T i m e O u t

We are family

We are Family

When life deals you a hand of aces it’s hard to remain stone-faced. The day the umpteenth couple who’d come to inspect the property that was for sale three doors down at number 5 knocked and introduced themselves as their new neighbours was the hand of aces that Doctors Cyril and Cristina Boyle had long been hoping for. They had to make an effort not to hug the couple right on their doorstep.

Theirs was one of a row of exclusive, elegant, family homes built by a developer with an eye for space, privacy and harmony. All the properties were owned by the residents and this reflected on the refined finishing touches. The house they called Number 5 even had its own tennis court which ran right behind the Boyle’s back garden and which explained their worry about who would buy it.

Jenny and Steve Adams, a handsome middle-aged couple like themselves, she introduced herself as a homemaker, he as an IT expert posted to Dublin from mid-west USA, fitted into the neighbourhood immediately. They both played golf, as did Cyril, who soon introduced his new friends to the local golfing community. Their only son Philip was completing his studies at the School of Music in Madison, Wisconsin. After a few visits to his family in Ireland he decided that he, too, wanted to make Ireland his home and try his hand at being a full-time classical music composer. Meeting Cyril and Cristina’s daughter Jackie, who worked as a children’s nurse, probably helped him decide.

The Boyles and the Adams became fast friends. Life was sweet and it dealt them both a second hand of aces a few years later when Philip and Jackie announced their engagement. Over one of their regular card games in the Boyle living room, Cyril dropped the bombshell.

“I’ve been thinking about the young ones. This down-turn isn’t making things easy for them.”

“Yes, Philip is beginning to have second thoughts.” Steve said.

“About what?” Cristina stopped dealing.

“No, not about the wedding, but about staying on in Ireland,” Steve was quick to reassure everyone.

“Listen. I’ve been thinking. Maybe we could help them out.” Cyril replied.

“Don’t you think they might want to be left to decide for themselves if they want our help?” Jenny was nothing if not discreet.

“Just hear me out Jen. They’re our only kids, right? Now, we’ve been together almost every weekend for the best part of six years. If it’s not a barbeque, it’s cards, if it’s not that it’s golf. We have plenty of room in both houses. I’ll say it out straight. You could move in with us and we’d give them your house until they find whatever suits them.”

Steve didn’t waste time on unnecessary small talk. “Have they agreed?”

“No, we haven’t asked them. We wanted to see how you felt first.”

Jenny needed time to digest the amazing proposal.

“And what if I come across you starkers in the hall Cyril?”

“Oh, you’ll survive Jen. I’ve no spare parts or bits missing.”

Cristina put forward her part of the plan. “We could share some of the downstairs rooms and we have two rooms and a bathroom for each couple upstairs. So we’d all have breathing space.”

“Sounds good to me.” Steve said. “What do you say Jenny?”

“Well, to be honest, I’d like to think it over. I’d hate to spoil things for them and for us.”

Cyril was eager to show that he had thought things through. “Well, we’d sort it out legally of course. We’d be joint owners of both houses. We’d share expenses and chores in one of them but we’d lead our own separate lives.”

They agreed to speak to their children and take it from there.

“I think it’s time we broadened our horizons darling,” Philip whispered to his wife one night after they’d got the kids to sleep.

“You mean we need breathing space. I think you might be right.”

Philip and Jackie worried over how to tell their parents that, after seven years of gratefully living their parents’ plan, it was now time for them to move on. Moving on with New York as their dream destination. Philip’s career had taken off. They had three delightful children who adored their grandparents’ communal home. They both knew how fortunate they were but it wasn’t enough. 

Surprisingly, when they made their announcement, there was understanding all round as if their parents, too, had been waiting for this decision. What was even more surprising was that, when the upheaval of the move to New York was dealt with, Steve and Jenny seemed to be in very little hurry to move back into their own house.

“We are a great family. Unconventional but great. Let’s just wait and see if they make a go of it or whether they’ll turn up some morning and ask for their old nest back.”  Jenny said and the matter was put on hold.

When wait and see didn’t materialise into the return of Philip, Jackie and the grandchildren, it was decided over another game of cards that Number 5, as it was affectionately referred to by all, should be rented out. Suitable tenants were chosen from among the many who enquired about the rental. Philip and Jackie told them via Skype that it was a wise move. They suppressed their sighs and smiled at the little ones on the screen. Things were as they should be, someone said. They made a trip to New York and Jackie took the kids home for Christmas. It was bizarre to see the house she’d shared with Philip occupied by strangers and she found her own house somewhat claustrophobic. She wasn’t sorry to go back.

“We’ll have a round of golf tomorrow, Steve?”

“Certainly, Philip, if the weather holds.”

“Steve, why do you keep on calling Cyril Philip?” Jenny was both annoyed and worried.

“Slip of the tongue, I suppose.” Steve said, leaving the room.

It wasn’t the first time that he’d slipped up on names and on appointments. Since he’d retired from his job it seemed to be happening more often.  That evening, the dreaded thought that life as they had known it had suddenly altered hung over them and they decided to watch films in their own rooms.

Steve changed rapidly over the next year. He became quiet and withdrawn and lost interest in the things he loved. Cyril stopped insisting that he join him for a game of golf. Jenny did insist that he take a daily walk but she stopped nagging him to listen to his grandchildren’s stories on the computer screen. Cristina devoted a lot of her time to coaxing Steve to adjust to his new life and she seemed to get through to him better than any of them. He never mixed up Cristina’s name. Cyril, however, found it difficult to come to grips with the stranger that Steve was becoming. He hated to admit that he was spending more and more time playing golf to avoid being around Steve.

If someone asked Cyril where he’d like to die, he’d probably have said on the golf course. Which is what he did one summer’s morning as he teed off at the main event of the year. Death was certified as due to a heart attack. Jackie came home for the funeral while Philip remained in New York with the children. He dealt with his father-in-law’s death and his own father’s senility better at a distance. Jenny was distraught by his absence but she wanted to be strong for Cristina. But it was Cristina who was strong for both of them. They would pick up the pieces and find some way to go on, she assured Jenny.

One morning, a month later, Cristina found the letter on the hall stand.

Dearest Cristina,

Please forgive me. I can’t take any more. The man that Steve has become is a complete stranger to me. My Steve, my darling husband, died long before Cyril did only we didn’t know it then. I can’t take any more of his empty eyes, his senseless blabbering. I know that if I stay round him any longer I’ll do something dreadful either to him or to myself. I need to get away. I’m turning to you because I don’t know who else to turn to. You have such patience and such an enormously generous heart. I wish I could be like you but I’m not.

I’m on my way to New York. I’ll spend some time with Philip and Jackie and maybe afterwards I’ll go and live with my sister Helena. As you know, she’s alone, too, in Detroit. Keep the rental money from Number 5 and get home help until he needs institutionalised care. If we have to, we’ll sell Number 5.

I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you this face to face. I know I’m a coward but I loved Steve too much to bear this. I loved the family we had created together and I want to think that we are family even now as I betray you and Steve like this.

 I’ll contact you soon.

Jenny.

Cristina brought Steve a cup of tea. They drank it to the noise of the television.

“I’m feeling good today.” His speech was less slurred. She hoped it would last a while.

She muffled him up and gave him his walking stick.

He looked at her for a long moment. “We’ll walk down to the lake”.

Cristina knew it was pointless telling him they were nowhere near a lake.

“You know what, we’ll go to our special spot.”

“Yes, Steve, we’ll have a nice stroll.”

“You’re so good to me Jenny. I love you very much.”

“I know you do and I love you too.”