by Rachel Ennis
‘I dearly hope so. But the farm work don’t stop. Matt is doing the last silage cut. He’ll follow Terry with the ring-roller then Ben can sow next year’s wheat. Now Keith want Ben to top the Rally fields so Josh can mark out the display areas and parade ring.’
‘What’s the panic? The rally isn’t until a week on Saturday.’
‘That’s exactly what I said. Driving Sean mad he is.’ She shook her head. ‘Boy don’t need it. He got enough on his plate.’
Younger than his brother, Terry, Sean was at least forty. But to his mother he would always be her boy. Adding milk to both mugs, Jess carried them to the table and set one in front of Val. She had a vivid memory of Sean in his office, the workstation adapted to accommodate his wheelchair, his muscular shoulders hunched as he looked through the slatted blinds at his wife laughing with roofer Colin Terrell. Did Val know about them? Was there anything to know? Was she making too much of that moment glimpsed across the yard? She couldn’t ask. It wasn’t her business. She opened a cake tin on the worktop and offered it.
‘Ginger fairings.’ Val smiled up at her, took one and bit into it. ‘You make these yourself?’
Nodding, Jess sat down and lifted her mug. ‘How’s Sean’s hand?’
‘He’ve got the bandages off. He says it’s still a bit sore, but he’s back using the computer again. Here, we was some grateful for you uploading all the entry forms.’
‘I was glad to do it.’ Jess took a biscuit. ‘It wasn’t a favour, Val. Keith did pay me.’
‘He was glad to. He knew you’d to do a proper job. He’s going over the printer’s this afternoon to pick the programmes.’
Jess grinned at her. ‘You’ll have a couple of hours’ peace, then.’
Val finished her coffee. ‘I shall enjoy that, with a pile of ironing and the radio. Anyhow, why I came, can I put you down for a couple of lemon drizzles? I’m making up a list so if people ask I can tell them what we got enough of.’
‘I can. Would you like an apple cake as well?’
‘Be ‘andsome that would. I don’t suppose –?’ she tipped her head towards the cake tin.’
‘Three dozen?’
‘You’re a diamond. Pack them in bags of six. Go like lightning they will.’ She stood, picked up her shopping bag. ‘Thanks for the coffee, and for letting me sound off. I feel better now. Right, I’ll get on down the shop. Bye, my bird.’
‘You’re welcome. Remember, it’s going to be a wonderful day.’
Val held up crossed fingers as she walked down the path.
Closing the door, Jess put the mugs in the sink and ran upstairs. After cleaning her teeth and applying lip gloss, she fetched her purse and shopping bag and zipped a dark green fleece over her apricot polo shirt. She glanced at the clock and smiled as she heard Viv toot her car horn.
Chapter Three
Jess was still fastening her seat belt as Viv drove down towards the bridge. ‘How’s your mother?’
‘Not good. She can be laughing one minute, then she’ll start ranting on saying people are stealing from her. When I go up her place I keep finding things put away in the wrong place. Yesterday it was a bag of sugar in the airing cupboard. When I showed her she said Jimmy done it to make trouble.’
‘Viv, that’s ridiculous. He’d never do anything like that.’
‘Course he wouldn’t, not even for a joke. Anyhow, he don’t ever go up there without me. He says she give him too much grief. Last Monday morning she had chest pains and was sick so Father called an ambulance. They said they’d take her in and told him to phone the hospital about five. She should have seen a doctor by then so either they’d be keeping her or he could bring her home. I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t called round. He said he didn’t want to worry me if it was just a stomach bug.’
‘He knows what you went through with Jimmy.’
‘We took my car. But when we got to the hospital no one knew where Mother was. Then one of the porters brought her in, all scratched and bruised. He’d found her wandering around outside in her nightdress.’
‘Oh, Viv.’
‘When she saw Father she said she got tired of waiting and had gone out to catch a bus home. She wouldn’t let the nurses near her, so I cleaned her up. She didn’t want to dress so I put her dressing gown on, then while Father took her to the car I spoke to the doctor. He said there was no reason to keep her in, but she should see her GP.’
‘How was she when you got her home?’
‘Fine. She had a bit of tea then fell asleep in her chair by the fire. When I went round next morning it was like nothing had happened. She was up and dressed. I stayed for a bit, but she said she had things to do and better if I went home. So I did. The next day she put potatoes on to boil then walked down to the shop. Only when she got there she couldn’t remember what she’d gone for. Gerry tried to help and she went off in a rage. While Sandra calmed her down Gerry rang me. When we got back to her place the kitchen was full of smoke. The pan had boiled dry and the potatoes was cinders. She said it was Father’s fault. But I wasn’t having that. She knew it was one of his days at the garage with Jimmy. Then she started crying and said she didn’t know what was happening to her.’
‘Did you get her to the doctor?’
Viv sighed. ‘I rang and someone had cancelled so I got an appointment for the next afternoon. I went round to pick her up but she didn’t want to go. Father tried, I tried, but she wasn’t having it. I had to ring up and tell the receptionist we couldn’t come. She was short with me, saying someone else could have had the appointment. I told her if she knew how to force a screaming woman into a car she was the best one to come and do it.’
‘Oh, Viv.’ Jess gave her friend’s plump lime-green thigh a sympathetic pat.
‘I shouldn’t have said it. But I’d been over an hour with Mother ranting, and I’d had enough.’
‘I’m not surprised. Did you try again?’
Viv nodded. ‘I booked her in for her ‘flu jab, and to see the doctor while we was there. She was good as gold in the waiting room. But soon as we went in for the nurse to give her the injection she went mad, shouting and swearing and trying to hit the poor woman. The doctor must’ve heard the uproar – I should think half the village did – and he come in. Soon as she seen him she smiled and asked how he was. Can you b’lieve it? Anyhow, he gave her the jab and a pill to calm her down. I took her home my place and she went sleep in the chair by the Rayburn.’
‘You must have been shattered.’
‘I was. But at least he’d seen what she’s like. The doctor stopped by after surgery. He said Father will be getting a call from this Dr McFarlane, a psychiatrist, who’ll come and see Mother at home.’
With one hand on the steering wheel, Viv fished a tissue from her sleeve and wiped wet eyes. ‘She’ve never been an easy woman. But now – when she got one on her you wouldn’t believe some of the things she come out with. Vicious she is.’ She sucked in a deep breath. ‘Anyhow, enough of that. Spoken to Gill have you?
‘Briefly. The men are in fitting the new alarm system.’
‘Better late than never, I s’pose.’
‘She’s coming on Tuesday evening.’
‘What about Claire? How’s her cough?’
Jess grinned. ‘Almost gone. She’s coming too. She said if she doesn’t get out of the vicarage she’ll go stir crazy.’
In the toiletries aisle of the town’s only department store Viv held up a bottle of conditioner. ‘Tried this have you?’
Jess shook her head. The air was fragrant with different scents. ‘I’ve seen the advert though. It’s supposed to leave your hair shiny like satin.’
‘I’ll be happy if it helps get a comb through mine.’ Viv laid the bottle in the store’s blue plastic basket on top of bubble bath, a pack of toilet soap, toothpaste and a box of tissues.
‘Don’t whinge. Think of all the pop singers and movie stars who sit for hours having extensions glued on. Doris and Esther at the Over-Sixties
don’t have enough hair between them to wind around a roller. Yours isn’t just naturally wavy, you’ve got enough for two. Be grateful.’
‘You’re turning into some awful nag.’
‘It’s just jealousy. Hey, you’ll never guess who came to see me the other evening. Natasha Terrell.’
‘Never! What did she want?’
‘To tell me her date with Tom was just a one-off. Tom had called to see her dad about an estimate for work on his house.’
‘What work?’ asked Viv, instantly homing in on information that had sent a pang through Jess, one she felt again each time she recalled it, and couldn’t seem to forget.
He was free to do whatever he wanted to his house. After years of no time, no money, and living on his own, there was plenty that needed doing. But when he had asked her to move in with him he had promised her a free hand. Now it looked as if he was going ahead by himself. She dragged her thoughts back to the present.
‘I don’t know. She didn’t say. But what she did tell me was that it was clear to her he was – is – looking to settle down.’
Viv slipped her arm through Jess’s. ‘Oh my lover, I’m so –’
‘No, Viv.’ Jess patted her hand. ‘Not with her. With me.’
Delight lit Viv’s face. ‘Really?’
Jess nodded. ‘Apparently he spent most of the evening talking about me. She said if she had fancied him she’d have been really put out.’
‘I wouldn’t blame her. But she didn’t mind?’
‘Not a bit. She was smiling when she told me. She also said it was she who did the asking. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing to get her out of the house and away from the TV. She was really pleased to hear about Mor and Ben.’
‘How long did she stay? At your place, I mean?’
‘About an hour. We had a lovely chat. She was still at the village school when I got married and moved to Truro. God, that makes me feel old.’
‘What’s on with Tom, Jess? Why did you two break up?’
Swallowing the tightness in her throat, Jess shrugged. ‘I turned down his proposal, so I don’t –’
‘He proposed? You never said.’
‘Because it wasn’t a proper proposal, more like a challenge, if I loved him I’d do what he wanted. But that’s emotional blackmail. Then he said if I didn’t want him, he was free to see if someone else did.’ The wound was still fresh, the pain still sharp.
Viv pulled Jess round and glared at her. ‘You been carrying that around inside you, and you never said? Friends share stuff, good and bad.’
‘To be honest, Viv, I didn’t think I could talk about it without crying.’ She swallowed hard. ‘It was weeks ago and still brings a lump to my throat.’
‘Still love him, do you?’
Jess blew out air. ‘He works too hard. He’s got tunnel-vision. He wants what he wants and expects me to agree –’
Viv nudged her. ‘Come on, bird. He’s a man. It’s how they are. You should know that by now. You was married long enough.’
‘Yes, and I’m enjoying not being married. I can make decisions without having to ask someone else – even if it’s just what or when to eat. But I do miss him. I miss the laughter.’
‘Didn’t Harry laugh then?’
‘Yes. Yes he did. He’s got this wonderful dry wit. We got on well. He made me aware of myself in a way I haven’t felt for years.’
‘What about Tom? Surely he –’
‘It’s different with Tom. Because we had history we more or less picked up where we left off.’
‘Like comfy slippers?’
‘No! Yes, a bit. But in a good way. When you know someone really well, you know they’ll understand without you having to spell everything out. I had that with Tom. Or I thought I did. I didn’t just fancy him, he made me feel safe. Harry’s a charming man.’
‘Not bad-looking neither.’
‘True. But even if he’d asked me, which he didn’t and isn’t likely to, I don’t want to go to bed with him. When we first met and he seemed interested in me as a person, not just in my investigations, I admit I wondered. But I couldn’t. Not making much sense, am I?’
‘Course you are. You was flattered that Tom isn’t the only man to fancy you.’
‘He rang me the night of the hold-up. Tom. He’d just heard and wanted to know I was all right.’
‘Oh, the dear of him. Here,’ she tugged Jess’s arm. ‘Isn’t that Frances Chiddock?’
‘Where?’
‘Up the next aisle. Dear life! What do she look like?’ Viv murmured.
‘Not her usual self, that’s for sure. She’s always been so particular about her appearance.’
‘Easy to look smart if you come out wearing new clothes from catalogues then send ‘em back.’
‘Now, Viv. I don’t think she’s done that for quite a while.’
‘Only because they got wise to her. Why is she just standing there?’
‘She hasn’t been to help at the Over-Sixties lunch for – it must be three or four weeks.’
‘Could be she had that cold bug. I tell you what, though, she wasn’t missed. People come down for a laugh and a chat as well as a hot meal. They want to see cheerful faces, not someone going round like she got a bad smell under her nose.’ Viv grabbed Jess’s arm. ‘Jess, she just put that perfume in her shopping bag.’
‘I saw.’ Shock clenched Jess’s stomach. ‘What on earth is she thinking? This store has plain clothes security people everywhere and they always prosecute.’
‘What shall us do?’ Viv hissed.
‘You go and chat to her. I’ll get it out of her bag and back on the shelf. Quick, while the aisle is quiet.’
Frances’s hair was greasy and she smelled of stale sweat and unwashed clothes. Her eyes widened as Viv grasped her arm, but there was no sign of recognition. ‘Leggo.’ She tried to pull free.
Darting Jess a bemused glance, Viv beamed at Frances. ‘Hello, my bird. I haven’t seen you in ages. Had that awful ‘flu bug that’s going round, have you?’
While Viv chatted, Jess retrieved the perfume and replaced it on the shelf, her skin prickling and heartbeat pounding. Keeping Frances between them, Viv dropped a package of two bath soaps in Frances’s blue basket.
‘It looks better if we’ve all bought something,’ she whispered, indicating their own. Frances had lapsed into silence, her face tense and frowning. She gazed at the floor while Jess paid for all the shopping.
‘We’ll be out in the fresh air soon, my bird,’ Viv crooned to Frances, one arm firmly round her waist. ‘You’ll feel better then.’
Acutely aware of the uniformed security men standing either side of the exit, Jess focused on the girl seated at the check-out. ‘It’s her first day out after the ‘flu,’ she explained to the girl who scanned their items. ‘She’s still a bit wobbly.’
‘My mum had it,’ the girl said, ringing up their purchases. ‘Awful poorly she was. Didn’t know which way was up. That’s twelve pounds sixty-five.’ Jess handed her a twenty-pound note. ‘Took a month before she was over it proper.’ The girl handed Jess her change, her gaze sliding to Frances.
‘There’s nothing worse than coming over faint when you’re out,’ Jess confided, to cover Frances’s lack of response. ‘You feel like everyone’s watching. She’ll be better once she’s home with a cup of tea.’
One security man opened the door for them and nodded as they passed. Viv flashed him a bright smile.
‘Thank you, Lord,’ she murmured as the door closed behind them. She guided Frances away from the store and along the street towards the car park. Jess followed with their bags.
Frances tried again to pull free. ‘Going home now.’ The words emerged muffled, as if she had something in her mouth.
‘You can come in the car with us, save you waiting for the bus.’
‘Mus’ sit down … tired.’ Her legs buckled. If Viv hadn’t been supporting her she would have collapsed.
Hoisting her up, Viv gave he
r a shake. ‘Don’t try that. You’re bleddy lucky we was there and you didn’t get caught. Don’t you know they expensive bottles of perfume got things on the packaging that set off the alarm? If it wasn’t for us you’d be in the manager’s office waiting for the police. Then you’d be up in front of the magistrate. Your name would be in the local paper and maybe your photo as well. Be all round the village it would. Is that what you want, everybody whispering, calling you a thief?’
‘Viv –’ Jess said, but Viv wasn’t listening.
‘You never had a good word for Jess, but right now we’re your best friends, so try being grateful.’
‘Viv, I think she really is ill.’
Viv looked hard at Frances, whose face had crumpled as if she was in pain or about to cry. ‘Yes, well, she surely don’t look right. Mind you, my heart’s trying to burst out of my chest and I can’t feel my legs.’
‘I’m glad it’s not just me.’ Never ever again, Jess thought, reliving the stress and anxiety she had felt under the gaze of the security men.
Viv fumbled her key into the driver’s door lock. There was a clunk as the other lock released. ‘I was bleddy terrified, and we hadn’t even done anything.’ She tipped the seat forward. ‘C’mon, maid –’
‘Bread,’ Frances mumbled, climbing in.
‘We’ll get a loaf in the village,’ Jess soothed and followed. Frances rested her head against the side and closed her eyes.
During the twenty-minute drive, Jess looked across, finding it hard to see the beautifully dressed, coiffed and made-up Frances in this hag-like unkempt woman.
‘All right is she?’ Viv met Jess’s gaze in the rear view mirror.
‘Asleep I think.’
‘What, proper asleep?’
‘Looks like it.’
‘That’s never right.’
‘Viv, she didn’t recognise you.’
‘Oh my Lord. Think she’s losing it, do you?’
‘Surely it wouldn’t have come on as quickly as that? But there’s definitely something wrong.’
Viv pulled up on the drive outside Frances’s bungalow and got out. Jess followed. They exchanged a glance. Neglect was evident in the hay-like lawn. Docks and dandelions had colonised the border. In front of the wooden fence separating the garden from the one next door, a bramble coiled like barbed wire over shrubs in need of pruning.
