Rachel's Coming Home

by Gillian Villiers

  Rachel wasn’t so sure about that. One consequence was she could hardly bear to let him out of her sight. She had gone home to clean herself up and then been taken to the hospital by her father. She was shaking so much he said it wasn’t safe for her to drive. Maggie would have gone with them, if she hadn’t been so busy making friends with Sally.

  Philip’s car was still at Inshie Heights Farm and he would need a lift back, but mostly Rachel just needed to see him. She felt an ache in her chest every time she thought of what the outcome might have been.

  ‘How did it happen? Do you know?’ her father asked as they neared the town.

  ‘Not really. Freddy Smith says it was his fault. He seems really, really upset. Philip just said it was an accident and he was incredibly grateful to Freddy for rescuing him.’

  ‘Freddy was very brave,’ said her father, who had been told some of the events.

  ‘He was, although he denies it. He says anyone would have done the same, but it’s not true. He wasn’t just brave, he was quick thinking.’

  ‘And very lucky that you happened to turn up.’

  Rachel gave a little shiver. ‘Yes, very lucky. If he’d gone in there without a third person holding the other end of the rope …’ It didn’t bear thinking of.

  Philip’s take on events was slightly different. Once they were back in the Collingtons’ kitchen, with Maggie fussing around him, he seemed keen to laugh the whole thing off. ‘What a fool I was. Should have watched my footing.’

  ‘Freddy says it wasn’t your fault. He’s determined to take all the blame.’

  ‘Least said soonest mended,’ said Philip firmly. ‘Thanks for collecting me from the hospital. And for fetching Bill and Ben for me. They must have thought I’d abandoned them.’

  ‘They were very happy to see me,’ agreed Rachel. ‘And they’re charmed by Sally, the three of them are keeping each other occupied.’

  ‘It’s very kind of you, as I said, but I’m sure I could manage at home. You really don’t need …’

  ‘The doctor said you shouldn’t be on your own for the first night,’ said John calmly.

  ‘So it was obvious you should come here,’ said Maggie.

  ‘Who else would have you?’ said Rachel with a grin. ‘You’re still just a little bit fragrant …’

  Philip met her eyes, as though trying to understand her true meaning. Eventually he said, ‘If it’s all right with you, then, perhaps I’d better go and have another bath.’

  ‘Excellent idea. And then supper in bed,’ said Maggie firmly. She loved to have someone to look after.

  The last thing Philip had expected when he got up that morning was to find himself in the Collingtons’ spare room, with a tray of delicious food on his lap and Rachel standing shyly beside his bed.

  ‘I hope it’s OK. It’s Mum’s special broth.’

  ‘It smells lovely. Look, why don’t you sit down? Will your parents mind if you stay and talk to me?’

  Rachel hesitated. ‘No, they won’t mind.’ She seemed nervous of him. Perhaps she was remembering, after all the excitement of the day, that the two of them hadn’t been on good terms recently. Eventually she pulled up a little wicker-work chair and sat down gingerly on the edge of it.

  Philip took a mouthful of the soup to fortify him, and then began. ‘I suppose you’re wondering what I was doing at Freddy Smith’s?’

  ‘Well, it’s nothing to do with me …’

  ‘What was it brought you up there just at the right time?’

  Rachel blushed. ‘It was seeing your car, actually. I was furious, I wondered what on earth was going on … But as I said, it’s nothing to do with me.’

  ‘It has everything to do with you. I went to see Freddy to try and find out what is behind this vendetta he has against you.’

  ‘So he really has had a vendetta?’

  ‘Yes, I think so. Of course, I didn’t help by making thoughtless comments about the flooding here. You do realise that was totally accidental, don’t you? I never thought for a moment that it would come back on you like it did.’

  ‘Didn’t you?’ Rachel realised how easy it was to say something without thinking about its impact. She did that all the time. Why should Philip be any different?

  ‘No, I didn’t. And I’m really sorry for the heartache it caused you and your parents.’

  ‘I suppose a little comment wouldn’t have mattered, if things hadn’t already been so difficult, with the rumours Freddy had spread.’

  ‘That’s right. And I don’t think he’ll be spreading any more.’

  ‘You’ve told him not to?’

  ‘I was trying to persuade him not to. But I think the shock of my fall is what really changed his mind. He said he’s been a fool to hold on to his own fears and that doing so very nearly caused another death. Did you know his wife died as a result of a dog bite?’

  ‘Gosh, no. How awful.’

  ‘Yes, it was. But I think he realises now it doesn’t mean every dog is the devil incarnate, and nor are the people who deal with them.’

  ‘So that’s what it was all about.’ Rachel shook her head slowly. ‘I’m glad we understand. He does seem keen to be friendly now, doesn’t he?’ Rachel smiled, thinking how lovely it would be to have a neighbour who wasn’t hostile to their enterprise. ‘I hope it makes him happier too. He has always seemed to be really bitter, now we know why.’

  ‘Yes. I hope things work out for him.’ Philip finished the last of his soup and put the tray to one side. ‘Now, let’s talk about something different. Like us.’

  Rachel immediately felt very self-conscious. She had relaxed back into the little chair but now she sat upright.

  ‘I think I owe you an apology,’ she said quickly.

  He put out a hand and took one of hers. ‘No more than I owe you. But that can wait.’ He looked at her so long and hard that she blushed. ‘If all these misunderstandings hadn’t arisen, would you have considered going out with me? Would you consider going out with me now? Or am I totally wrong when I think you might like me a little?’

  He sounded so doubtful that all Rachel’s fears fell away.

  ‘Of course I like you,’ she said softly. ‘I like you a lot.’

  ‘Thank goodness. Because I like you more than a lot,’ he said, and drew her close for a long kiss.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Maggie glanced out of the window at the figure of John checking the dogs were safely inside their kennels. It was bonfire night. They weren’t too close to town here, but sometimes the fireworks sounded very loud. As long as the dogs didn’t have access to the outdoors, they were usually all right. He brought a couple of the more nervous ones to join Sally in the house.

  ‘Just the two of us for tea tonight?’ he asked as he washed his hands.

  ‘That’s right. And if I’m not mistaken it’s going to be like that more and more, soon.’ She smiled. ‘Of course, I miss the children, but it’s good to see them both so happy.’

  ‘I miss them too, but I do like to have a bit of time on our own.’

  Maggie nodded. They were very lucky. Even after over thirty years of marriage, they never lacked for things to say to each other.

  She brought their food to the table. It was a new recipe she was trying, a mushroom risotto, and she did hope John would like it. He tended to prefer dishes that include meat but she was worried about his cholesterol and was trying to introduce some lighter meals into their routine.

  ‘I wish Anthony would hurry up and make a decision,’ she said as she took her own seat.

  John smiled. ‘Anthony’s not very good at making decisions. Especially not in a hurry.’

  ‘Perhaps I should set Rachel on him? She seems quite good at pushing him in the right direction.’

  ‘Leave him be. If he wants to take up this printmakers apprenticeship Mr Randall has found for him he needs to be sure it’s what he wants to do. It’s a long training and the money at the end isn’t good.’

  ‘I wonder
if we should have let him study art at school.’

  ‘He’s finding his own way to where he wants to be. He’ll be fine.’

  Maggie used to worry about Anthony more than she had allowed her husband to know. But now she accepted that he was right. Anthony was finding his own way in life. Not one she would ever have expected, but he seemed happy enough. The fact that the apprenticeship was in Glasgow, which would allow him to spend more time than ever with Gemma, was no doubt one of its attractions. She was pleased that he hadn’t jumped at it immediately, despite this.

  ‘Where are Rachel and Philip tonight? I presume she is with Philip?’

  ‘Yes. With filming for his new series just starting they haven’t seen as much of each other as they’d like. I think they’re happy to have an evening together.’

  ‘Do you think Rachel is enjoying her supply teaching? She doesn’t seem as enthusiastic as I’d expected.’

  Maggie smiled. She thought the lack of enthusiasm might be something to do with the fact that Philip had invited Rachel to go on some of the filming trips with him, which she couldn’t do if she was working. ‘And he’s offered to pay everything for me, but I can’t have that, can I?’ Rachel had said to her mother. Maggie had managed to say nothing. It wouldn’t surprise her if Philip got his own way before long. He had mentioned to Maggie that he was hoping to take Rachel to a certain jewellers in Edinburgh at the weekend.

  ‘And what about us?’ John was saying. ‘Now we’ve got the youngsters more or less off our hands, and your health has settled down, how about thinking about a little holiday?’

  ‘Now that’s a very good idea,’ said Maggie. It was just what John needed, as he still tended to work too hard. ‘I’ll check our bookings and see if we can keep a fortnight clear. And maybe we should think again about downsizing a little. I’m not saying we should give up the kennels. I’m glad it didn’t come to that. The bookings have picked up rather nicely since, well, since the rumours have stopped. But we don’t want to get too busy, do we? Especially not if Rachel and Anthony aren’t around to help.’

  ‘Now the cashflow has improved, we can always employ someone if need be.’ John nodded. ‘Yes, I like the idea of providing work for someone from the community.’

  Maggie smiled. She was never going to get John to stop thinking about others. It was one of the things she loved so much about him.

  ‘Freddy Smith has taken on Russell Simpson, did you know? I’d never have expected it of him. Russell doesn’t have the best reputation in the world.’

  ‘But he’s trying to pull himself together. Working with Freddy is exactly what he needs.’ John nodded again. ‘When people are given a chance, it’s amazing how often they prove themselves deserving of it. If we can do our little bit towards that, I’ll be more than contented.’

  ‘So will I,’ agreed Maggie. She moved to start clearing the table. Her wrists were rather sore today, but if that was all she had to complain about, it wasn’t bad, was it? When she thought how worried she had been back in the early summer, before Rachel came home, it was amazing how everything had turned out.

  ‘Where are we going?’ said Rachel.

  Philip took her hand and smiled down at her. ‘You’ll see.’

  And very soon she did. He led her down one of the little vennels off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and brought her to a halt before a small window cleverly lit to make the jewellery displayed within glow.

  ‘This is nice,’ she said doubtfully, unsure whether this was their destination.

  Now it was Philip’s turn to hesitate. ‘We don’t have to go in if you don’t want to. I just thought …’

  Rachel turned to face him, her heart beginning to beat a little faster. ‘Yes?’ she said softly.

  His handsome face was in the shadow of the tall buildings around them. Then he took a deep breath and pushed back the long hair she loved so much. She could see him more clearly now, and he looked terrified. ‘I’m probably not doing this right. I thought … I wanted …’ And then he said in a rush, ‘It would be better if we were together, wouldn’t it? I miss you when I’m away and I think you miss me and I’m going to be away more than ever soon. So why don’t we get married, then you can come with me? I thought we could choose a ring, but if you don’t want to that’s fine and …’

  ‘Yes,’ said Rachel firmly. She had never seen him so flustered. She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. ‘Yes, I’d love to marry you.’

  ‘Yes?’ he said, bemused for a moment. And then, ‘Thank goodness.’ He held her tight. ‘I love you, you know that, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, I think so,’ she said, putting a hand to his cheek. ‘And I love you too. Even if you are grouchy and abrupt at times, not to mention high-handed, dragging me to the jewellery shop like this before you’ve even asked me …’

  ‘Hey, I’m letting you chose the ring, aren’t I?’ he said with a grin. Rachel grinned in return. Why had she ever thought this man was dour?

  ‘Come on, then, let’s get on with it.’ Then she added, ever practical, ‘But you’d better tell me how much you want to spend, I don’t want to bankrupt you.’

  ‘It’ll take a lot to bankrupt me. I’ll have you know I’m rather well off. You won’t need to work once we’re married.’

  Rachel paused in the doorway. ‘And if I want to work?’

  ‘Then you will, of course. I don’t mind, I really don’t mind, as long as you marry me.’

  Rachel didn’t mind either. Her heart glowed warmer than any jewels. Now she had really come home, to Philip, where she wanted to be.

  Women’s Contemporary Fiction

  For more information about Gilly Stewart

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  Published by Accent Press Ltd 2015

  ISBN 9781783752287

  Copyright © Gillian Villiers 2015

  The right of Gillian Villiers to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN