Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“I’m here to save the day,” I said with a smile, and she blinked some more.
“Isn’t it so generous of him,” Hannah chirped. “Lewis has been texting me to say how guilty he feels about being out sick so he’ll be relieved to know you found someone to cover for him.”
Ada glanced at her, looking a little confused. My appearance had obviously thrown her for a loop, but if they were short a pair of hands, I was happy to stand in. “I don’t know much about caring for the elderly, but I do take instruction well.”
Ada pressed her lips together, looking torn as her gaze went to the bus, where another woman was helping the residents board.
“Well, okay, if you’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” I said emphatically. I wanted her to know that I’d do anything for her. No matter what sort of tight spot she found herself in, I would always be there.
I was still focused on Ada when I felt some movement behind me. Turning, I found a tiny woman with a tuft of grey hair who was trying to snatch my wallet right out of my back pocket. Amusement claimed my features as I peered down at her, “Can I help you?”
The woman removed her hand from my pocket and acted like she hadn’t just been trying to rob me.
“Bernie!” Ada exclaimed. “We’ve talked about this. You’re not to be pick pocketing.”
“I wasn’t,” the woman argued. “I was about to pinch his bum, if you must know!”
I chuckled while Ada groaned then ran a hand down her face. “Lord have mercy.”
“Well, that’s not allowed either,” Hannah reprimanded the woman as she slid her arm through Bernie’s and escorted her towards the bus. “We call that sexual harassment nowadays.” She shot me an apologetic look before glancing at Ada. “I’ll get her boarded.”
“So, she’s the one who was dipping her hand into your petty cash?” I asked with a smirk, and Ada stared at the ground for a moment, shaking her head.
“She’s bloody impossible. We have to watch her like hawks to make sure she doesn’t take things from the other residents. The only saving grace is that she doesn’t really leave Pinebrook, so normally, whatever she takes, we find hidden in her room.”
“Well, I’m glad she didn’t manage to get my wallet. Wouldn’t want her going on a wild spending spree.”
“She does have access to the internet, so who knows what she’d try purchasing. We dodged a bullet.”
“For sure.” I smiled in amusement then paused to take her in. “How are you? You never came back last night.”
“I, um—” Before she could finish, the bus driver honked his horn to let us know everyone had boarded and they were ready to leave.
“We should get on the bus,” Ada said then glanced at me. “You’re sure you have time for this? We’ll be gone most of the day.”
“I have time,” I replied, meeting her gaze steadily.
She turned, and I followed her to the bus, hoping we could talk on the journey, but when we boarded, there were only two seats left, one at the front and the other farther back. Ada took the seat at the front, which left me to sit at the back next to an old man wearing a dark grey coat.
“Hello, mind if I sit?” I asked, and he grumbled something incoherent under his breath, which I took as an affirmative but could just as easily not have been.
The journey was just under an hour, and when we arrived, I felt oddly like I could breathe more easily. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a day off and immersed myself in nature. Powerscourt was a beautiful spot. It boasted expansive gardens, which appeared to be the first port of call as Ada, Hannah and another carer whose name I didn’t know ushered the care home residents into the gardens for a walk. Well, that was after everyone was given the opportunity to use the bathroom, which took the guts of forty minutes.
Ada was busy helping the residents, so I left her to it, not wanting to get in the way, even though I was desperate to speak with her. I also felt a little useless since I was supposed to be filling in for Lewis, but no one bothered asking me to do anything. In the end, I joined a group of three elderly men and walked with them while they discussed what type of sandwiches they might be having for lunch.
Donny was hoping for pickle and cheese while Ted had his fingers crossed for egg salad.
“Please no,” the third man, Paddy, cut in. “I can’t stand the smell of egg.”
A little while later, I managed to catch up with Ada as we made our way over to the other side of the estate to see the waterfall. It gushed in the distance, a striking beauty cutting down the rocky cliffside framed by native greenery.