Auld Acquaintance

by Ruth Hay

  On sunny afternoons she would sit on the outside bench with the tartan blanket over her shoulders and take stock of her situation.

  The mantel over the kitchen stove was full of get-well cards from friends and mere acquaintances in the area. A pot of white heather, for good luck and good health (so said the card), was in the centre of the kitchen table. Everyone had been amazingly kind to a stranger in their midst.

  Anna would never forget what Kirsty Matthews had done for her, but the serious nature of her illness had been concealed from her Samba friends.

  Alina was counting the weeks until Anna’s return to Canada and discussions about Anna’s future had taken up most of their phone conversations.

  The final decisions could not be delayed much longer. Her return plane ticket was prominently displayed on the shelving unit beside the willow pattern dishes and constantly reminded her that time was short.

  * * *

  George provided the address of the Osborne Home, and Fiona drove Anna there on a fine afternoon at the end of the first week in May.

  Anna was welcomed into the large Victorian house in its spacious grounds, by a small, elegant woman with curly red hair, piercing dark eyes, and a wary smile.

  Anna thought at once that this lady was no fool and this opinion was confirmed when she asked Anna for identification.

  Once the formalities had been taken care of, the manageress, Catherine Grant, wasted no time in introducing the topic of Helen Dunlop’s stay at the Osborne Home until her death, in January, some three weeks before George McLennan’s letter arrived in Canada.

  * * *

  The interview lasted just under an hour. Afterwards, Anna walked into the garden to look for Fiona. She found her sitting in an arbour where wisteria vines made a shelter over a rustic bench and the scent of the pendulous blossoms perfumed the surrounding air.

  Anna sat down heavily beside Fee.

  “What’s wrong, Anna? Do you feel unwell?”

  “No, Fee, I feel astounded.”

  Anna could say no more for a minute or two. She closed her eyes and absorbed the sunshine and the rich garden scents, letting them sink into her being.

  Fiona waited patiently to find out what sort of event had transpired that could render Anna speechless. Finally, Anna reached into her purse and brought out an envelope.

  “You see, Fee,” she began, “this whole adventure started with a simple letter and now it ends with one. Along the way there have been other letters to George McLennan and to me, each one adding more information about an amazing woman called Helen Dunlop.

  She spent her last months in the nursing-home section of this Residential Home.

  She could scarcely breathe from emphysema, but she used what little remaining strength she possessed to weave the web that brought me to this place, with these choices I could never have imagined. We were family members who were never destined to meet, Fee, but Helen Dunlop has given me so much, beyond what even her elaborate plans could have achieved. I will be grateful to her till my dying day.”

  Fiona had to be content with these enigmatic statements. She hesitated to push Anna further as she was clearly in a serious and contemplative mood.

  Anna asked to be dropped off in Oban while Fiona completed her day’s driving tasks.

  They would get together for a meal later, before the return trip to the farm house.

  Anna walked around the seafront to the esplanade and found a stone stairway leading down to the beach. The tide was out and only ripples of water came and went on the sand.

  She needed to be alone to think. Few cars passed on the road above and seagulls were the only movement in a blue, sky-and -sea tapestry with the green of the islands to rest her eyes upon.

  This view and this town had become so important to her. Oban truly was a gateway to the north of Scotland, an area unspoiled and largely unoccupied. She could not have borne the thought of never seeing all that Scotland offered, but now, she knew that hard choice would not be required of her. The envelope in her purse contained a cheque for the sum of one hundred thousand pounds.

  The decision to keep the McCaig farm house was made as soon as Anna had recovered from the shock the cheque had caused. That decision had been delayed by the difficulty Anna saw in how to reconcile the two disparate parts of her life. Now she had the option of relishing the best of both of her worlds. It would take thought and ingenuity to blend her Canadian and Scottish heritages, but the major problems dissolved when the cheque was delivered into her hands at the Osborne Home.

  Anna compared her dilemma to McCaig’s monument that commanded the skyline over Oban. The town museum and tourist literature described it as a ‘Tower’, while the local people referred to it as a ‘Folly’; a trivial, foolish structure.

  It was all in the perception, Anna decided. Some might see Anna’s decision to keep the farm house as a foolish idea, doomed to failure, while others (including her Samba friends), would see it as a wonderful opportunity for the new start Anna had needed for so many years.

  All that remained was to plan the future. Anna had an excellent example in Helen Dunlop of what forward thinking could achieve. She would dedicate the next week before her return flight, to deriving and establishing these plans. Ideas were already buzzing in her mind but she would reveal nothing until she could transform these ideas into a solid foundation on which to build a future.

  * * *

  The week flew by at frightening speed. Each day found Anna deeply involved in her plans and busy with phone calls back and forth, both in Scotland and in Canada.

  Fiona was to drive Anna to Glasgow where the A level examinations were to be held in Strathclyde University. They would stay at the Jurys Inn for several days so that Fee could relax before the two days of exams, and Anna could complete one of her elaborate schemes.

  George was privy to some of Anna’s ideas as he would be in charge of the money while Anna was in Canada. George was designated her solicitor with a power of attorney for Scotland so that he could act on her behalf. He held the keys to the farm house and Jeanette had agreed to advise him on matters pertaining to any purchases for the building, as soon as she had recovered from the birth of their child.

  * * *

  On the morning of Fiona’s first day of exams, Anna made sure she had a good breakfast and walked with her the short distance to the exam site, not far from George Square.

  They had reviewed Fiona’s English topics the night before in the hotel and Anna was confident her pupil would do well. She waved with crossed fingers as Fiona entered through the university’s glass doors in a crowd of equally-anxious young people.

  As soon as Fiona had disappeared from sight, Anna walked back to a hotel overlooking George Square and ordered coffee for three to be served at a quiet table in the hotel’s glass atrium. The sun sparkled through the green-tinted panes and lit up the glass table tops. Anna took a deep breath and relaxed. Almost everything was in place now. Just a few finishing touches required her attention.

  While she waited for her guests, she took a folder out of her purse and glanced over the rough sketches she had made. Strange, and wonderful, how even fanciful dreams can sometimes turn into reality, she thought.

  When the two men were shown to her table, Anna recognized one of them immediately. Antonio, known as Tony, was in appearance, a male version of Maria with the same tanned skin, dark eyes and hair. He had the same confident business manner also, as he introduced his companion, an architect with whom he had worked on a number of construction projects.

  Anna presented her sketches and photographs of the McCaig Farm House. The architect would draw up plans for the renovations to the building that Anna wanted, and Tony would manage the project while living on site during the summer months when Anna was back in Canada. Both men added ideas to supplement Anna’s vision of a lighter, warmer, more spacious home with all-weather amenities.

  The simplest of all the ideas would be accomplished quickly. A new drive-way on the
east side of the house would lead straight to the barn and allow a car to be parked in there. Anna requested that the structure be made sound with a concrete floor but, if possible, a small roof hole should be left, to allow the barn owls to move in and out.

  Blueprints and photographs would be sent to Alina’s home for Anna’s approval, once she had set up an office there equipped with the latest technology. An on-call tech specialist in the form of James, Bev’s son, would create a web site to advertise Alina’s new internet craft and knitwear business, linked to a future cottage industry of home workers in Oban and areas in the north of Scotland.

  Alina had happily agreed to these plans. Anna would move in with her friend as soon as the sub-let of her apartment had been completed and both women would return to Scotland in the fall to see the final stages of the renovation.

  They would also begin the process of establishing the farm house as a registered member of a self-catering, holiday-home company that provided exceptional accommodations for tourists from all parts of the world who came to Scotland for skiing, rock climbing, golf, fishing, sailing and to enjoy the superb scenery in all seasons.

  Fiona’s training courses in Inverness would occupy much of her time in the next three years, but she would be available in the summer for guided nature tours in the surrounding area that she knew so well. Callum Moir had offered Fiona a part-time position as assistant in his veterinary clinic whenever she was free from term work and her taxi business would continue with a new partner driving during term time.

  Anna shook hands with her construction team and watched as they left the hotel.

  She could not hear their conversation but she could tell from their body language that they were enthused about the project she had given them. She had emphasized the importance of retaining the traditional character of the old stone building and providing a focus on the spectacular view of Helen’s Hill.

  Tony’s sons worked with their father and the business included another Italian family related to Maria. They were talking already of holidays in the new McCaig Farm House.

  Anna hoped to involve Alan Matthews in her plan. He would represent the farm aspect of the set up. Families could visit the animals on his farm and watch his border collie, Prince, work with the sheep in the fields. Kirsty might even be persuaded to provide a farm house tea to visitors.

  Anna’s imagination stretched ahead to the future years. All her friends in turn would stay at the McCaig house with Alina and herself. The business would create work for folks in Oban and help promote the Scottish tourist industry.

  With both Alina and herself involved, Anna could spend time on both sides of the Atlantic as required. In time, a regular schedule of spring and fall vacations would be possible, leaving the more popular summer and winter seasons for the paying guests.

  Anna was excited at these prospects but also at peace with her many decisions.

  On her last climb to the top of Helen’s Hill, she felt as if Helen Dunlop herself, had overseen all the plans and given her approval.

  The house that had brought happiness to Helen in her latter years would be filled with the laughter and joy of her niece Anna, her nephew Simon and his family, and so many others who would appreciate the comfort of her home and the splendour of its setting.

  * * *

  Parting with Fiona was going to be difficult, Anna knew. The young woman was, in many ways, the daughter Anna would have loved to have for her own. It was a comfort to know they would be together again in a few months and that Fiona’s life would be filled with exciting prospects.

  Looking out at the busy traffic and hustling pedestrians circling George Square’s central gardens, Anna was aware that she had unfinished business in the city from which her parents had emigrated so long ago. The reasons for that emigration and the split from their families was still a mystery to Anna and one she knew she must pursue.

  Raising a glass of water in a toast, she made a silent pledge to return to Glasgow and track down the real story one of these days. After all, she now considered herself somewhat of an expert in getting to the bottom of family mysteries after the Helen Dunlop saga. It was still hard for Anna to believe that only six months ago she had never heard Helen’s name.

  * * *

  As soon as Anna entered the doors of Glasgow International Airport, her thoughts turned to her home in Ontario. Everything in Scotland had been set in motion and now she could return to her birthplace with a clear mind and a new sense of purpose.

  Home. From now on she would have to specify which of her two homes she was referring to, but for the present it was lovely to think of summer in Canada.

  She could not wait to see Alina, Bev, Maria and Susan. There was so much to tell them; much more than could be conveyed on a transatlantic phone call. Each one of them had played a part in Anna’s success and, perhaps, she could at last repay their generosity.

  Anna knew for certain she would never again underestimate the importance of friends and family.

  In tribute to Helen, or especially, to little Aileen Anne, she would cherish each and every one of them.

  * * *

  Anna had plenty to think about on the plane, but as they rose over the Clyde and left the verdant shores of Scotland behind, one final conversation re-played in her mind.

  Sitting in George McLennan’s office that last time, with the cheque in her hand, Anna had asked George if he had known Helen Dunlop had such a sum of money in her possession.

  “I have to say, Anna, I was as surprised as you to find out she had this kind of wealth. She did not seem to be living in the lap of luxury, as you know.”

  “Then, where did all this come from?” Anna waved the cheque in the air as if it could reveal the answer.

  George opened a locked drawer in his desk and took out an envelope which Anna immediately recognised.

  “That’s the letter Helen left for me to pass on to you, George, when I arrived in Oban.

  I had forgotten all about it.”

  “Well there are no secrets left now, Anna, and I am very glad of it. This letter instructed me what to do with the money in your cheque, should you decide to sell Helen’s house and return to Canada.”

  “Are you going to tell me?” Anna’s curiosity was aroused.

  “There’s no need for you to know the details, but I was to retrieve the cheque from Osborne House and dispense small amounts to various people in the town and to the town council for facilities for the elderly.”

  “But, George,” Anna persisted, “did she say where the money came from?”

  “I can only tell you what Helen wrote, Anna. Perhaps you should read it yourself.”

  Anna received the letter in hands which had developed a sudden nervous shake.

  These were probably the last words Helen Dunlop had ever written, and the last of the mystery that Anna was ever likely to know.

  I have invested money from my late husband’s estate for many years and placed the profits in a safe deposit in a bank in Fort William.

  Recently, I have added to this sum by selling sundry pieces of china and portraits from the farm house. It is unlikely that these objects would be of value to anyone, other than myself.

  When it became obvious to me that I could no longer continue to live alone, I sold all my holdings and asked the bank to make a banker’s cheque for the entire amount.

  This cheque will be in the possession of Catherine Grant, manageress of the Osborne Residential Home, the place where I intend to spend my last days.

  Should my niece, Anna Mason, decide to sell the property I have left to her, my instructions to you, Mr. McLennan, are to retrieve this cheque and disburse the contents as listed on a separate page of this letter.

  I remain, as always, in your debt, sir. You will find enclosed a cheque for your expenses which can never repay you for the kindness you have shown me and the discretion you have exhibited in all the dealings we have had over the years.

  I wish for you, all that you wish
for yourself.

  Sincerely,

  Helen.

  When Anna looked up from the letter, George was standing at the window. She was grateful that his back was turned to her as she was in tears thinking of this lonely woman whose life should have been so different.

  * * *

  Recollecting that moment, Anna could feel the tears gathering again. The initial sadness was gone, however, and now her tears were joyful.

  Everything had worked out just as Helen had planned.

  Anna knew that Helen’s legacy was not only the farm house and the cheque, but also the sense of empowerment she had gifted to her niece.

  If Helen Dunlop could survive the disappointments of her life, nothing could stop Anna Mason from taking charge of her own life and living it to the full.

  * * *

  THE END

  * * *

  The Prime Time Series continues in Time Out of Mind, book 2.

  Afterword

  Prime Time was my first series. I was hoping to find readers in the prime of their lives with time to read captivating stories, set in real-life locations and featuring women you would like to get to know.

  * * *

  Anna Mason is that woman. She is at a crossroads in her life when she gets a chance to take a new direction and travel to Scotland with the encouragement of her group of faithful friends.

  This series is now eight full books and Anna is still going strong with adventures that will transport you to places you might never expect. You will fall in love with Anna, as I have.

  * * *

  Read Ruth’s other series, Seafarers, Seven Days, Home Sweet Home, Journey of a Lifetime and Starscopes at retailers everywhere.