Fiona of Glenmorie

by Ruth Hay

  Tidying the tiny place did not take long, so Ashley opened the front door onto the street and savoured the air. She noted the waves creaming gently on the shoreline on the other side of the street and knew they would have a good day for their tour. She really adored this little cottage. It was like a nest for two lovebirds but it was not the kind of place in which to spend a lifetime, or raise a family.

  Edmund had no idea about where they might live once they married. The truth was he had no leisure to be thinking of such things with every day’s medical concerns crowding out all other thoughts.

  Ashley put aside her plans for a wedding and a house of her own, until the matter of an assistant doctor was decided.

  It was no effort for her to relinquish her hopes. For the present, she was content just to be still for a while. After the intensive work of dealing with publishers in Canada, she was happy to leave everything else to fate or to others, while she relished being here with Edmund, and now with Anna nearby.

  When the phone rang, her first thought was a hope that the day’s adventure had not been cancelled.

  She breathed out when the voice on the line was not Anna’s, but a Canadian voice in a rush.

  “Look, Ashley, I did not want to interrupt Edmund at work but there’s some news for him. I don’t have much time as I am just off to my other teaching job in a moment.

  Sorry! I should have started with saying it’s Rena Collins here. Steve just told me the government has approved a huge monetary incentive to encourage trainee doctors to fill vacancies in rural and coastal areas. He will insist on the local council applying for the grant at once, so Dr. Jansen will get the help he needs as soon as possible.

  Hope this news brightens your day.

  Must rush off!”

  Rena was gone before Ashley could fully process this unexpected news. She dropped down into the nearest chair and tried to remember everything conveyed in the rapid style of Rena’s speech.

  Unless she was mistaken, help was on hand for Edmund! His work days might soon be shorter and he could afford to take time off now and then.

  Her first impulse was to call Edmund immediately and share the news, but she stopped with her hand on her phone. There was no point in raising his hopes until there was a more definitive confirmation.

  She hugged herself, nonetheless. Such good news!

  She longed to share it with Anna on today’s outing but that would risk Christine hearing it and possibly saying something out of turn to her son.

  Best to wait a while, and savour it quietly. At least until Edmund comes home tonight.

  * * *

  Anna noticed Ashley’s heightened colour and put it down to anticipation of a day out. She and Alina had just fetched Christine from the hotel, taking the opportunity to admire the new facilities there, and to comment that Christine would, nevertheless, be glad to get back to her own place again.

  “There’s nothing like your own bed and all your things around you, is there? I certainly appreciate being back in my house. Our good friends, Zoe and Wesley, were wonderful hosts but home ground is special, don’t you think, Christine?”

  Alina caught the hint and added her two-cents-worth.

  “This fine hotel must cost quite a lot considering the time you have stayed here? Or is Edmund footing the bill?”

  Christine was offended at these personal questions from comparative strangers but she knew better than to take umbrage since Edmund’s fiancée had waxed lyrical about the importance of Anna Drake in her life. Ashley seemed to be of the opinion that Christine should feel privileged to be escorted around the countryside by such a famous person, in a hired car no less.

  She bit her lip and replied with as much good grace as she could manage in the circumstances.

  “I believe Edmund and Ashley, between them, are covering my expenses. The rented cottage does not have space for a visitor, as you may know.

  As to your other enquiry,……..”

  There was a perceptible chill in the voice now.

  “…………… I am perfectly happy to sacrifice my home comforts if it can help my son in any way at all. He has such responsibilities, you know. Almost every person in Oban, to whom I have been introduced, has remarked on his conscientious attitude and the depth of his medical knowledge.”

  “That is undeniable,” asserted Anna, as the trio made their way down the staircase pausing while Christine made a big deal of informing the desk staff where she could be contacted and who she would be travelling with.

  As he took her keys, the manager exchanged a sympathetic glance with Anna over Christine’s head. It was clear he had about enough of this haughty madam in his hotel.

  Anna and Alina told Cameron to stay in the parking lot while they walked over to fetch Ashley. There was no available parking space outside the cottage.

  Christine elected to wait with the driver and took over the front passenger seat. Cameron was about to get the third degree but Christine’s absence allowed Ashley to convey her good news to Anna and Alina as soon as they arrived at her door.

  “That’s wonderful news! We will not tell your future mother-in-law. She sounds as if she’s here for the duration!”

  “Oh, don’t make me laugh. She’s a tough old bird, all right.”

  “We will keep working on her, Ashley, but she will be hard to shift.”

  “Don’t I know it, Alina! If Edmund didn’t put his foot down and demand rest, she would be over here every night. She does not seem to realize we need time alone after such a long separation.”

  “Well, Christine Jansen will find it hard to overcome the concerted efforts of three Canadians bent on the same end in today’s little jaunt!”

  “I fervently hope so, Aunt Anna! “

  “Right, let’s get back and rescue poor Cameron, before he abandons the car and walks off.”

  The trio laughed all the way along the front, back to the Columba Hotel’s parking and found Cameron walking toward them. He had excused himself, stating he needed to stretch his legs but three women knew the real reason.

  Even Christine could not find a fault with the day out. They drove to Glencoe, and from her prime front seat view, she could do no less than admire the scenery after a half-hearted attempt to compare what she was seeing to the delights of Edinburgh and the east coast towns.

  They stopped at the Glencoe Visitors’ Centre and after enjoying the various exhibits they had a splendid lunch in the restaurant where Anna innocently asked Ashley if she preferred a wedding in autumn over spring or summer.

  It took a moment for Ashley to grasp what Anna was aiming for, then she rushed right in with the true comment that she and Edmund had not yet had a chance to consider the options.

  Alina added another question. “You may well want to be married in Canada, my dear? That choice would allow all your McLeod family to attend as well as Philip and I of course, and possibly Anna, depending on the time of year.”

  This immediately alarmed Christine who abandoned her portion of sticky toffee pudding and took a drink of water to clear her mouth.

  “Oh, my! Ashley, you wouldn’t think of doing that, would you? It’s so far to travel and your friends here in Scotland would miss out.”

  Ashley took pity on Christine when she saw her distress.

  “Honestly, Edmund and I have not talked about this at all. There are many factors to consider but I will confess to a soft spot in my heart for Glenmorie Castle where we first appeared in public as an engaged couple.

  Alternatively, we could follow in the footsteps of Anna and Lawren and do the whole thing in private, far from public view.”

  Christine did not understand this reference but she saw a special glance exchanged between Anna and Ashley and dared not ask more. This entire topic was fraught with pitfalls. One wrong word and she risked being excluded from the proceedings altogether.

  Her only son married without his mother present at the ceremony? It was outrageous! And the bridge club would never let it
be forgotten.

  * * *

  The rest of the afternoon slid by comfortably enough.

  Cameron did a circular tour of the best spots in the area and even Christine was awed into silence by the lone piper on the mountain side and the splendour of Glenfinnan. She was even more impressed by the information that this very loch was the one used often in the scenes at Hogwarts School during the entire Harry Potter series of films.

  Ashley invited her into the cottage for tea when they reached Oban and waved Anna and Alina off to go home with Cameron. She was really trying to occupy the hour or two before Edmund arrived home to receive the good news that came earlier with Rena’s phone call. She asked Christine to help her prepare her son’s supper dish and listened with interest while she expanded on his favourite meals from childhood.

  Christine’s suggestions transformed what would have been a plain, but filling, cheese and onion casserole, into a handsome dish surmounted by a crust of toasted breadcrumbs and mashed cauliflower.

  Ashley asked Christine if she would like to join them for supper since she had done most of the work but, to her amazement, Christine rolled down her sleeves and took her leave saying she was tired from the day and would be glad to get early to bed.

  * * *

  When Edmund arrived home having enjoyed his walk through the town, he took a stern look at Ashley’s face before asking how the day had gone.

  “My darling! It went very well culminating in a lovely time here with your mother and I discussing recipes and cooking together.”

  “Well, that is good news and I can smell something tasty in the oven.”

  “It’s not the only good news today!”

  She relayed the information from Rena Collins and Edmund visibly relaxed.

  “I did hear a rumour about this from colleagues in Edinburgh. No one knew the timeframe. With Steve on our side, it could happen sooner than expected. I am thrilled to hear this Ashley. I know I have not had the energy to move us forward since you arrived home. We have such a lot to talk about.”

  “Indeed we do! But first, we eat!”

  “Agreed!”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It was a leisurely breakfast at the McCaig Estate House.

  The consensus over coffee was that the previous day had gone quite perfectly with several telling remarks directed at Christine Jansen that could well have found their mark.

  “It’s up to Edmund now, my dear. We have done all we can. If she does not take the hint, there’s nothing short of a bomb to shift her from Oban.”

  “You may be right, Alina. Good news though about James accepting the job of CEO, and equally good news about a new assistant doctor. All in all, a fine day’s work!

  Do you suppose we can relax today at Jeanette’s?”

  “I certainly hope so!”

  Anna noted the fatigue in Alina’s voice and decided to cut short the afternoon with Jean and the children should Alina show any signs of fading. She had been through an exhausting experience in London and she really needed more time to recuperate.

  “Right! I am off upstairs to tidy up and call Bev to see if James and Caroline told her their plans.

  You are to stay here and keep Sylvia company. We won’t be going to Jeanette’s until later. She will collect us on her way back from a renovation job out of town.”

  Alina let the peace of the country kitchen sink into her soul. Anna, as always, knew exactly what she needed. Two women who had known each other through thick and thin since their schooldays, understood more than words could express about their inner needs and feelings.

  She needed rest. She needed Philip. Now that her eyesight was returning day by day, she needed nothing more.

  She poured the last cup from the coffee carafe and gazed out the window.

  Another lovely spring day with a hint of a breeze. This was truly an extraordinary place to live.

  No wonder Anna longed for it when she was in Canada. Stories of the occasional wild winter had not discouraged her so far. The Scottish winters were shorter than in Ontario and less severe overall, but Anna still preferred her Canadian comforts in the colder months.

  How long would Anna be able to make the trans-Atlantic crossing to spend her winters amid Canada’s efficient heating systems?

  How long would either of them have the good general health to continue this peripatetic existence?

  What would happen when loved ones were, inevitably, left behind on one side or the other of the great ocean divide?

  Getting older is not for the faint in heart, she surmised.

  She looked at Sylvia, grooming her fur contentedly on the window seat.

  Animals never worried about the future. They accepted each day as it came. Each moment was sufficient for them. If there was nothing to do, sleep filled the gap and prepared them for the next adventure.

  I will take a lesson from Sylvia. I will take one day at a time and be grateful for the present.

  The future will take care of itself, I have no doubt.

  Anna found it hard to believe how much Annette and Liam had grown since her last visit.

  Her godchildren amazed her with their exploits, their interests and the delightful way in which they deferred to their grandmother’s greater wisdom.

  Jean was obviously an essential part of the family and her role as backup for the busy parents was greatly valued.

  Anna thought how fortunate Jean was to be in daily contact with her grandchildren and from what Jeanette said, the feeling was mutual.

  “She was always a strict disciplinarian with me. It was very difficult to pull any wool over her eyes, as they say. But now, she has softened a bit and has more patience, although that sense of expectations and standards keeps these two rascals in check.”

  Anna and Alina were treated to after-school teatime, then the children went off to their rooms to do crafts and follow their individual interests before joining their father and mother and guests for supper. Jean and Alina stayed in the kitchen to chat about Brexit and Canadian politics under Justin Trudeau while Jeanette and Anna inspected the garden.

  “What do you think Annette and Liam will do with their lives?’ asked Anna.

  They were seated together on a bench in the rear garden which was set into the steep hillside. protected from The sea breezes flowed by well above their heads protecting banks of flowers and small shrubs which ascended the slope in stepped tiers.

  “Goodness me!” exclaimed Jeanette on a laugh. “I am the last one to know about that!

  All I can say is that Annette is an extrovert with a love of acting, and Liam is much more into reading and learning, but who knows?”

  “So, they are following in their parents’ footsteps, then?”

  Jeanette paused for a moment and then replied more thoughtfully.

  “I suppose you may be right about that Anna Mason Drake. Just like you to analyse their characteristics so accurately. It’s the teacher in you, I suppose.”

  “Time will tell, as in all things, but I think you and George have done a wonderful job with your children. With connections on both sides of the Atlantic, it will be interesting to see what and where they choose.”

  “I see what Bev and Alan’s two boys have done and I guess we must accept that families living in each other’s pockets all their lives, is a thing of the past. Fortunately, the ability of parents and grandparents to travel across the world to keep in touch has kept pace with the trend, for which I am duly grateful.”

  The next topic of discussion was the Christine situation.

  “I have not seen much of her, Anna. She seems to hover around her son and I suppose we can’t blame her for that. He is her one chick, after all. What was your impression from your tour of the local sights?”

  “I believe she is a lonely woman who is afraid of losing Edmund. The problem is, if she continues to push too hard she will antagonize Ashley and force her son to choose between the two women in his life. That is not a pleasant situation. Mu
ch damage could be done.”

  “I have to agree. The best solution would be if those two got married fast, and started a family right away. I know what a difference it makes to George and I having Jean living with us. If Christine had a definite purpose for the future she would soon settle down and allow the couple to live their lives in comparative peace.”

  Anna said nothing. She recognized the common sense of Jeanette’s words but there was another factor in her mind that was, as yet, unknown to anyone else. After Ashley had cared for her through chickenpox and spent months on the book about the romance she shared with Lawren, Anna had made up her mind to leave the McCaig Estate House to Ashley in her will.

  Now, she considered, if she gifted the house to Ashley and Edmund as a wedding present, it would solve some of their accommodation problems. It was something to think about and it might also precipitate the final decision about where Ashley would settle…..Scotland or Canada?

  This was a weighty matter and she was not yet ready to consider all the possible implications. She tucked it away for now. She would talk privately to Alina and Philip before making any announcements.

  Jeanette had noticed how thoughtful Anna was but she did not want to pry.

  “So, what did Bev learn about Caroline and James’ plans?”

  “Not much as yet. They are returning to their flat in London very soon and decisions will be made there about Caroline’s future job, I guess. The one good thing is that the tiny flat is situated right in the centre of the city so it should command an excellent price when they sell.”

  “I think another good thing is James having a great job with A Plus. Bev and Alan will be thrilled.

  Do you believe there’s a chance the couple will decide to live in Scotland? It would be much cheaper than down south.”

  “I really don’t know but it would be lovely to have them here. Alina and I are very fond of James.”