He stood up and looked around the walls and saw behind where he was sitting a small low table on which was a brass-bound family Bible. Idly, without real interest, he opened it and saw page after page of entries relating to the families, old faded spidery writing and many photographs, some stuck in, others loose. Then he noticed a marker and opened that page to see a small notepad labelled, Prayers Are Asked For – followed by a list of names and the reason for the prayers. The top one was for Our Dear Lost Child, still sadly missed. George presumed a child had died and they hadn’t been able to write the actual word. He heard footsteps returning and closed the heavy book and returned to his seat.
He didn’t stay long, he just told them that the cyclists had been offered a place to stay and would now be on their way.
The serious-faced man glanced at the table as George stood to leave and asked, ‘You were interested in our family Bible, Mr Dexter?’
‘Sorry, but I did glance at it, I was intrigued by the prayer list. The lost child, you had a baby who died, did you? That’s very sad.’
‘No, lost doesn’t mean dead, Mr Dexter. Now, we must get on. Thank you for taking the trouble to call, but any items for sale will be dealt with by Evans and Calloway.’
As he left, his disappointment at not finding anything to buy was forgotten as he puzzled over the lost child. What did it mean? You don’t lose children. They can die, or be adopted or taken from you for various reasons. He wondered which of those things was represented by the nameless child at the top of the prayer list.
He checked the time and realized he had to hurry as he was auctioneer at a farm sale in less than two hours. As he was about to get into his car a voice called and he looked back to see the couple waving, beckoning him back. Conscious of the time and also filled with hope of a deal, he slammed the car door and went to rejoin them.
‘We have changed our minds. We still have a few things we won’t need at our new place, and feel they should be handled separately from the church gifts, to avoid confusion.’
With hope rising he followed them into the house. As he staggered down the stairs, carrying the top of a marble washstand, for which he had paid ten shillings, Mr Roberts-Price followed close behind him with a beautiful gilded mirror, dusty from being hidden away in a cupboard. His wife was dragging the lower part of the washstand from the bedroom. Trying to avoid getting his clothes dirty George lost his grip, slipped and fell. He landed against the corner of the marble washstand top and the mirror hit him on the side of his head.
*
Teifion was at an hotel having attended a reunion of some ex-RAF friends when the manager told him he was wanted on the telephone. The explanation that he was needed urgently to conduct the sale caused him to panic. Less than two hours? He couldn’t get home in time, he was too far away and he knew that he wasn’t able to drive well enough to even try. He opened his diary and tried everyone who might be willing to help but no one was available at such short notice. In desperation he telephoned the office of Evans and Calloway. It was Meriel who answered and without much hope he asked if she would take over the auction on behalf of his father. ‘Of course. And I’m sure he’ll remember if we should ever be in the same situation,’ she said. She quickly took down the details and, taking Lucy with her, she drove to the farmhouse where the goods were on display, the lot numbers all marked and listed. With only a short time to go she and Lucy introduced themselves and hurriedly inspected the items for sale. The house and outbuildings went quickly and they reached a higher price than George Dexter had estimated, to two brothers who intended to farm there. Then they went outside. People huddled around in groups, their catalogues marked with the pieces they hoped to buy, and slowly they worked their way through the lots. They were cold and very tired by the time they had finished but pleased with their achievements. Apart from a few unwanted items, mostly damaged and practically valueless, everything was gone, carried with difficulty by the purchasers, or taken away in cars, vans, trucks and horses and cans.
A man called to them as they stood clearing the final items. It was the mysterious man who had called, taken them out and purported to want a shop premises for a friend. This time he introduced himself.
‘Hello again. I thought you two managed the auction very well. Almost as good as a man would have done,’ he teased.
In her ‘silly’ voice, Lucy replied, ‘Thank you kindly, sir.’
‘My name is Harry Power and I work for Mr Lewin of Bracken Court. He is preparing for a very important sale and wondered whether to put it in your hands instead of his usual auctioneer.’
Meriel and Lucy didn’t try to hide their delight and after details had been exchanged, Harry Power invited them out to tea and promised to contact them again soon.
They declined the invitation to tea. ‘This isn’t our auction, we’re doing it to help out someone who has had an accident,’ Meriel explained. ‘We need to get home and do the accounts and deliver them to the person concerned.’
Lucy smiled as she noticed Meriel had avoided mentioning George Dexter and the Ace Estate Agency.
The money was put into the bank ready for George the following day, their fee written alongside the final amount. Meriel also put a note through George’s door telling him exactly what had been sold and for how much. She had never worked on behalf of another auctioneer before and didn’t want there to be any conflict.
The following day Lucy told her mother she was leaving home. It didn’t take her long to move. They expressed regret at her leaving but Lucy didn’t think they’d have any sleepless nights. She kissed Dawn, Diana and Deborah and promised to keep in touch and almost ran to the car where Meriel had been waiting. The move into her new life was complete.
‘D’you think you’ll see Gerald, now you’ve met up again?’ Meriel asked her later.
Lucy shook her head. ‘Unlikely and if I’m honest I’m a little disappointed that he went off without even promising to keep in touch. It probably shows a side of me that isn’t very nice, but I hoped he’d ask, so I’d have the pleasure of turning him away, and be able to show off a bit more and remind him of what he missed when he left me. Isn’t that terrible.’
‘Sounds normal to me!’ Meriel said, with a laugh.
As they sat beside the fire and discussed the progress of the estate agency, George came round, bandaged and supported by a silver-topped cane, banging on their door and demanding to know by what right had they stolen his client.
Four
The smile on Meriel’s face froze. She had expected George Dexter to greet her with appreciation and thanks for helping him out of a difficulty. Taking over the auction at such short notice was surely a reason to be grateful, so why the anger?
‘How dare you steal business like that? I’ll make sure everyone knows what you’ve done. This town won’t tolerate such underhand behaviour so you might as well close your doors now!’
‘What are you talking about? We did it to help you.’
‘Help yourself you mean!’
‘I expect a small fee for our trouble, yes, but that’s all.’
‘A small fee? Is that what you call taking the profit that should have been mine?’
‘The cheque, and a full statement of what we sold, and for how much, should be on your desk. I don’t understand why you’re not grateful.’
‘And you forgot the dog!’ Then he stopped and asked, ‘Cheque? What cheque?’
‘We pushed it through your door along with the full statement so there wouldn’t be any delay. The suggested fee for our day is up to you. If you don’t think we deserved it then don’t pay!’ Meriel’s voice was rising with her anger.
Lucy came to stand beside her. She said, ‘I suggest you go back and look for it, Mr Dexter, then we’ll expect a full apology.’ She began to guide him towards the door. ‘Your son begged us to help and now I wish we had refused.’
‘What d’you mean? Teifion asked you to help? It was your idea and—’
‘While you
’re picking up our cheque, why don’t you ask him what really happened, Mr Dexter?’
‘It might be an idea for you to listen occasionally instead of charging off with half the facts,’ Lucy said angrily.
The man was clearly embarrassed, his face was white with shock. ‘I didn’t think he’d – I’ll go and find out exactly what happened, and—’
‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ Meriel asked, concerned by the man’s distress and heavy breathing.
But Lucy said, ‘The café’s open if you do!’ She opened the door and George left, walking slowly away as though in a daze.
‘That Teifion is worse than his father. Why did he lie? He knew the truth would come out.’
‘He was convinced his father would either believe him, or pretend to. As Teifion once implied, lies and loyalties can be two sides of the same coin.’
‘Poor Teifion,’ Lucy said, with a smile. ‘His defiance didn’t last long, did it? Leaving home, looking for a job, telling us he was having nothing more to do with his father. I don’t suppose it was easy, mind. He lacks confidence and wants only what is readily available. That’s why he’s so anxious to please his father, afraid it will all be taken from him.’
‘All his life whatever he needed was given to him, he’s never had to work or earn it. It was a lot to give up.’
‘He’s still a coward!’
They settled back to work and after a minute or two, Meriel asked, ‘What did he mean about the dog?’
‘Oh, my goodness! I forgot! There was a puppy in one of the sheds and we were asked to find it a home! The poor thing must still be there!’
Meriel offered to go and she set off for the farm that now had their advertising board on the gate with a SOLD notice across it. The farmer came out when she drove into the yard and offered a hand. ‘I was coming to see you.’ he said. ‘I want to thank you for yesterday. Everything went better than I’d hoped and I achieved more than Mr Dexter expected. Thank you both very much. I’ll recommend your firm whenever I get the chance.’
‘Thank you. I’m glad we pleased you, but I’ve come about the dog. I’m afraid we didn’t sell it and it’s still in the barn.’
‘No she isn’t.’ He gave a piercing whistle and a young collie ran out, dragging a piece of blanket, shaking it furiously. ‘Come here, you young rascal,’ he said, bending forward, and the puppy jumped into his arms.
‘She’d make a lovely pet for you,’ he said coaxingly, offering the squirming furry bundle to her. Meriel took her into her arms and admitted that it was love at first sight.
‘Her name is Rascal,’ she told a surprised Lucy when she carried her into the office.
*
George went back to the office and shouted for his son. ‘This auction which you told me you had managed without me—’ he began.
‘Sorry, Dad, I thought you’d be angry so I—’
‘So you lied. When I found out that it had been held by Evans and Calloway, you then told me that the business had been stolen by them going to see the farmer and telling him I’d had an accident and he’d be let down unless he accepted their help. More lies. You made me look a complete fool. I went there demanding an apology for their dishonesty but once again, the problem was with you! Tell me what really happened. Now!’
‘I couldn’t make it, I was too far away to drive back in time.’
‘Didn’t try, you mean.’
‘All right, I didn’t try! I contacted everyone I could think of, then I asked Meriel, hinting that it might be a good time to stop feuding.’
‘And the statement and cheque?’ George held out his hand.
‘Oh, yes. It came by second post.’
‘Did it? I was told they pushed it through the door last night.’
Teifion’s shoulders drooped. ‘All right, Dad. I was hoping you wouldn’t find out. I thought if I could put it all through the books quickly you’d have just presumed I dealt with it.’
‘Where you’re concerned, all I can presume is that you’ll mess everything up! What is the matter with you, boy?’
‘You are!’ Teifion retorted. ‘I’ve never been able to please you no matter what I do so why should I try?’
‘Because you’re my son?’ George put both hands on the desk and glared at him.
‘Your hatred of Walter Evans is stronger than any feelings you have for me!’
‘Rubbish!’
‘Why d’you hate him so much?’ he dared to ask. ‘I’m entitled to know that much.’
‘Mind your own business and get those advertisements sent off, or we’ll be giving even more business to Walter’s precious daughter! Now pass me that list of auction prices.’
Teifion looked suitably chastened as his father read the list. Noting the prices they’d made he nodded approval.
‘A poor show, eh, Dad?’ he said, hopefully.
‘On the contrary, they did very well. Probably better than you’d have done. You see, Teifion, your heart isn’t in it and they have the sort of enthusiasm that breeds success. They are straightforward and intelligent and you use stupid tricks. Lucky Walter Evans. I wish she were my daughter!’
‘Dad!’
‘One more trick like this that makes me have to apologize for you and you’re out. You tried once but returned and next time I’ll help you on your way. Right?’ He glared at his son, his face red with fury. Calming slightly he continued, ‘I’ll do what I’ve often dreamed of doing, sell up, retire and take Frieda somewhere far away from you! I’ll spend the money I’ve earned on someone who appreciates it. Any hope you have of inheriting the business is fading fast. Now I have to go and tell Meriel Evans that my son behaved like the imbecile he is!‘
Teifion glared at his father’s departing figure. Of course he wasn’t enthusiastic, he hated his job. Years of being treated like an idiot by the father who promised he was keeping the estate agency for him when he was old enough, yet never giving him a chance to show what he was capable of. He should have stayed away, made more of an effort to make a new life for himself.
He told himself that if Lucy and Meriel had believed him capable of a change of heart, accepted his apology and his promise that he was a changed man, he could have succeeded. But their rejection of him at the same time seeing an opportunity to try one more time to please his father, over the sale of that man’s cottage, had been too great a temptation. He had seen the possibility of making some money from the sale of that barn. A way to impress his father. But once again it had gone wrong. Ironic really that when he tried to change sides neither wanted him.
Now he simply didn’t care. As soon as the business was in his hands he planned to sell up and do something he really enjoyed. By then, if he were lucky, his cheating stepmother would be long gone.
If only he could find out something about Meriel Evans to discredit her. That would make his father sit up. If she continued she would take more business from them and he’d have less to inherit when his father retired. But what? From all he had learned she had lived an exemplary life before coming to Cwm Derw, and neither she nor Lucy behaved in a dishonest way in the search for clients. Perhaps her parents had some secret in their past he might use? There had to be some way of making her leave Cwm Derw.
Making an excuse of appointments, he drove to where Meriel’s parents lived and began asking around, in shops and pubs and even knocking on the door of a house they had just sold to check on their methods. There was nothing untoward. They were just what they seemed; honest business people. Perhaps there was something to be found in the register office. A family secret maybe. It seemed very unlikely he’d discover anything underhand in the way Walter Evans had found the money to start his business. From what he knew about the man he had probably done it the hard and straightforward way; worked and saved. Dragging the dregs of hope, he went into town.
As he looked in the register office to search their past he found a mystery. He was looking for the date of Meriel’s birthday with idle curiosity, thinking he might g
o back again to where her parents were born, ask a few questions about the family, when he discovered to his disbelief that no birth had been registered in their name.
*
Leo Hopkins had heard about George’s outburst after Meriel had auctioned the farm and contents and he called to see her. ‘Can I do anything? Talk to him? I hope he has apologized properly.’
‘Not really. He came back and muttered about his son not giving a proper explanation. He thanked us for the cheque and paid the small fee we asked for with hardly another word. I think he was ashamed of his son, but it isn’t easy to admit your son is a fool, is it?’
‘Maybe not, but in his case I imagine George has had plenty of practice!’
‘I don’t think he’s a fool, he’s just in the wrong life,’ Lucy said.
‘What on earth d’you mean?’
‘He doesn’t like living at home with his father and step-mother, he doesn’t enjoy working for George. As I say, he’s in the wrong life.’
‘Then why doesn’t he get out of it and find the right one?’
‘Come on, having George Dexter for a father, how can he possibly have the confidence to leave and make his own way?’
‘You’re right. Although he did try,’ Meriel said. ‘He came to us expecting a pat on the back, like a small boy finally sleeping without a night light.’
Leo was looking at Meriel as he said, ‘His only chance is to find a woman he’d want to please more than pleasing his father.’ He continued to stare at her intently. ‘Love is stronger than hatred, don’t you think?’
Looking away, unsettled by the look in his eyes, she said, ‘Dadda always says love is the heart of the home.’
‘Yes,’ Lucy agreed, still defending him, ‘and Teifion has been deprived of it.’
Leo invited Meriel to lunch and they drove to a small village a few miles away, where they ate at an hotel overlooking the sea. The meal was an excellent serving of fresh trout, followed by home-made custard with delicious apple pie.
The Heart of the Home Page 8
