'And what way is that?' asked Bridget.
'Oh Bridget stop complicating matters.'
'Helen it's you that's complicating matters. You left me in charge, and that's what I'm doing, running the show. Now get on that plane and go and see your mother. She'll be needing your compassionate side not your worrying side.'
'Don't aggravate them Bridget please. Blue Waters is my livelihood. If they leave we go under.'
"Safe journey Helen," said Bridget and put down the receiver. She took a deep breath and went in to face the grumblings of the Die Hards. It was gong to be hard enough to put up with them for eight days without the added knowledge that the place was struggling financially.
'We'll all be getting stomach cramps from your cooking,' said Brendan with a black scowl on his face.
'Judging by the look of her she keeps all the best pieces for herself,' said Sarah. If she wasn't so greedy, her man friend might be a bit more reliable.'
'I'm not spending another Christmas in here,' sniffed Harriet. It was bad enough when Matron Doyle attempted to look after us on her own, but to leave a servant girl, that's inexcusable.'
'At least they have a cook in Stella Maris,' said Edel. And some company over the festive season.'
'And people of one's own caliber to mix with at Sea Haven…no low life allowed in there,' said Brendan, glaring at Harriet. It was common knowledge that Harriet wasn't allowed to darken the door of Sea Haven again.
Bridget's spirits plummeted. She had the responsibility of four of Matron's residents on her hands. They would leave over Christmas under media spotlight. Bridget could imagine Brendan telling the press that Blue Waters was no more than a glorified concentration camp as he crossed the road to Sea Haven. Poor Helen would be spared none of it. With TV coverage all over Australia she was bound to see it all played out on the screen. The place would close. Helen would lose her investment. Bridget would lose her job.
Twenty five people would come back from their Christmas break and find their home under threat. And these four difficult old horrors would have to be resettled somewhere. Not an easy task.
The Die Hards were to blame because of their self-centered belief that they were the only ones suffering. It was up to them to make the best of their circumstances and give some Christmas cheer to others less fortunate than themselves. It' a pity that she promised Helen not to aggravate them. It would be good to make the Die Hards face up to reality.
'This place will close,' Bridget heard herself say. Between the four of you, you will manage to close it down. The rest of us will manage to survive somehow. Helen will sell up even if she only gets a pittance for it. The other residents will be easy to place. I'll even get a job somewhere; servant class of course, as you are all so eager to point out. But what will happen to you four? Where will you be next Christmas? Wherever I am then, I'll think of you four and wonder.'
There was a terrible silence. Bridget couldn't believe she had actually said it. After being pleaded with by Helen not to aggravate them, how could she have been so rash? But it had been said and there was no turning back now. She hardly dare look up.
To her surprise Brendan wasn't shaking his fists at her. Harriet wasn't giving her one of her hostile glares and neither Sarah nor Edel had made any of their derogatory remarks about her social behaviour. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, very out of character for the Die Hards.
When she looked at them she saw their faces were stricken. They all had aged before her eyes. They looked what they were: old frail and frightened. Tears well up in Bridget's eyes, tears for their future; tears for her own future when she was their age; for what she had said and done to them. And childish tears of frustration because she had no idea of what to do now.
After what seemed an eternity, Brendan spoke. He spoke without shaking his fists, and there was no sign of the scowl that Bridget thought was built into his face. "What should we do?" he asked.
Harriet also looked lost. "I suppose we could get worse places than this. And You Bridget, even if you haven"t any degrees, you are…caring.
There was no such thing at Sea Haven. Anyway I don't think they'll have me over there again.' Bridget stared at her open-mouthed. This was such a taboo subject, and here was Harriet admitting it. Edel had begun to whimper, but Sarah reached out her hand. "Now, now don't fret Edel. Cousin Sarah is here, I'll take care of you.'
