she thought resignedly.
    The young girl who answered the door looked surprised when Jenny asked for Karen. After Jenny explained who she was the girl invited her to step inside. She showed her into a beautifully furnished lounge and told her to take a seat, saying that she would let Miss Langton know that she was there.
    Jenny looked round in amazement. Everything was top quality and beautifully coordinated; almost like a show house. The deep pile cream carpet on the floor, the dark red velvet drapes at the large bay window, the plush cream upholstered settee and matching armchairs and the numerous little tables with their elaborately carved legs were all top quality. It was far grander and more expensive than Karen could possibly afford and Jenny assumed she must be sharing with someone.
    When Karen finally appeared, Jenny could hardly believe her eyes. Karen was looking extremely glamorous in a midnight blue velvet housecoat, her hair piled high on her head in a very sophisticated style. She looked astonished to see her grandmother and her greeting was cool rather than exuberant.
    ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked as she gave Jenny a brief peck on the cheek.
    ‘No, not at all.’ Jenny smiled. ‘It is such a long time since we saw each other though that I thought I’d better come and see if you were all right.’
    ‘Yes, of course I am,’ Karen said with a frown, ‘but I am very busy.’ She looked at the expensive diamond studded gold watch on her wrist. ‘I’m packing at the moment; I have to catch a plane in less than an hour on a business trip.’
    ‘On a Sunday!’
    ‘Yes, I have to be somewhere first thing tomorrow morning, which means leaving now. I’m sorry, Gran, but I really must go; my taxi will be here at any minute. You should have telephoned and let me know you were coming,’ she added half apologetically.
    ‘Mmm, I’ll remember to make an appointment next time,’ Jenny said quietly. She picked up her handbag from the small table beside the chair she had been sitting in. ‘When will