by Dilys Xavier
Aunt Bertha was snoozing when they reached her bedside, so they sat and waited until she woke up. Within a few minutes, the general buzz of visitors caused the old lady to stir, and she looked up to see Katie and Sam sitting quietly at her side.
‘You should have wakened me,’ she said. Then she leaned forward. ‘I’m having the operation in the morning, and I’m scared,’ she said. She looked sadly at the two women. ‘Katie,’ she said softly, ‘I am so pleased to see you again. Now, whatever happens over this operation, remember that I’ve had a good life, so if things go wrong, at least I’m thankful for that.’
It hurt Katie to see the tears in her aunt’s eyes. ‘You’ll be just fine, and it’ll all be over by this time tomorrow. She kissed Aunt Bertha on the forehead, and took her hand, holding back her own tears so as not to upset the old lady. ‘You’ll soon be home.’
For a moment she hesitated, but then began to speak slowly and deliberately, so that what she was saying was fully understood. ‘Aunt Bertha, I’ve been thinking a lot about your invitation to live with you. That’s not practicable for me, but why don’t you come and live with me… for good?’
Her aunt’s expression changed from scared to happy in an instant as she listened carefully to what Katie was saying.
‘I’d love you to come, and there’s plenty of room at Priory Farm. If you stay on your own at Avondale, I’ll worry about you all the time.’ What do you say about that idea, Aunt?’ From the way Aunt Bertha’s eyes lit up, she knew it was the right thing to have said.
‘Yes, yes.’ Her aunt clasped her hand tightly. ‘Thank you, dear Katie, from the bottom of my heart. That will give me a new zest for life and help me through this wretched operation.’
‘That’s settled then,’ Katie said, with a sense of relief. ‘And when you feel well enough, we’ll go up to Avondale and sort out what you’d like to bring down for a permanent stay at my place.’
In a short while, she left with Sam, but once home, Katie was unable to relax for the evening, nor did she sleep well that night. There was still a dreadful feeling of guilt, that she had been the cause of Aunt Bertha’s accident in some way. It was silly, she knew, but the thought just wouldn’t go away.
It was noon the next day before she had the news that the operation had been successful, but Sister advised that Aunt Bertha should not have visitors until the following day. The tension Katie had felt for days lifted, and she was almost giddy with relief when she answered the phone. It was Rex.
‘My word, you sound happy. What makes you seem so vital today?’ he asked.
‘Good news,’ she replied, and told him about the outcome of her aunt’s operation, but I’ve been advised not to visit until tomorrow.
‘Oh, jolly good. That surely calls for some kind of celebration,’ he said. ‘How about I take you out to dinner this evening? We could take a pleasant ride, and have dinner in a nice country hotel.’
Katie barely hesitated. ‘I’d like that. What time will you pick me up?’
‘Seven,’ he said. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing you again.’
Shortly before seven, Rex pulled up in his silver Mercedes. Katie slipped into the comfortable leather seats.
‘That’s a large steering wheel,’ she commented.
Rex smiled with satisfaction as he smoothed his fingers lovingly over it.
‘Ah, yes, this is a Mercedes 350 SL; something rather special.’
That meant nothing to Katie, but she thought better than to show it. She cast a sly look at the man at her side. His hair and beard had been expertly trimmed since she last saw him, and he was dressed in a pale gray suit with a plum coloured silk tie that matched the stripe in his shirt. He looked really striking. No, not so much striking, as positively distinguished. It was no wonder he caught the eye of every woman who passed. To her relief, he avoided talking about his travels, and spoke about her family instead.
‘So you had your work cut out with bringing up four children all so close together in age. I know your son very well, of course, and I believe I also met your youngest daughter at Richard’s one day,’ he said, adding with a smile, ‘And she’s as lovely to look at as you are, Katie.’
The rest of the conversation revolved mainly around the plans for her garden, but minutes later he changed the subject. ‘I know a delightful place, close to the old Severn Bridge, where the service is second to none, and the food simply out of this world. I think you’ll like it.’
Katie eased back in her seat, absorbing the lovely countryside and, in what seemed no time at all, Rex drove the car noiselessly into the grounds of none other than a castle.
‘Film stars frequent this place,’ he said, pulling on the handbrake. ‘You never know who you’ll bump into here.’ He flicked his hand at the grand building in front of them. ‘As castles go, that one is quite compact, and the décor inside is opulent… you’ll appreciate it, I’m sure.’
As the headwaiter greeted Rex, the attention he afforded him was impressive.
‘It’s obvious you’ve been here a few times,’ Katie remarked. ‘The headwaiter seems to know you well.’
Rex smiled. ‘Yes, well let’s say I would never take a lovely lady like you to a place I hadn’t already vetted.’
Katie drew a deep breath as she scanned the enormous menu she had been handed. There was so much to choose from that the selection confused her. Rex had indeed brought her to a very expensive place, where such a menu was to be expected. She glanced again at the extravagant surroundings, and observed how the superlative service was given in silent, but swift action.
Dimmed lights, table candles, and suitably chosen soft music made the evening romantic. This is the life, she thought; this is style. But she was not in the mood to experiment with food, so she chose something simple that she knew she would enjoy.
Avocado was a firm favourite already with Katie, but this one was delightfully presented with prawns, and served with a delicious dressing. No sooner had she finished that course, than the waiter brought her noisettes of lamb with herbs, and a selection of fresh garden vegetables. The aroma was exquisite, and only now did she realize how hungry she was. She tucked into the meal with enthusiasm, and so there was little conversation at the table.
Ten minutes later, she found herself sampling the dessert… a delicious mixture of fresh fruit, slightly sugared and lightly baked with just a hint of brandy. It was classy… with strawberries, nectarines, cherries and figs, and topped with the chef’s own special whipped vanilla cream. She placed her table napkin at the side of her plate and leaned back in her chair with a sigh, just as though she needed a rest after all that hard work.
‘Let’s take our coffee and mints in the lounge; it’s pleasant there, and we can settle down in comfortable armchairs designed to lull anyone to sleep,’ Rex said, helping Katie rise from her dining chair, and offering his arm.
She felt relaxed and totally spoiled, and she wanted this feeling to go on forever. A small dance floor in the centre of the room looked inviting. She couldn’t remember when she had last danced, but when Rex suggested they should try it, she agreed, and took to the floor as though it were the normal thing to do. He held her more closely than she wanted, but it was all so romantic that it seemed to be the right way to behave. Lilting music, soft lights — and a tall, handsome partner, who was as light on his feet as if he were in his twenties, made everything seem perfect. Katie wanted the evening never to end, but eventually Rex looked at his watch, and raised his brows.
‘It’s late, Katie. Ready for home?’
‘Yes, it’s time we left,’ she said, ‘and it’s been the loveliest evening I’ve had in years.’
Rex looked delighted, and took her arm while they walked to his car. ‘I hope that means you’ll come out with me again.’
‘Yes, I will, but don’t spoil me too much, Rex. I warn you I could live this kind of life with considerable enthusiasm.’
It was well past midnight by the time they got back to Priory Far
m, and although Katie invited him in for coffee, he refused. He placed both hands on her shoulders, and lowered his head to plant a genteel kiss on the centre of her forehead. This time, Katie willingly accepted his controlled embrace.
‘Thank you for a delightful evening,’ he said, lifting her chin with his finger. Then he gave her an affectionate little squeeze on the shoulders before turning to go back to his car. She was inside before he moved off, and she watched through the window as the tail lights of the Mercedes disappeared down the driveway.
With her car having been returned early the next day, Katie set off with Sam to visit her aunt. Although she had been told that Bertha was comfortable and progressing satisfactorily, Katie was keen to see this for herself. When she walked into the ward, Aunt Bertha’s appearance concerned her, and when Katie spoke to her, the old lady seemed to be hallucinating.
‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ the nurse said, when Katie queried her about it. ‘It sometimes happens when a person of a great age is given an anaesthetic.’ She nodded towards her aunt. ‘I’m afraid it’ll be a couple of weeks before she’ll be discharged, though, because of her age.’
That was fine with Katie; she wanted Aunt Bertha to spend all the time necessary to make a full recovery, but she had hoped to find her a lot brighter, and stayed only a short while.
Margie made a brief visit to her mother’s the next day, but was in her usual frantic hurry. ‘Can’t stop, because I’m on the way to a meeting, but I couldn’t pass without saying hello.’
‘Lovely to see you, Margie, even if briefly. I’m getting ready to go to see Aunt Bertha again, but I need to see Pat first.’ She waved her daughter off, and went to the back garden to find Pat.
***
Margie drove down to the entrance gates of Priory Farm, just as her sister, Sam, drove in. Sam motioned Margie to stop.
‘I need to talk to you. Got a minute?’
‘Well, yes, but I’m on my way to a meeting,’ Margie said, glancing at her wristwatch as she got out of her car. ‘What’s up?’
‘Tanya and I thought it would be a treat for Mum to go to a professional singles dinner party.’ She paused for a few seconds, then went on. ‘We think that’s where she could meet a nice gentleman friend.’ She hesitated again, but Margie had made no response so far, so she finished all that she wanted to say in one breath. ‘If Mum got the slightest whiff of this idea, she’d refuse to go. You often attend these dinner parties, so we wondered if you know an organizer who’d waive aside the usual interview to assess whether an applicant is suitable or not. We can’t do it otherwise, so what about it?’ She fidgeted as she waited for her sister’s response.
There was an immediate look of surprise on Margie’s face, but then she smiled broadly and nodded. ‘That’s a fab idea, sis. Yes, in fact I know the organizer of a top class dinner party firm quite well.’ Then she gave Sam a puzzled look. ‘Is it necessary to go to all that trouble and expense though? What about this delightful gardener Mum’s found? He’s pandering to her every whim, and I’ve noticed she always seems happy when he’s around. Can’t she... y’know, get kind of friendly with him for little outings on the odd occasion?’ Before Sam could answer, she added, ‘Anyway, doesn’t she already have a guy in tow, this professor bloke that Richard knows?’
‘Oh, you mean Rex Charteris. It was Angie’s idea to get them together, not Richard’s, and he’s worried about anything developing there,’ Sam said. ‘He admits the man has style, is well educated, well off and all that, but says he’s a bit of a playboy, and too fond of the ladies. He doesn’t want Mum to get involved with him in case she gets hurt.’ She shrugged, and shook her head. ‘Actually, I don’t know about Mum partnering her local odd-job gardener… that’s not what I’d call an ideal arrangement.’
Margie shrugged. ‘Mum’s not doing too badly for an old girl, pardon the expression. She’s doing okay, sis. I think I’d forget the agency idea if I were you. Between Rex and the gardener, surely Mum would have some fun? There’s no need for her to get serious with any of them, just a little trip out now and again… something to dress up for. That should be enough; she’s not looking to live it up, is she? There’s no need for an entourage.’
‘I agree, but she needs someone she can relate to comfortably, someone who’d take her out whenever she wants; someone suitable, but I wouldn’t choose the gardener for our Mum, nice though he is.’ Sam looked pensive for several seconds. ‘I admit that Pat has the charm of the Irish, and he’s very obliging, but…’ She gave a quick shrug again, and hesitated for a moment. ‘I know that Richard wants to eliminate Rex because of his philandering ways. Quite honestly, I think we’ll have to pursue the agency idea in the hope of finding someone suitable.’
‘What makes you so sure Mum wants a man, anyway? If she wanted one that badly, surely she’d find one on her own? It’s obvious she can still pull ‘em, without any help from us.’
‘Yes, but I still think we’ve got to help something more definite happen. Look how much she’s livened up after going out with Rex.’
‘Mum would kill us if she found out about our scheming.’ Margie frowned, and looked anxiously at the time again.
‘Exactly. That’s why we must keep it a dead secret about how the dinner party is arranged, and by whom. You will go with her won’t you; to look after her, and all that?’
‘What?’ Margie exploded. ‘Oh, come on now, sis, that’s asking a bit much. She’d cramp my style for a start.’ She shook her head vigorously. ‘No, that’s definitely not on.’
‘I’ll pay for the tickets,’ Sam said, coaxingly. ‘Surely, you can do this for Mum?’
‘That’s hardly the point,’ Margie said, pouting a bit. ‘Oh… I don’t know, Sam… you’ve given me a poser. I’ll think about it.’ She climbed into her car and zipped down the window. ‘No promises. I’ll see how I feel about it tomorrow, and let you know.’
***
Once Margie had driven off to her meeting, Sam went in to the house. ‘Ready to go to the hospital, Mum?’
‘Yes. I saw you coming just as Margie was leaving. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.’
Katie was disappointed to find that Aunt Bertha wasn’t brighter today. She seemed sleepy, and not much interested in conversing with them. Katie approached the Sister, who assured her this was nothing to worry about, and that they were keeping a close eye on her aunt. Within ten minutes, they were on their way out.
Sam laid a hand gently on her mother’s arm. ‘I expected Aunt Bertha to look better than that.’
‘Me too, Sam, and it’s worrying me.’
‘She’s old, Mum, so it makes sense she needs extra time to recover, but it’s too soon to get despondent. Let’s do something to take your mind off things. We could give you something to look forward to, like treating you out to dinner—something special that you’d have to dress up for, not the usual run-of-the-mill type of dinner.’
‘There’s so much on my mind that I don’t know if I’d be up to going out like that.’ Katie brightened a little then. ‘Although, Rex took me to a beautiful castle for dinner and I thoroughly enjoyed it.’ She smiled at the recollection. ‘I noticed several television personalities there. And you should see Rex’s car; it’s really beautiful. A collectable Mercedes, apparently.’
‘There you are, Mum, you see?. Something like that gives you an interest, takes you out of yourself. More of that is what you need, but I wouldn’t want you to depend solely on Rex for your evenings out. I’d like to see you make your own way around, and find your own independence.’
‘What’s wrong with Rex?’ Katie asked, defensively. ‘He’s charming, and a real gentleman.’
‘I don’t doubt that for a moment.’ Sam curved an arm around her mother’s shoulder. ‘What I mean is that you need a bit of fun in your life, Mum. Leave it to us to think of something, okay?’
Katie smiled. Her children were all so good to her, so kind and thoughtful. ‘All right. Whatever you say, I suppose.
’
Sam could hardly believe her luck. This left the way wide open. Now all she had to hope for was Margie’s full cooperation, and the dinner tickets. She waited all the next day for a visit or a phone call from her sister, but there was neither. Her patience running out, she phoned Margie.
‘Hi, Sam, I was going to phone you tonight, honest I was.’
‘Yes, yes, but any news about the tickets? And will you go with Mum?’
‘It’s okay, all fixed. And I reckon I’m the biggest dimwit around to go out like this with my own mother.’ She gave a sigh of exasperation. ‘Ah, well, all in a good cause, I suppose, but it had better be a good night, I warn you.’
‘When are the tickets for? I must prepare Mum for it.’
‘Well, as it happens they were short of numbers for next Friday—it’s such an expensive evening out you see, so I got the tickets without any trouble. And don’t forget, you’re paying.’
‘No problem. Friday, you said. Okay, get me the details as soon as you can, and I’ll see that Mum is dressed up to the nines for the occasion.’ She gave a loud sigh of relief. ‘Thanks, Margie, you’re a gem.’ She was about to put the phone down, when she had another thought. ‘Oh, you’d best extend the invitation to Mum yourself, otherwise it’ll seem strange. And do it today, okay.’
‘Will do,’ came the cheery reply, and then the phone went dead.
Sam waited several hours before calling Katie, because she wanted to allow her sister plenty of time to give Katie the invitation. Once that was achieved, they could go shopping for a new dress, and make an appointment with the hairdresser.
‘Well,’ Katie said, when Sam arrived, ‘you’ll never guess what your eldest sister has planned. She’s taking me somewhere special for dinner on Friday.’ Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. ‘That’s not exactly our Margie, is it? I wonder what prompted her to think of doing such a nice thing?’
‘It’s just because she’s concerned about you, Mum, like we all are. We want to see you enjoying life again, and I think Margie’s idea sounds wonderful.’
‘What’ll I wear?’ Katie asked.
