Auld Acquaintance

by Ruth Hay

  As they bumped down the farm track, Fiona noticed the snow melting away in the bright sunshine. In only a few hours there would be little sign of the storm’s effects.

  The electricity supply had now been re-connected and phone lines were operative.

  * * *

  In Oban, everything was back to normal after the hiatus. Fiona’s school run had taken place on time this morning and she had two doctor’s appointment pick-ups after she dropped Anna off at the bank. The run up to Dunbeg to collect Anna from George and Jeanette’s place would be her last job of the day and she could take a back road to the farm house from there and still get home to see Granny settled for the night.

  The long days left little time for studying and she worried that her dreams of qualifying for the Wildlife Federation career would be on hold for far too long.

  Anna’s offer of help with school work was the first sign of hope she had seen in years and she determined she would take full advantage of this opportunity starting tonight, if the dinner party did not go on too long. She checked over her shoulder to see if her book bag was still on the back seat of the big car. The language of the Shakespeare plays was the hardest part of her English studies. She hoped Anna could cope with that, even though she was Canadian.

  * * *

  By the time Anna reached George’s office, the sun was dipping behind the bulk of the Island of Mull and clouds were forming in the west.

  It’s quite strange, she thought, not to be able to predict the weather from the cloud patterns and the light, as I could do so easily in Ontario. The one thing I have learned is that weather changes quickly in this part of the world. It must be something to do with the amount of water surrounding a fairly small land mass.

  George was waiting for her with a summary of his research about Helen’s marriage on his computer screen. He had used contacts in Stirling to trace the dates and relevant information about Harold Fraser.

  “I am afraid it is another sad chapter in Helen’s life, Anna,” George began, with a look of sympathy directed at Anna sitting across from his desk.

  “Just tell me the story, George. I am more and more involved in my aunt’s affairs already and curious to learn all I can about her.”

  “Certainly, Anna,” he agreed, and clearing his throat he began.

  “It seems that Helen’s adoption by the Dunlops went smoothly to begin with.

  For several years she must have been the beloved child they had never expected to have. Then the unexpected happened. Mrs. Dunlop became pregnant and gave birth to twin girls, followed a year later by the birth of a much-longed-for son.

  When Helen was about twelve years old, she attempted to run away from home for the first time. We can only assume that she was unhappy with the family situation.

  In any case, she left home permanently by the time she was eighteen, and shortly after that she married an older widower, named Harold Fraser.

  They lived in Stirling where Harold owned a construction company. There are no records pertaining to the next twenty-five years of Helen’s life until the accident.”

  “What accident? Was Helen injured in some way?” interrupted Anna.

  “No, it was her husband’s accident. While working on a new housing estate on the borders of Stirling, Harold had a heart attack. He was driving a JCB, a type of large digging equipment, when his heart gave out. The newspapers reported the extensive damage caused when the heavy machinery backed into a partially-constructed house. Two workers were killed and another was seriously injured.”

  “How awful! That was tragic. How did Helen cope after that terrible time?”

  “I can’t tell you, Anna. There’s nothing to indicate how she felt other than a grainy newspaper photograph of her with her head lowered, leaving the coroner’s inquest into the accident.”

  George consulted a new page on his computer and resumed the account.

  “The next indication of Helen’s activities comes when she signed the purchase papers for the McCaig Farm House a few years later.

  “Wait a minute, George!” Anna’s mind had clicked in again after trying to imagine what kind of person could survive this series of unhappy life events.

  “She was known as Helen Dunlop at this point. Why did she change her name from Fraser?”

  “I really don’t know what she was thinking Anna. She never even mentioned being married when she came to me to set up her will. We can only presume there were no children from the marriage and she intended to leave that entire part of her life behind her when her husband died.”

  “It sounds like she spent her life running away from things and people,” Anna commented sadly. “I wonder what made her finally seek out her original family?”

  “I doubt we’ll ever know all the answers now, Anna. Although my firm did not oversee the land purchase for Helen, I did discover from a real estate company in Oban that it was a cash purchase, meaning there’s no mortgage remaining on the property and you are free to sell it if you wish.”

  “I think it really means she had plenty money after her husband died, George,” Anna laughed. “As far as the farm goes, I still have no idea what I will do with it, but having now survived a vicious storm I find I am more inclined to consider the McCaig property as a possible home.”

  “That is good news, Anna! Now if you will be patient for a few minutes, I will ask the secretary if she has any messages for me, and then we can be on our way.”

  While she waited for George, Anna tried to understand what had made her declare she was thinking of the farm house as a home. She had never really come to that conclusion yet, and could not fathom why it had popped out suddenly in her conversation.

  Perhaps, my brain knows something I don’t yet know consciously, she thought, but it is way too soon to be making this kind of decision.

  * * *

  Jeanette met them at the door of a small, modern house in a housing development near Dunbeg, a town a few miles north of Oban. Anna was surprised that the ultra-conservative George would be living in a new house rather than a traditional old Victorian, but she was not surprised by the appearance of the charming Jeanette.

  As soon as she opened her mouth to welcome Anna inside, it was as if they had known each other for years. Jeanette was English, with a Canadian father, and Anna knew she had met someone who could interpret Scottish mannerisms and speech for her with ease.

  The meal was a delicious beef stew with vegetables including mashed potatoes that reminded Anna of home, and the conversation over the table just flew as Jeanette had so many questions for Anna. It was evident that the whole mystery of Helen Dunlop and Anna Mason was equally as fascinating to Jeanette as it was to her dinner guest.

  “Now, dear,” interjected George, in an attempt to turn the discussion on to other topics, “you know that is privileged information and you should not be letting on that I have discussed it with you.”

  “Oh, George!” she soothed, patting his hand and smiling widely, “Anna knows I wouldn’t breathe a word of this outside our home, but I can’t resist a chance to hear what she thinks about it all.”

  Anna was delighted to share her feelings about her situation and after a fragrant apple pie, with a choice of cream or custard, had been served, George excused himself and retired to his study to finish some work.

  “Now we can really get down to the gossip,” Jeanette giggled, “George is a darling man but a little stuffy at times. I put it down to the influence of those old codgers he works with.”

  She invited Anna into the tiny kitchen and they chatted on while Jeanette made coffee and cleared up the dinner dishes.

  Anna relaxed at the space-saving, fold-down table and watched as Jeanette moved around the kitchen. When she reached up to stow dishes on a high shelf Anna noticed a tummy bump on her slender frame.

  “I realize this is what the Scots call a ‘cheeky question’,” she said, “but are you pregnant Jeanette?”

  “Didn’t George tell you?” Jeanette dried
her hands and sat down on the nearest chair.

  Her face glowed with happiness and the neatly trimmed side wings of her dark hair swung forward as she nodded her head.

  “Yes, five and a half months now. We tried for years and I gave up my job as soon as we passed the three month stage. That’s why we are still renting here and saving for a better house when the baby comes.”

  Anna was delighted to be included in this special news although she decided not to mention her knowledge to George, imagining the colour of his face as it flamed in embarrassment.

  George emerged from his study in time to drink coffee and greet Fee’s arrival.

  “Won’t you both stay for some more tea or coffee?” Jeanette pleaded, but Anna was anxious to get back to the farm house and inspect the all-important fire. They parted with a warm hug and an exchange of phone information.

  Before Fee had driven onto the main road, Anna was planning to ask Alina to make one of her lovely crocheted baby outfits for Jeanette and George’s new arrival.

  * * *

  It had been such a successful evening that Anna did not want it to end. She asked Fee if she had time to talk about her study plans before she headed for home. Fee replied that she had been thinking about Anna’s offer to help and she was easily persuaded to stay for an hour in the farm house kitchen where the fire had dried Anna’s clothes and still retained enough heat for any amounts of hot water.

  Two things had to be settled before they began. Anna handed over cash for Fiona’s services to date and discouraged her from counting the amount so that she couldn’t refuse the bonus Anna had added for Fee’s invaluable help.

  “I will allow George to handle future accounts, Fiona,” she warned, “but this is a first instalment, to ensure your continued availability. I have quickly discovered I can’t manage without your assistance in this location.”

  The other item was a quick lesson from Fee on the use of peat as a method for banking the fire at night, so that Anna could leave it without worrying it might be extinguished by morning.

  After those two essentials were dealt with, they got down to work. Anna was not surprised to learn that Fee’s current difficulty was in understanding the antique English language expressions in Shakespeare’s plays.

  Undoubtedly, her early education in Gaelic added to her confusion, but Anna bypassed all the problems by employing a technique that usually worked well with second-language learners.

  First, Anna read aloud a soliloquy passage from As You Like It using all the dramatic emphasis at her command. Fee was instructed to close her eyes and listen to the meaning.

  Next, Fee had to tell Anna what the character had said, in her own words.

  To Fee’s amazement, the nuances of the speech had come through to her in spite of the barrier of the language, and she could interpret the emotions involved.

  Once that barrier had been breached, Anna knew the major stumbling block was gone. What remained was the necessity of reading the text aloud with as much drama and passion as the writer, himself, had intended. In other words the plays should be performed as in a theatre reading, rather than read in silence as a lone student would do.

  The hour sped by as Anna and Fee took different parts in the text then exchanged the same parts. Fee learned from Anna’s initial interpretation and found the entire task easier as they progressed.

  “Oh, I can really grasp the meaning now,” Fee said with relief. “I think I can take the exam later this spring after all and that will be one more step toward my goal. Thank you so much Anna.” Fee’s eyes were moist as she closed up her book and pulled on her coat and beret.

  “I’ll away home now, but I promise to work on the plays and show you my progress the next time I come for you.”

  “Please don’t mention it, Fee. You have been such a help to me. I’ll call you when I need a ride and you can always bring along your studies.”

  * * *

  Anna checked on the fire one last time, locked the doors and made her way upstairs.

  The bedroom was warm enough tonight and the candles she lit gave the room a soft glow.

  She washed her face in warm water, which could only be obtained by filling the sink from both taps first, as there was no mixer tap and the hot water alone was too hot for skin comfort.

  “I won’t complain about hot water,” she announced, “but I do wonder why this washroom has no mirror. I hope I can find one or two mirrors in the crates in the barn tomorrow.”

  Thinking that she might also manage another climb up Helen’s Hill, Anna tucked herself up in bed, but soon found sleep to be elusive. Her mind was full of future plans, and she also needed time to absorb the latest information about Helen’s troubled life. There must have been some reason why she left Stirling. It seemed more and more clear to Anna that Helen’s story lacked the personal detail that would make the woman herself more understandable. Bare facts were not enough to explain why she did such unexpected things. Anna’s mind refused to let the mystery go and after a half hour of struggling to sleep, she accepted it was a hopeless task.

  Re-lighting the candle on her bedside table, she drew her journal towards her and wrote about the day focusing her comments on Helen, Jeanette and Fiona.

  Feeling somewhat more settled in her mind, she was about to attempt sleep once more when she suddenly recognized the uneasy emotion that was keeping her awake, despite her fatigue. She was missing her Samba pals.

  A quick check on the time confirmed that it was only just after six o’clock in Canada.

  Anna reached Alina on the third ring and the sound of the beloved voice dispelled all the unease that had been disturbing her mind. They chatted for about ten minutes while Alina brought her friend up to date with all the happenings in Canada, including recent political events. Anna was delighted to get this news as she had been unable to find one thing about her homeland when she read the local and national Scottish papers.

  In turn, Anna related the latest about the Helen saga, the storm, the barn inhabitants, George’s wife and Fiona’s ambitions.

  “Anna, I am astounded at how quickly you have found a place in this new community.

  This is not like you at all yet you sound so happy and excited and I am thrilled that things are going so well for you.” Alina paused, as she considered the next question.

  I have to ask though; will you stay there or will you sell the house? Everyone wants to know.”

  “I can’t give you an answer yet, Alina. I am back and forward on that question.

  It seems like every day I have a different opinion depending on what has been happening to me. One thing is clear, my dear. I can’t leave until I know more about Helen Dunlop.”

  “I don’t blame you for that, Anna. I am just as curious about her as you must be.

  She must have been a very unusual woman. Perhaps when you get to the bottom of the mystery you will know what to do.”

  “I hope you are right about that, Alina.”

  “Oh, one more thing, Anna. As we agreed, I will pass on your information to the Sambas, but you should know that Susan has taken Jacob to Florida for the month.”

  “What happened?”

  “Jake’s condition took a turn for the worse recently and Susan decided to visit Jake’s sister and give Jake a chance to relax in the heat for a change. The weather here has been miserable lately.”

  “Please give them my love. Who is looking after the dogs?”

  “They are in Florida too. They took the van and closed up the house.”

  “Mmm, Florida sounds appealing right now after the storm here, but I am told the sun will shine tomorrow.”

  “You sound like the intro to a musical number, Anna!”

  “I’m too sleepy to sing, Alina. I’ll say goodnight now. Please remember to make me an outfit for George and Jeanette’s baby.”

  “I will do that for sure. Sleep tight Anna. I miss you.”

  “Miss you too.”

  * * *

  With
her mind emptied of worries, Anna slid easily into sleep. She left one candle glowing in the dark as a reminder of the importance of the link with her friends, no matter how great the distance between them.

  Her last, sleepy thought was, perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The view from the summit of Helen’s Hill was nothing short of spectacular.

  The climb had been much easier with the assistance of good boots and the hiking pole, so Anna had enough energy left to venture down to the pool (Fee had called it a tarn), and place two stones on the cairn there.

  The hollow was sheltered from the wind which was blowing from the south today, but there was still a covering of snow around the pool. Anna could see the prints of birds at the water’s edge so she sat quietly on a nearby rock and waited, happy to breathe in the sparkling, cold air and enjoy the peace of the countryside.

  Before long, a parade of birds passed by on their way to drink. Anna could not identify the species although one little bird with a black cap could have been a chickadee.

  Several song birds arrived and entertained her with tuneful trills and chirps similar to the calls of the finch bird family in Canada. They were colourful little fellows with pink chests and backs, grey heads and two bright white wing bars. Anna was annoyed at her inability to name them until she thought of Fee’s expertise and decided to try to take a photograph with her cell phone’s camera. This required some stealthy movements and a concentrated study of the phone’s icons. She chose the one that looked most like a camera and pointed the phone toward the birds, pressing the button in the hopes she had captured the image she wanted.

  She managed to do this without alarming the birds, then suddenly they flew away on the wind when a tiny little bird with a red breast and a beady black eye arrived in their midst. The sight was so incongruous that Anna laughed out loud and the sound scared off the tiny one also.